Value of Building Permits Rose 5.6% in January

Mar 19, 2018

Canadian municipalities issued $8.4 billion in building permits in January, up 5.6% following a 2.5% rise in December. The value of permits for three components rose, while industrial buildings (-18.6%) and single-family dwellings (-1.3%) declined. The January increase was largely due to higher construction intentions for multi-family dwellings in Ontario.

Value of permits rebounds for multi-family dwellings in Ontario

The value of permits for multi-family dwellings in Ontario rose 71.0% (+$404.3 million) to $974.0 million in January, more than offsetting the 39.7% decline (-$374.7 million) reported the previous month. Nationally, apartments accounted for approximately three-quarters of the value of permits for multi-family dwellings in January, while row houses made up just under 18%. The rest of the multi-family dwelling component comprised permits for doubles such as semi-detached homes, and minor residential additions and renovations (permits under $50,000).

Toronto leads the gains among census metropolitan areas

In January, 16 of the 36 census metropolitan areas (CMAs) reported gains, led by Toronto. The total value of permits reported by municipalities in Toronto increased 25.5% to $1.8 billion in January, following a 14.0% decline in December. The increase mainly stemmed from multi-family dwellings, which hit $590.3 million in January, bouncing back from $311.0 million in December, the lowest point in 2017.

The second largest gain was reported in the CMA of London, up 89.3% (+$77.5 million) from December, also due to multi-family dwellings.

Source: Statistics Canada, www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/180308/dq180308a-eng.htm