Building Permits, August 2025: Ontario and Alberta Lead Declines in Residential Construction Intentions

November 2, 2025

In August, the total value of building permits issued in Canada was down $139.2 million (-1.2%) to $11.6 billion. Notable declines recorded in Ontario (-$563.3 million) and Alberta (-$461.5 million) were tempered by increases in British Columbia (+$612.2 million) and Quebec (+$294.2 million).

On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value of building permits issued in August decreased 1.5% from the previous month and was down 5.9% on a year-over-year basis.

Ontario and Alberta lead declines in single-family and multi-family construction intentions

Residential construction intentions decreased $173.8 million (-2.4%) to $7.0 billion in August. The decline was primarily attributable to Ontario (-$432.8 million) and Alberta (-$311.1 million), while British Columbia (+$331.4 million) and Quebec (+$155.5 million) tempered the losses.

The single-family component declined $112.3 million to $2.5 billion in August, driven by Ontario (-$131.0 million) and followed by Alberta (-$59.6 million). Quebec (+$36.8 million) and Manitoba (+$23.2 million) mitigated the decline.

Multi-family construction intentions were down $61.5 million to $4.5 billion in August, driven by Ontario (-$301.8 million) and Alberta (-$251.5 million). The decrease was tempered by increases in British Columbia (+$329.7 million), concentrated in the Vancouver census metropolitan area (CMA) (+$300.3 million), and Quebec (+$118.7 million).

Across Canada, there were 20,500 multi-family dwellings and 4,100 single-family dwellings authorized in August, marking a decrease of 0.9% from the previous month.

Non-residential building permits edge up in August

In August, the value of non-residential building permits edged up $34.6 million (+0.8%) to $4.6 billion.

The institutional component rose $211.3 million in August, led by the increase in Ontario (+$235.3 million), which was propelled by hospital construction intentions in the Toronto CMA. British Columbia followed, recording an increase of $78.2 million, led by permit values for government buildings in the Vancouver CMA. Nova Scotia (-$96.4 million) moderated the increase after construction intentions for long-term care facilities led to the province’s sharp rise in July.

In August, the commercial component decreased $134.0 million, led by Ontario (-$308.2 million), after experiencing two consecutive monthly increases, while British Columbia (+$190.4 million) tempered the loss.

The industrial component declined $42.6 million in August, with decreases being recorded in eight provinces, led by Ontario (-$57.6 million). Meanwhile, Quebec (+$90.8 million) tempered losses.

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