Canada Building Permits Rebound in December

Building permits in Canada rose 6.8% month-over-month to C$12.8 billion in December 2025, rebounding from a 13.1% decline in the previous month. Residential intentions increased by C$533.5 million to C$8.0 billion, as gains in multi-unit dwellings (+C$653.2 million to C$5.5 billion) offset a drop in single-family permits (-C$119.7 million to C$2.5 billion). Non-residential permits rose by C$287.8 million to C$4.8 billion, driven by the institutional component (+C$412.6 million), while commercial (-C$71.1 million) and industrial (-C$53.8 million) segments declined. On a year-on-year basis, the total value of permits increased by C$3.3 billion to C$149.7 billion in 2025.

Building permits in Canada fell 13.1% month-on-month to C$12.0 billion in November 2025, marking the first decline after two months of growth and well below market expectations for a 6.5% drop. The residential sector led the decrease, falling C$1.0 billion to C$7.5 billion, with Ontario driving most of the decline. Multi-family permits dropped C$1.0 billion to C$4.9 billion, led by Ontario and Quebec, while gains in British Columbia partially offset the fall. Single-family permits edged down C$3.8 million to C$2.6 billion, as increases in seven provinces and one territory were offset by a decline in Quebec. Non-residential construction fell C$788.2 million to C$4.5 billion, with broad-based losses across the commercial (-C$422.6 million), institutional (-C$318.9 million), and industrial (-C$46.7 million) components.

Building permits in Canada surged 14.9% month-on-month to C$13.8 billion in October 2025, marking the fastest growth since June 2024 and and significantly exceeding market expectations for a 1.4% decline. The surge was led by the residential sector, which added C$1.1 billion to reach C$8.6 billion, with Ontario driving the gains as multi-family permits climbed C$1.0 billion to C$5.9 billion, concentrated in the Toronto CMA and Quebec. Single-family permits rose C$47 million to C$2.6 billion, led by Alberta. Non-residential construction added C$702.8 million to total C$5.3 billion, with commercial (+C$394.9 million) and institutional (+C$311.8 million) projects fueling growth, particularly in Ontario and British Columbia, while industrial permits slipped marginally.