Canadian municipalities issued $7.7 billion worth of building permits in May, up +8.9 per cent from April and the third highest value on record, according to Statistics Canada Thursday. The national increase was mainly the result of higher construction intentions for residential buildings, particularly in Ontario. Seven provinces registered gains in the total value of building permits in May, and every building component increased except institutional structures.
The value of residential building permits issued by Canadian municipalities increased +10.8 per cent from April to $5 billion in May. Six provinces registered gains in the month, with Ontario reporting the largest increase, followed distantly by Alberta and British Columbia.
The multi-family component rose +15 per cent in May to $2.3 billion, following a +6.9 per cent gain in April. Construction intentions were up for every type of multi-family dwelling, led by row houses. Meanwhile, the value of single-family building permits rose +7.4 per cent to $2.7 billion in May, stemming mainly from single homes in Ontario.
The value of building permits issued for non-residential structures rose +5.6 per cent in May to $2.7 billion, marking a third consecutive monthly increase. Alberta and New Brunswick led the five provinces that posted gains in the non-residential sector in May.
The commercial component rose +12.9 per cent in May to $1.5 bil- lion, as increases were registered across several building categories, led by retail and wholesale construction intentions. Every province except Nova Scotia and Alberta reported gains in the value of commercial building permits.