The seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia fell 10.5% month-on-month to 17,300 units in March 2026, reversing a 31.0% surge in February, confirming preliminary data. This marked the steepest decline since late December, driven primarily by a sharp contraction in approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses (-26.0% vs 101.1% in February), while growth in private sector house approvals eased to 0.9% from 2.0%. By region, total dwelling approvals declined in most states, including Victoria (-16.9%), Western Australia (-15.5%), Queensland (-6.4%), and South Australia (-2.1%), while increases were recorded in New South Wales (3.2%) and Tasmania (2.6%). Despite the monthly decline, total dwelling approvals were still up 9.0% year-on-year, following a 16.1% gain in the previous period. source: Australian Bureau of Statistics

Building Permits MoM in Australia decreased to -10.50 percent in March from 31 percent in February of 2026. Building Permits MoM in Australia averaged 0.38 percent from 1983 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 31.00 percent in February of 2026 and a record low of -22.80 percent in January of 2023. This page includes a chart with historical data for Australia Dwelling Approvals MoM. Australia Building Permits MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on May of 2026.

Building Permits MoM in Australia decreased to -10.50 percent in March from 31 percent in February of 2026. Building Permits MoM in Australia is expected to be 0.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Australia Building Permits MoM is projected to trend around 0.60 percent in 2027 and 0.50 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-04 01:30 AM
Building Permits MoM Prel
Mar -10.5% 31.0% -9.9% -6.0%
2026-05-11 01:30 AM
Building Permits MoM Final
Mar -10.5% 31.0% -10.5% -10.5%
2026-06-02 01:30 AM
Building Permits MoM Prel
Apr -10.5% -2.3%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average House Prices 1074.70 1046.00 AUD Thousand Dec 2025
Building Permits 17300.00 19339.00 Units Mar 2026
Building Permits MoM -10.50 31.00 percent Mar 2026
Building Permits YoY 9.00 16.10 percent Mar 2026
Construction Work Done 3.40 0.20 percent Mar 2026
Cotality Dwelling Prices MoM 0.30 0.60 percent Apr 2026
Home Loans MoM 65315.00 59064.90 AUD Million Dec 2025
Home Ownership Rate 66.00 66.20 percent Dec 2020
Investment Lending for Homes 41537.60 42822.10 AUD Million Mar 2026
Mortgage Rate 5.92 5.73 Percent Mar 2026
Private House Approvals MoM 0.90 2.00 percent Mar 2026
Residential Property Prices 7.82 5.02 Percent Dec 2025


Australia Building Permits MoM
In Australia, Dwelling Approvals MoM show the monthly change in the number of total dwelling units approved, including building activity carried out on existing buildings.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-10.50 31.00 31.00 -22.80 1983 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Australia Building Permits Fall 10.5% in March
The seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia fell 10.5% month-on-month to 17,300 units in March 2026, reversing a 31.0% surge in February, confirming preliminary data. This marked the steepest decline since late December, driven primarily by a sharp contraction in approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses (-26.0% vs 101.1% in February), while growth in private sector house approvals eased to 0.9% from 2.0%. By region, total dwelling approvals declined in most states, including Victoria (-16.9%), Western Australia (-15.5%), Queensland (-6.4%), and South Australia (-2.1%), while increases were recorded in New South Wales (3.2%) and Tasmania (2.6%). Despite the monthly decline, total dwelling approvals were still up 9.0% year-on-year, following a 16.1% gain in the previous period.
2026-05-11
Australia Building Permits Fall More than Expected
The seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia plunged 10.5% month-on-month to 17,300 units in March 2026, sharply reversing an upwardly revised 31.0% jump in the previous month and coming in worse than market forecasts of a 9.9% decline, preliminary data showed. It marked the steepest decline in permits since last December, as approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses slumped (-26.0% vs 101.1% in February). Meanwhile, permits for private sector houses eased (0.9% vs 2.0%). However, despite easing growth, private sector house approvals reached their highest level since November 2021, with 10,194 units approved. By region, building permits declined in most states, including Victoria (-16.9%), Western Australia (-15.5%), Queensland (-6.4%), and South Australia (-2.1%). By contrast, permits rose in both New South Wales (3.2%) and Tasmania (2.6%). On an annual basis, dwelling approvals grew 9.0%, following an upwardly revised 16.1% gain in February.
2026-05-04
Rebound in Australia Building Permits Confirmed
The seasonally adjusted number of total dwellings approved in Australia soared 29.7% month-on-month to a near five-year high of 19,022 units in February 2026, confirming preliminary data and swinging from a 7.2% drop in the previous month. It marked the first rise in permits since November, as approvals for private sector dwellings excluding houses rebounded strongly (101.2% vs -25.0% in January). Meanwhile, permits for private sector houses were subdued (0.2% vs 1.7%). By region, building permits increased in most states, including New South Wales (10.1%), Victoria (85.1%), Queensland (14.7%), South Australia (12.3%), and Western Australia (3.1%). In contrast, Tasmania saw a 27.7% decline. On an annual basis, dwelling approvals expanded 14.0%, reversing a 1.5% drop in January.
2026-04-10