Statistics Canada reported that the total value of building permits dropped 6.6% month-over-month to $11.7 billion, a decline of $829.6 million. The downturn was led by a steep drop in multi-family residential construction in British Columbia, where both residential and non-residential intentions tumbled.
On a constant dollar basis, building permits fell 16.4% year-over-year, after a strong surge in April 2024.
Value of building permits for the single-family and multi-family components
B.C. leads a multi-family retreat
The residential sector saw an 11.6% monthly decline, with permit values falling to $7.4 billion. Nearly all of that drop came from the multi-family segment, down $882.5 million, while single-family permit values slipped by $85.2 million.
British Columbia accounted for nearly all the national drop in multi-family construction, with values falling $837.4 million. In the Vancouver census metropolitan area (CMA) alone, permit values declined by $1 billion, reversing gains made in the first quarter of the year.
Nationally, a total of 21,400 multi-family units and 4,200 single-family homes were approved in April—a 6.5% decline in dwelling units compared to March.
Non-residential construction sees modest growth
While residential permits slumped, non-residential construction intentions rose 3.3% to $4.3 billion. That increase was driven by the industrial (+$186.8 million) and commercial (+$68.6 million) segments, though partially offset by a $117.2-million decline in the institutional category.
Ontario led the non-residential gains, with permit values rising 20.8% to $2 billion, including a $259-million increase in commercial intentions, mostly for new office space in the Toronto area. Industrial intentions in the province were also up $136.7 million.
British Columbia saw a continued slowdown in non-residential activity, with total permit values falling $341 million, largely in the commercial (-$164.5 million) and institutional (-$158.2 million) segments.
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Last modified: June 12, 2025
