Canada's building permits fell by 1.7% month-on-month to C$12.4 billion in May 2026, slowing from a decline of 7.6% in the previous month and contrasting with market expectations of a 2.4% increase. The decrease was driven by the non-residential sector, where permit values dropped 6.1% to C$ 4.7 billion, led by a decline in the industrial components by C$341.0 million, while an increase in the commercial component tempered the decline by C$81.4 million. In contrast, the value of residential permits increased 1.2% to C$7.7 billion, as a C$161.9 million increase in multi-unit permits more than offset a C$70.7 million decline in single-family permits. Compared with the same month a year earlier, the total value of building permits was 4.5% lower. source: Statistics Canada

Building Permits MoM in Canada decreased by 1.70 percent in May from -6.60 percent in April of 2026. Building Permits MoM in Canada averaged 1.02 percent from 1950 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 35.50 percent in January of 1975 and a record low of -28.50 percent in December of 1964. This page includes a chart with historical data for Canada Building Permits MoM. Canada Value of Building Permits MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on July of 2026.

Building Permits MoM in Canada decreased by 1.70 percent in May from -6.60 percent in April of 2026. Building Permits MoM in Canada is expected to be 5.00 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Canada Value of Building Permits MoM is projected to trend around 0.90 percent in 2027 and 1.00 percent in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-06-11 12:30 PM
Building Permits MoM
Apr -7.6% 10.3% -3.5% -5.0%
2026-07-10 12:30 PM
Building Permits MoM
May -1.7% -6.6% 2.4% 1.0%
2026-08-12 12:30 PM
Building Permits MoM
Jun -1.7% -0.2%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average House Prices 657700.00 657400.00 CAD Jun 2026
Building Permits 12374939.00 12491125.00 CAD Thousand May 2026
Building Permits MoM -1.70 -6.60 percent May 2026
Home Ownership Rate 66.70 69.30 percent Dec 2023
Home Sales 38014.00 37816.00 units Jun 2026
New Housing Price Index MoM -0.10 -0.30 percent Jun 2026
New Housing Price Index YoY -2.40 -2.30 percent May 2026
Housing Index 120.60 120.70 points Jun 2026
Housing Starts 239.00 253.10 Thousand units Jun 2026
Price to Rent Ratio 128.81 122.80 Jun 2026
Residential Property Prices -4.80 -3.38 Percent Mar 2026


Canada Value of Building Permits MoM
In Canada, building permits refer to the value of permits issued for new buildings, alterations, additions, and renovations that includes expenditures on materials, labor, profit, and overheads. The value is based on a survey of 2,400 municipalities, representing 95% of the country's population. Building permits provide an early indication of construction activity in Canada but the issuance of a permit doesn't guarantee that construction is imminent.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-1.70 -6.60 35.50 -28.50 1950 - 2026 percent Monthly
SA

News Stream
Canada Building Permits Fall in May
Canada's building permits fell by 1.7% month-on-month to C$12.4 billion in May 2026, slowing from a decline of 7.6% in the previous month and contrasting with market expectations of a 2.4% increase. The decrease was driven by the non-residential sector, where permit values dropped 6.1% to C$ 4.7 billion, led by a decline in the industrial components by C$341.0 million, while an increase in the commercial component tempered the decline by C$81.4 million. In contrast, the value of residential permits increased 1.2% to C$7.7 billion, as a C$161.9 million increase in multi-unit permits more than offset a C$70.7 million decline in single-family permits. Compared with the same month a year earlier, the total value of building permits was 4.5% lower.
2026-07-10
Canada Building Permits Fall More Than Expected
Canada’s building permits fell by 7.6% month-on-month to C$12.5 billion in April 2026, reversing a 10.6% increase in the previous month and missing forecasts of a 3.5% decline. The value of non-residential permits dropped 10.5% to C$5.0 billion, led by declines in the institutional (-C$388.2 million) and industrial (-C$323.2 million) components, partly offset by a rise in commercial permits (+C$125.6 million). Residential construction intentions fell 5.5% to C$7.5 billion, mainly due to a decline in multi-family permits (-C$429.7 million), while the value of single-family permits remained virtually unchanged at C$2.7 billion. Despite the monthly decline, the total value of building permits issued in April was 2.7% higher than a year earlier.
2026-06-11
Canada Building Permits Rebound Sharply in March
Canada’s building permits rose 10.3% month-on-month to C$13 billion in March 2026, rebounding from a 7.8% decline in the previous month and beating forecasts of a 3% increase. The value of non-residential permits increased by C$1.5 billion to C$5.5 billion, led by the institutional component, which rose C$817.1 million. The industrial and commercial components also contributed, increasing by C$473.2 million and C$238 million, respectively. Meanwhile, residential construction intentions fell C$270.6 million, or 3.3%, to C$8 billion, mainly due to a decline in the multi-family component, while single-family permits were little changed. In the first quarter of 2026, the total value of building permits rose 1.1% from the previous quarter to C$39 billion.
2026-05-19