Building permits, August 2025
Released: 2025-10-14
$11.6 billion
August 2025
-1.2% 
(monthly change)
$0.0 billion
August 2025
-14.0%
(monthly change)
$0.1 billion
August 2025
17.6% 
(monthly change)
$0.3 billion
August 2025
-32.1%
(monthly change)
$0.2 billion
August 2025
6.4%
(monthly change)
$2.4 billion
August 2025
14.0%
(monthly change)
$4.2 billion
August 2025
-11.9%
(monthly change)
$0.4 billion
August 2025
37.8%
(monthly change)
$0.2 billion
August 2025
-6.9%
(monthly change)
$1.5 billion
August 2025
-23.2%
(monthly change)
$2.3 billion
August 2025
36.7%
(monthly change)
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.
Chart 1
Total value of building permits, seasonally adjusted
Infographic 1
Building permits, August 2025
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.
Chart 2
Value of building permits for the single-family and multi-family components
Chart 3
Value of building permits for the residential and non-residential sectors
Chart 4
Value of building permits for the industrial, commercial and institutional components
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.
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.
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Note to readers
This Daily release was created with the assistance of a generative artificial intelligence tool, using data and analysis prepared by Statistics Canada analysts. The final content was verified by subject-matter experts.
Unless otherwise stated, this release presents seasonally adjusted data with current dollar values, which facilitate month-to-month and quarter-to-quarter comparisons by removing the effects of seasonal variations. For information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.
For information on trend-cycle data, see the page Trend-cycle estimates – Frequently asked questions.
Data may not add up to totals as a result of rounding.
Building components
- Single-family dwellings: Residential buildings containing only one dwelling unit (e.g., single-detached house, bungalow, linked home [linked at the foundation]).
- Multi-family dwellings: Residential buildings containing multiple dwelling units (e.g., apartment, apartment condominium, row house, semi-detached house).
- Industrial buildings: Buildings used in the processing or production of goods or related to transportation and communication.
- Commercial buildings: Buildings used in the trade or distribution of goods and services, including office buildings.
- Institutional and government buildings: Buildings used to house public and semi-public services, such as those related to health and welfare, education or public administration, and buildings used for religious services.
Revision
Data are subject to revisions based on late responses, methodological changes and classification updates. Unadjusted data in current dollars have been revised for the previous month; unadjusted data in constant dollars have been revised for the previous two months. Seasonally adjusted data in current dollars have been revised for the previous two months; seasonally adjusted data in constant dollars have been revised for the previous three months.
Next release
Data on building permits for September will be released on November 12.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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