October 15, 2026
Statistics Canada reports that the total value of building permits in Canada increased by $1.1 billion, or 8.8%, in August 2026 to reach $13.6 billion, with multi-unit residential construction accounting for the increase.
On a constant-dollar basis, using 2023 as the reference year, total building permit values increased 8.6% from July and were 12.4% higher than August 2025.
The August results show a clear divergence between residential and non-residential construction intentions. Residential permit values increased by $1.1 billion, while the non-residential sector declined slightly by $29.8 million.
Residential construction intentions climbed to $8.5 billion in August, driven almost entirely by the multi-unit housing component.
Multi-unit building permits increased by $1.1 billion to $5.8 billion, while single-family permit values edged down by $0.7 million to $2.6 billion.
Ontario recorded the largest increase in multi-unit construction intentions, rising by $696 million. British Columbia followed with an increase of $189.8 million, while Alberta added $115.9 million. Overall, seven provinces and two territories contributed to the monthly increase.
Single-family construction intentions were comparatively stable nationally, although Alberta recorded the largest decrease at $32.7 million, followed by the Northwest Territories at $10.9 million and Manitoba at $7.9 million.
Across Canada, municipalities authorized 21,800 multi-unit dwellings and 4,000 single-family homes during August. Combined, the number of residential units authorized increased 12.8% from the previous month.
The longer-term picture was somewhat different. During the 12 months from September 2025 through August 2026, 299,500 multi-unit and single-family dwellings were authorized, compared with 305,500 units during the preceding 12-month period.
This distinction is important: building permit data measures construction intentions represented by permits issued, rather than actual construction starts or completed housing units.
Non-residential construction intentions edged down by $29.8 million in August to $5.1 billion.
A $380 million decline in commercial permits, which fell to $2.2 billion, was largely offset by stronger industrial and institutional construction intentions.
Industrial permit values increased by $317.3 million to $1.1 billion, while institutional permits rose $32.9 million to $1.8 billion.
Alberta recorded the largest increase in industrial construction intentions during August, rising $169.3 million, followed closely by Quebec with a $134.8 million increase. Seven provinces and two territories contributed to the national industrial gain.
Commercial construction moved in the opposite direction. Quebec posted a $317.4 million decline, followed by British Columbia with a $122 million decrease. Alberta partially offset those losses with a $95.4 million increase in commercial permit values.
Institutional construction intentions also increased moderately. Quebec led with a $188.5 million gain, followed by British Columbia at $68.3 million. Ontario tempered the national increase with a $211.2 million decline.
August’s building permit data points to multi-unit residential development as the primary source of monthly growth in Canadian construction intentions.
While overall permit values rose sharply, the underlying results varied considerably by construction type and province. Residential growth was concentrated in multi-unit housing, while the non-residential sector saw declining commercial activity offset by stronger industrial and institutional construction intentions.
For Canada’s construction industry, the figures provide an early indicator of where future project activity could emerge as permitted developments move toward construction.
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