Residential Construction Down for Eight Provinces in April, Non-Residential Down after Record March

June 27, 2023

The total monthly value of building permits in Canada are down 18.8% to $9.6 billion in April, the lowest level since December 2020.

On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), the total value of building permits fell 18.5% to $5.6 billion in April 2023.

Residential Construction Down for Eight Provinces in April, Non-Residential Down after Record March

Non-residential permits down following the strongest month on record

Following a record high in March, the total monthly value of non-residential permits fell 34.6% to $3.4 billion in April. The drop was observed across all components but was most pronounced in commercial (-40.2% or – $1.1 billion) and industrial (-49.6% or -$663.8 million) construction intentions.

On a seasonally unadjusted basis, the average commercial permit was valued at $433,000 in April compared with $901,000 in March. Similarly, the average industrial permit was valued at $413,000 in April compared with $1.7 million in March. The significantly lower average permit values show that the monthly declines in April are attributed to exceptionally high volumes of large-scale projects in March.

Residential construction intentions down for eight provinces

The total monthly value of residential permits declined 6.1% to $6.1 billion, sliding for the second consecutive month. Declines were posted for both the single-family and multi-dwelling components.

Ontario (down 10.5% or -$296.4 million) greatly contributed to the monthly decrease in the residential sector.

British Columbia (up 2.6% or +$35.1 million) and Saskatchewan (up 45.0% or +$15.2 million) were the two provinces to post monthly growth in residential construction intentions.

Value of building permits for the single-family and multi-family components

Residential Construction Down for Eight Provinces in April, Non-Residential Down after Record March

To explore data using an interactive user interface, visit the Building permits: Interactive Dashboard.

For more information on construction, please visit the Construction statistics portal.

For more information on housing, please visit the Housing statistics portal.

Statistics Canada has a Housing Market Indicators dashboard. This web application provides access to key housing market indicators for Canada, by province and by census metropolitan area. The indicators are updated automatically with new information from monthly releases, giving users access to the latest data.

Source

Related Articles


Latest Articles


Changing Scene

  • Siemens to Establish Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center for Battery & EV Production in Canada

    Siemens to Establish Global AI Manufacturing Technologies R&D Center for Battery & EV Production in Canada

    May 26, 2025 Siemens will invest CAD $150 million over five years to establish a Global AI Manufacturing Technologies Research and Development (R&D) Center for Battery Production in Canada. The new R&D center, located initially at Siemens Canada’s head office in Oakville, as well as in Toronto and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, will focus on developing cutting-edge AI manufacturing technologies with an initial emphasis… Read More…

  • Honda Postponing Ontario EV Supply Chain Investment by Two Years

    Honda Postponing Ontario EV Supply Chain Investment by Two Years

    May 26, 2025 Honda is postponing its plan to invest in a comprehensive EV supply chain in Ontario. The CBC reported that the investment is being push back by two years. “Due to the recent slowdown of the EV market, Honda Motor has announced an approximate two-year postponement of the comprehensive value chain investment project in Canada…. Read More…

  • Serge Leblanc Named Sonepar Canada Interim President

    Serge Leblanc Named Sonepar Canada Interim President

    May 26, 2025 George McClean, former President of Sonepar Canada, has decided to leave Sonepar for an opportunity outside of the electrical industry. Serge Leblanc, current President of Lumen Canada, has been appointed interim President of Sonepar Canada. Leblanc will manage both responsibilities until a successor is named.  Leblanc joined Lumen in 1997 and has… Read More…

  • Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen Head to Queens Park to Advocate for Safer, More Inclusive Job Sites

    Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen Head to Queens Park to Advocate for Safer, More Inclusive Job Sites

    May 26, 2025 On Monday, May 26, the Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen (OBCT), will host its first-ever Advocacy Day at Queen’s Park. Tradeswomen from across the province will gather to meet with Members of Provincial Parliament, including Minister of Labour David Piccini, to advocate for progress in the skilled trades for tradeswomen. OBCT’s top priorities include:… Read More…