Building permits, January 2026
Released: 2026-03-12
$13.3 billion
January 2026
4.8% 
(monthly change)
$0.1 billion
January 2026
42.0%
(monthly change)
$0.0 billion
January 2026
7.3%
(monthly change)
$0.4 billion
January 2026
10.9%
(monthly change)
$0.2 billion
January 2026
-19.4% 
(monthly change)
$3.0 billion
January 2026
27.5%
(monthly change)
$5.5 billion
January 2026
12.7%
(monthly change)
$0.3 billion
January 2026
-40.8%
(monthly change)
$0.3 billion
January 2026
7.6%
(monthly change)
$1.9 billion
January 2026
0.2%
(monthly change)
$1.6 billion
January 2026
-23.1%
(monthly change)
In January, the total value of building permits issued in Canada increased $607.0 million (+4.8%) to $13.3 billion. The increase was led by the non-residential sector (+$464.0 million) and supported by the residential sector (+$143.0 million).
On a constant dollar basis (2023=100), the total value of building permits issued in January rose 4.3% from the previous month and was up 0.8% on a year-over-year basis.
Chart 1
Total value of building permits, seasonally adjusted
Infographic 1
Building permits, January 2026
Industrial construction intentions drive increase in non-residential sector
Non-residential construction intentions rose 9.4% to $5.4 billion in January. The industrial component (+$356.8 million to $1.2 billion) drove the monthly increase, marking the largest month-over-month growth since July 2024. The institutional component supported the gains, increasing $235.7 million to $2.0 billion in January 2026. Meanwhile, the commercial component declined $128.5 million to $2.2 billion.
The gains in the industrial component in January were driven by Quebec (+$182.6 million), followed by Ontario (+$105.3 million). Construction intentions for new transportation terminals in the Toronto census metropolitan area (CMA) helped support the growth. In total, eight provinces contributed to the overall industrial component growth.
The institutional component was bolstered by growth in Ontario (+$618.1 million), which was driven by the Toronto CMA (+$997.6 million) as approved building permits for a new medical institution valued at over $800 million supported the increase. These gains were moderated by declines in six provinces and one territory.
The commercial component declined $128.5 million in January, led by Ontario (-$186.0 million). Meanwhile, Quebec (+$91.2 million) tempered losses.
Chart 2
Number of units authorized for the residential sector and 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 single-family and multi-family components
Chart 5
Value of building permits for the industrial, commercial and institutional components
Single-family component drives residential sector growth
Residential construction intentions rose $143.0 million to $8.0 billion in January. Gains in the single-family component (+$222.3 million to $2.7 billion) were moderated by a decline in the multi-unit component (-$79.3 million to $5.3 billion).
The growth in the single-family component was led by Ontario (+$85.8 million), followed by Quebec (+$55.3 million). In total, nine provinces and two territories contributed to this increase.
Losses in the multi-unit component were primarily attributed to Manitoba (-$230.3 million), British Columbia (-$155.0 million) and Alberta (-$99.7 million), while large gains in Quebec (+$362.2 million) tempered the decline.
Nationwide, a total of 21,400 multi-unit dwellings and 4,000 single-family dwellings were authorized in January, reflecting an overall decrease of 1.8% from the previous month. From February 2025 to January 2026, the total number of multi-family dwellings authorized was 256,500, up from 241,800 during the previous 12-month period.
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.
Note to readers
This content was created with the assistance of a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool and refined and verified by Statistics Canada experts. To learn more about how we use AI responsibly, please visit the Trust Centre.
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 February will be released on April 13.
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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