Change in building permit values, by percentage and segment, in July of 2025. (Source: Statistics Canada, Table 34-10-0292-01, Building permits, by type of building and type of work.)
A mixed picture between the residential and non-residential sectors resulting in a relatively flat July for building permits, reports Statistics Canada. The total value of building permits issued across the country edged down a mere $10.8 million, or a tenth of one per cent, to $11.9 billion compared to June. A $279.2 million decrease in construction intentions in the non-residential sector was largely offset by a $268.3 million rise in the residential sector.
Within the non-residential sector, a decrease in industrial and institutional construction intentions led to a decline as permits came in at $4.6 billion for the month.
By segment, the industrial component fell 23.3 per cent to $835 million, coming in $252.9 million lower than June, as Ontario and Quebec were both off by more than $100 million compared to the prior month. After seeing a boost from hospital construction intentions in Alberta in June, the institutional segment found itself $196 million lower in July, coming in at $1.4 billion. The commercial component found its way to a 7.9 per cent increase, to reduce overall ICI softening. That segment posted in with a value of $2.3 billion in July.
The residential sector has been on a downward trend since January, but a healthy gain in Ontario had residential construction intentions rising in July, outpacing June by $268.3 million to reach $7.3 billion.
Within those results, the single-family component increased $143.5 million to $2.6 billion with seven provinces and three territories contributing to the increase. The multi-unit component also grew, gaining $124.8 million over June to reach $4.7 billion. This was again driven by Ontario, which saw the Toronto census metropolitan area increase by $329.5 million over the June results.
Nationwide, a total of 20,000 multi-unit dwellings and 4,100 single-family dwellings were authorized in July, up 1.9 per cent from the previous month.
