Canada Building Permits Fall 0.1% in July Despite Residential Growth

In July 2025, the total value of building permits in Canada held relatively steady, declining slightly by 0.1% to $11.9 billion, driven by a drop in non-residential permits which fell 5.8% to $4.6 billion due to weaker industrial and institutional activity. This decline was largely offset by a 3.8% increase in residential permits, rising to $7.3 billion, with single-family permits rising 5.9% and multi-unit dwelling approvals increasing by 1.9%. Ontario, led by the Toronto area, was the main driver of residential growth, contributing nearly $500 million in new housing intentions, while Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick saw declines in multi-unit and single-family permits. On a constant dollar basis, the total value of permits slipped 0.3% from June and was down 8.2% compared to the previous year. The decrease in non-residential permits reflects reduced demand for building factories, warehouses, and public-sector buildings such as hospitals and schools. Statistics Canada will release August’s building permit figures on October 14.