Municipalities issued $6.5 billion worth of building permits in July, up 0.8% from June but 10.0% lower than in July 2015.
Three provinces reported an increase in permits over a year ago. Manitoba experienced the largest gain, (+25.5%) followed by Ontario (+3.9%). The steepest annualized losses occurred in Saskatchewan (-44.5%), Alberta (-31.7%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (-29.2%). Quebec recorded a year-over-year decrease of 3.4%.
Builders took out residential building permits worth $4.0 billion in July, down 2.0% from June and 13.9% lower than in July 2015. Seven provinces reported a decline in their annualized growth rate for residential permits. Alberta recorded the highest year-over-year downturn (-35.2%) followed by Nova Scotia (-30.6%) and Newfoundland and Labrador (-30.2%). Manitoba recorded the strongest annualized gain (+16.4%), followed by Quebec (+4.5%). Ontario’s year-over-year loss was 9.8%.
Municipalities issued permits worth $1.7 billion for multi-family dwellings in July, down 0.4% from June and 21.6% lower than in July 2015. Lower month-over-month construction intentions for projects were recorded in four provinces. The largest decreases occurred in British Columbia and Quebec. Permits for single family units amounted to $2.4 billion, down 3.0% from June and 7.5% lower than in July 2015. Monthly decreases were reported in eight provinces. Ontario recorded the largest monthly loss, followed by British Columbia and Alberta. Only Nova Scotia and Manitoba posted month-over-month increases.
Municipalities approved 15,388 new dwellings in July, up 2.2% from June but 12.5% lower than in July 2015. There was a 0.5% monthly decrease and a 5.9% annualized loss in the number of single-family units, which totaled 5,736. There was a 3.9% monthly increase but a 16.0% annualized loss in the number of multi-family units approved, which totaled 9,652.
The value of non-residential permits in July increased 5.6% from June to $2.4 billion but decreased 2.6% from July 2015. From June to July, industrial permits grew 17.1% to $418 million but were down 9.8% from July 2015; institutional permits were up 9.6% from June to $740 million and were 18.1% higher than a year earlier; while commercial sector permits increased 0.3% from June to $1.3 billion, but were down 9.4% from July 2015. The institutional upturn in July over may came mainly from higher construction intentions for medical facilities. The largest provincial gain was in Ontario. The monthly industrial increase chiefly resulted from higher construction intentions for transportation buildings. Increases were reported in four provinces, particularly Ontario. Commercial construction intention increases occurred in seven provinces led by Ontario. The monthly gain came largely from higher construction intentions for office buildings and retail complexes.