The value of building permits issued in Canada fell C$552.8 million, or 4.1%, from August to C$12.9 billion in September, after a 7.6% gain in August. Residential permits led the decline, while non-residential permits supported it, Statistics Canada reported.
Residential permits slipped C$475.7 million, or 5.8%, from August to C$7.8 billion. Multi-unit permits dropped C$529.3 million, or 9.4%, to C$5.1 billion. Single-family permits gained C$53.6 million, or 2%, to C$2.7 billion. Single-family dwelling units authorized edged down 0.3% from August to 4,000. Multi-unit dwelling units authorized declined 10.3% to 19,000.
Non-residential permits eased C$77.1 million, or 1.5%, to C$5.1 billion in September. Institutional permits drove the decline, shedding C$171.5 million, or 9.8%, to C$1.6 billion. Industrial permits climbed C$90.9 million, or 7.7%, to C$1.3 billion.
British Columbia led the decline in multi-unit permits, down C$292.1 million, followed by Alberta at C$186.8 million. Ontario led the gain in single-family permits, adding C$103.3 million. Industrial permits were driven higher by Ontario, up C$299.2 million. Quebec led the decline in institutional permits at C$95.5 million.
In constant 2023 dollars, the total value of building permits was down 4.8% from the second quarter to C$34.7 billion in the third quarter. In constant 2023 dollars, non-residential permits shrank C$1.7 billion to C$13.8 billion. In constant 2023 dollars, institutional permits were down C$1.5 billion to C$4.6 billion, after reaching a record high in the second quarter, led by a new hospital in Ontario.