Value of Building Permits in February Declined 5.7% from January

Value of Building Permits

 

Apr 29, 2019

Canadian municipalities issued $7.8 billion worth of building permits in February, down 5.7% from the previous month. The decline was largely due to lower construction intentions for multi-family dwellings.

Multi-family dwellings lower in February

The value of permits for residential buildings declined 8.5% in February to $4.9 billion, the lowest level since April 2017. The decrease was largely the result of lower construction intentions for multi-family dwellings in Ontario and British Columbia. Despite the monthly decline, the value of multi-family permits has shown notable strength over the past year.

Non-residential sector down slightly

Municipalities issued $2.9 billion worth of non-residential building permits in February, edging down 0.5% from the previous month. The decline stemmed from lower values of commercial permits (-$114 million), which posted sharp increases in November and December.

The value of institutional permits rose 11.6%, the first increase in five months. A high-value permit issued for the Qikiqtani Correctional Healing Centre in Nunavut contributed to the gain.

Provincial update

British Columbia issued $1.4 billion of permits in February, down $181 million from January. Lower construction intentions for multi-family dwellings more than offset gains in all other components. The value of permits in the census metropolitan area of Vancouver declined 20.5% to $800 million. This followed three consecutive months where permits were above the $1.0-billion mark.

The value of permits in Saskatchewan was down 34.0% to $108 million, as every component except institutional buildings declined. The decrease partly reflected changes to building energy codes that went into effect in the province on January 1, 2019. The largest decrease was in the single-family dwelling component.

The value of permits for single-family homes in Saskatchewan have been on a general downward trend since 2013. In 2018, the province issued $596 million worth of single-family permits, the lowest value since 2006. The Association of Regina Realtors and the Saskatoon Region Association of Realtors both reported a decrease in the number of home sales in 2018.

Source: Statistics Canada.

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Hammond Power Solutions Appoints Linda Nadeau Sanford as Western Regional Sales Manager

    Hammond Power Solutions Appoints Linda Nadeau Sanford as Western Regional Sales Manager

    May 12, 2025 Hammond Power Solutions (HPS), a leader in dry-type transformers and power quality solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Linda Nadeau Sanford as the new Western Regional Sales Manager. Linda will play a key part in driving sales and revenue across the Western Canada region. She will oversee territory management, advance… Read More…

  • Susanna Zagar, Ontario Energy Board CEO, Named EHRC’s 2025 Agent of Change

    Susanna Zagar, Ontario Energy Board CEO, Named EHRC’s 2025 Agent of Change

    May 12, 2025 Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) is proud to announce Susanna Zagar (she/her), Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), as the recipient of the 2025 Agent of Change Award. This recognition celebrates Ms. Zagar’s remarkable leadership and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the electricity sector. Since stepping… Read More…

  • AD Reports Huge Jump in Member Sales Through Three Months of 2025

    AD Reports Huge Jump in Member Sales Through Three Months of 2025

    May 12, 2025 AD reports that member sales in the first three months of 2025 increased 23% to a record $24 billion across the group’s 14 divisions and three countries. AD welcomed over 550 new members in the first quarter through both organic growth and the IMARK Electrical merger. AD members also acquired another 10… Read More…

  • Legrand Introduces Wattstopper i3 Building Management Platform

    Legrand Introduces Wattstopper i3 Building Management Platform

    May 12, 2025 Legrand® has announced the launch of the Wattstopper i3 Platform, a next-generation lighting and building intelligence solution powered by KODE Labs, a global leader of advanced smart building technology.  The partnership positions Legrand to lead the lighting controls industry into a new era of unified experiences, seamless integrations, and data-driven control, making it easier… Read More…