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StatsCan building permits report: July 2018

Sept. 6, 2018 – Canadian municipalities issued $8.2 billion worth of building permits in July, down 0.1% from June. The decrease was mainly attributable to lower construction intentions in British Columbia.

Residential sector: Lower construction intentions for multi-family dwellings
The value of permits for residential buildings edged down 0.3% to $5.3 billion in July. The decline was mainly the result of lower construction intentions for multi-family dwellings, down 1.1% to $2.9 billion. The decrease in British Columbia (-$185 million) offset gains in seven provinces.

The value of building permits in the single-family component was up 0.6% to $2.4 billion. Four provinces registered increases, led by Ontario and Manitoba.

In July, municipalities approved the construction of 19,824 new dwellings (+1.2%), consisting of 14,660 multi-family units (+3.7%) and 5,164 single units (-5.2%).

Provinces and census metropolitan areas: British Columbia registers largest decrease
The total value of building permits was down in five provinces, with British Columbia and Ontario recording the largest decreases. At the same time, the value of building permits rose in 19 of 36 census metropolitan areas (), with Montréal and Ottawa reporting the largest gains.

In British Columbia, the value of building permits fell 11.0% to $1.4 billion. The decrease was mainly the result of lower construction intentions for multi-family dwellings in the  of Vancouver, following a record high in June.

The value of permits in Ontario fell 2.4% to $3.3 billion in July. This followed three consecutive monthly increases. The value of building permits in the Toronto  fell 10.0% to $1.5 billion in July.

In contrast, the value of permits in the  of Ottawa rose 53.9% to $416 million, the second highest value on record. Permits for residential construction rose 61.3% compared with June, coinciding with an increase in development charges slated for August 1, 2018.

In Quebec, the value of building permits increased 14.7% to $1.7 billion in July. The industrial component posted the second-highest value on record, driven by a $100 million permit for a communication building in the  of Montréal.