Connecticut communities issued permits for 5,220 new housing units in 2008, a 33 percent decrease from a year, according to state Department of Economic and Community Development data.
But after accounting for 1,462 demolitions, Connecticut last year gained a net 3,758 housing units, a  percent drop from a net 6,461 units in 2007, DECD said.
In 2007, communities issued 7,746 homebuilding permits and 1,285 demolition permits, the agency said.
Fairfield led all counties last year in housing gains. Fairfield issued 1,814 building permits and 640 demolition permits, DECD said.
Hartford was next, with 1,039 housing permits and 129 demolition permits issued.
The agency this week reported that statewide housing permits are down 50 percent in the first three months of this year, to 500 from 1,091 the same period in 2008. DECD did not list demolition-permit totals for the first quarter.
