Canada building permits rise in August on stronger residential activity

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Canada building permits August

Highlights

Total Canadian building permits rose 8.8% ($1.1 billion) in August to $13.6 billion, with residential permits up $1.1 billion to $8.5 billion, driven by multi-unit housing.
21,800 multi-unit dwellings and 4,000 single-family dwellings were authorized in August, a 12.8% monthly increase in dwellings despite a yearly decline in total authorized units.
Non-residential permit value edged down by $29.8 million to $5.1 billion in August, as a $380.0 million commercial decline was largely offset by $317.3 million growth in industrial permits and $32.9 million in institutional permits.

August permit growth driven by multi-unit housing

As reported by Statistics Canada, the total value of building permits issued in Canada rises by $1.1 billion, or 8.8%, in August to $13.6 billion. On a constant dollar basis, using 2023 as the reference year, permit values grow 8.6% from the previous month and are up 12.4% from a year earlier.

Residential construction intentions rise by $1.1 billion to $8.5 billion, supported entirely by the multi-unit segment, which increases by $1.1 billion to $5.8 billion. The single-family component edges down by $0.7 million to $2.6 billion.

Ontario leads the gain in multi-unit permits with a $696.0 million increase, followed by British Columbia at $189.8 million and Alberta at $115.9 million. Overall, seven provinces and two territories contribute to the increase, while the decline in single-family permits is led by Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Manitoba.

Across Canada, 21,800 multi-unit dwellings and 4,000 single-family dwellings are authorized in August, up 12.8% from the previous month. Over the 12-month period from September 2025 to August 2026, the total number of authorized dwellings stands at 299,500, down from 305,500 in the previous 12-month period.

Commercial weakness offsets part of non-residential gains

The value of non-residential building permits edges down by $29.8 million to $5.1 billion in August. A $380.0 million decline in the commercial component to $2.2 billion is largely offset by a $317.3 million increase in industrial permits to $1.1 billion and a $32.9 million gain in the institutional segment to $1.8 billion.

Quebec records the largest drop in commercial permits, down $317.4 million, followed by British Columbia at $122.0 million, while Alberta tempers the decline with a $95.4 million increase. In industrial permits, Alberta leads growth with a $169.3 million gain, followed by Quebec at $134.8 million, and seven provinces plus two territories post increases overall.

Institutional permit growth is driven by Quebec, up $188.5 million, and British Columbia, up $68.3 million, while Ontario moderates the increase with a $211.2 million decline. Statistics Canada says its September building permits data is scheduled for release on November 12.

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