Building Permits, October 2024

December 13, 2024

The total value of building permits issued in Canada decreased by $399.1 million (-3.1%) to $12.6 billion in October. This comes on the heels of a strong September, during which construction intentions rose by $1.3 billion to the second-highest level in the series. Despite the monthly decline in October, the total value of building permits was the fourth-highest level in the series. In October, Ontario’s construction intentions (-$696.4 million) significantly contributed to the national non-residential decline, tempering total residential growth, after fuelling both sectors’ gains in September.

On a constant dollar basis (2017=100), the total value of building permits in October decreased 3.6% from the previous month and was up 8.1% on a year-over-year basis.

Chart 1 
Total value of building permits, seasonally adjusted

Chart 1: Total value of building permits, seasonally adjusted

Infographic 1 
Building permits, October 2024

Thumbnail for Infographic 1: Building permits, October 2024

Declines in Ontario and Manitoba construction intentions push down the non-residential sector

The total value of non-residential building permits decreased by $576.3 million (-11.0%) to $4.7 billion in October, led by Ontario (-$300.9 million) and Manitoba (-$207.5 million). Overall, declines were seen across the institutional (-$368.2 million), commercial (-$127.5 million) and industrial (-$80.6 million) components.

Ontario’s non-residential sector decrease in October was driven by the institutional component (-$241.9 million), following the province’s record-high level reached in September. Manitoba’s decrease was driven by the industrial component (-$141.0 million) in October.

Chart 2 
Value of building permits for the single-family and multi-family components

Chart 2: Value of building permits for the single-family and multi-family components

Chart 3 
Value of building permits for the residential and non-residential sectors

Chart 3: Value of building permits for the residential and non-residential sectors

British Columbia and Alberta lead residential growth, while Ontario multi-family dwellings temper national gain

Residential construction intentions increased by $177.1 million (+2.3%) to $7.9 billion in October. British Columbia (+$275.6 million) and Alberta (+$158.9 million) led residential sector growth, which was also supported by Nova Scotia (+$73.7 million) and Manitoba (+$61.3 million).

The multi-family component edged up by $37.6 million in October. Monthly gains were observed in seven provinces and one territory, led by British Columbia (+$261.4 million) and Alberta (+$129.8 million). The gains were tempered by a decline in Ontario (-$472.8 million), following a sharp increase driven by several large multi-family dwellings construction projects in September. British Columbia’s increase in October was supported by a large multi-family dwelling construction project in Burnaby, while Alberta’s expansion was broad-based.

The value of single-family permits rose by $139.6 million in October, driven by Ontario (+$77.3 million), which was also supported by contributions from seven other provinces and territories.

Across Canada, 21,300 new multi-family dwellings and 4,900 single-family dwellings were authorized in October, representing a 6.7% monthly increase in the total number of units approved for construction through permit issuance. The 12-month cumulative total of units authorized from November 2023 to October 2024 rose by 2.7% to 274,100, compared with 266,800 units authorized from November 2022 to October 2023.

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Sonepar Announces Brand Consolidation in Ontario

    Sonepar Announces Brand Consolidation in Ontario

    Sonepar proudly announces the consolidation of their Ontario businesses from five brands to two. Aztec, Dixon and MGM will rebrand as a new and refreshed Dixon. Electrozad and Sesco will carry the new Electrozad brand. “Through many years of continued growth and acquisitions at Sonepar Canada, we have reached an exciting point in Ontario where… Read More…

  • Houle Selected as Electrical and Technology Contractor for the New BC Cancer Centre

    Houle Selected as Electrical and Technology Contractor for the New BC Cancer Centre

    In late August, Houle were proud to announce that they had been selected as the electrical and technology contractor for the new BC Cancer centre at the Royal Inland Hospital campus in Kamloops. Located adjacent to Royal Inland Hospital, this five-storey cancer centre will provide people in BC’s Interior with expanded access to cancer care… Read More…


Peers & Profiles