The value of building plans approved in South Africa surged by 16.9% year-on-year to ZAR 8708 million in March 2026, following a 11% drop in the prior month. Increases were seen for residential buildings (27.3% vs 8.4% in February); additions & alterations (10.2% vs -6.1%) and non-residential buildings (1.2% vs -43.6%). source: Statistics South Africa

Building Permits in South Africa increased to 8708302 ZAR Thousand in March from 7393645 ZAR Thousand in February of 2026. Building Permits in South Africa averaged 4216683.90 ZAR Thousand from 1981 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 12307680.00 ZAR Thousand in June of 2023 and a record low of 218553.00 ZAR Thousand in December of 1985. This page provides - South Africa Building Plans Passed- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. South Africa Building Plans Passed - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Building Permits in South Africa increased to 8708302 ZAR Thousand in March from 7393645 ZAR Thousand in February of 2026. Building Permits in South Africa is expected to be 7600000.00 ZAR Thousand by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the South Africa Building Plans Passed is projected to trend around 7900000.00 ZAR Thousand in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-23 12:30 PM
Building Permits YoY
Feb -11% 1.2% 3.0%
2026-05-21 12:30 PM
Building Permits YoY
Mar 16.9% -11% -8.0%
2026-06-18 11:00 AM
Building Permits YoY
Apr 16.9%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Building Permits YoY 8708302.00 7393645.00 ZAR Thousand Mar 2026
Housing Index 124.70 123.90 points Dec 2025
Price to Rent Ratio 101.27 101.35 points Jun 2025
Residential Property Prices 7.50 7.20 Percent Dec 2025


South Africa Building Plans Passed
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) conducts a monthly building statistics survey collecting information regarding building plans passed and buildings completed, financed by the private sector, from the largest local government institutions in South Africa. According to these institutions, they are not always notified about low-cost housing projects and therefore do not include the bulk of low-cost dwelling-houses. The monthly survey represents approximately 90 percent of the total value of buildings completed. The statistical unit for the collection of information is a local government institution. Local government institutions include district municipalities, metropolitan municipalities and local municipalities.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
8708302.00 7393645.00 12307680.00 218553.00 1981 - 2026 ZAR Thousand Monthly
Current Prices, NSA

News Stream
South Africa Building Permits Recover
The value of building plans approved in South Africa surged by 16.9% year-on-year to ZAR 8708 million in March 2026, following a 11% drop in the prior month. Increases were seen for residential buildings (27.3% vs 8.4% in February); additions & alterations (10.2% vs -6.1%) and non-residential buildings (1.2% vs -43.6%).
2026-05-21
South Africa Building Permits Drop in February
The value of building plans approved in South Africa slipped by 11.2% year-on-year to ZAR 7394 million in February 2026, following an upwardly revised 1.2% rise in the prior month. Steep declines in permits for non-residential buildings (-43.6% vs 27.7% in January) and additions & alterations (-6.1% vs -15.5%) more than offset the increase in residential ones (8.4% vs 1%).
2026-04-23
South Africa Building Permits Rebound Slightly
The value of building plans approved in South Africa rose by 0.2% year-on-year to ZAR 6275 million in January 2026, following a 14.3% decline in the prior month. Permits rebounded for non-residential buildings (27.7% vs -46% in December), but decreased for additions and alterations (-15.5% vs -12.5%) and residential projects (-1.1% vs 3.7%).
2026-03-19