Municipalities issued $6.9 billion worth of building permits in April, down 0.3% from March and 8.1% lower than in April 2015.
Five provinces reported an increase in permits over a year ago. New Brunswick reported the largest gain, (+104.8%) followed by Manitoba (+54.3%). The largest annualized losses occurred in Newfoundland and Labrador (-47.2%), and Nova Scotia (-38.9%). Ontario recorded an annualized decrease of 14.3% while Quebec posted a 6.6% year-over-year gain.
Builders took out residential building permits worth $4.3 billion in April, down 1.8% from March and 4.1% lower than in April 2015. Just three provinces reported an annualized growth rate for residential permits: New Brunswick led the way (+112.2%) followed by Prince Edward Island (+73.9%). Double-digit annualized decreases occurred in three provinces with the steepest declines occurring in Nova Scotia (-33.6%), and Alberta (-25.9%). Ontario’s annualized decrease was 0.4% while Quebec’s year-over-year decline was 9.4%.
Municipalities issued permits worth $1.9 billion for multi-family dwellings in April down 6.2% from March and 9.1% lower than in April 2015. Lower month-over-month construction intentions for projects were recorded in seven provinces. The largest losses occurred in Ontario, followed by Quebec and Nova Scotia. The largest gain was reported in Alberta. Permits for single family units amounted to $2.5 billion, up 1.8% from March and 0.2% higher than in April 2015. Monthly increases were posted in five provinces led by Alberta and New Brunswick. Manitoba recorded the largest monthly decrease.
Municipalities approved 16,232 new dwellings in April, up 3.0% from March but 8.1% lower than in April 2015. There was a 5.6% monthly increase and a 3.4% annualized gain in the number of single-family units, which totaled 6,030. There was a 1.6% monthly increase and a 13.8% annualized loss in the number of multi-family units approved, which totaled 10,202.
The value of non-residential permits in April grew 2.5% from March to $2.5 billion but decreased 14.2% from April 2015. From March to April, industrial permits lost 16.5% to $346 million and were down 31.6% from April 2015; institutional permits rose 15.4% from March to $695 million but were down 28.0% from a year earlier; while commercial sector permits gained 2.5% from March to $1.5 billion, and were up 0.6% from April 2015. The institutional upturn in April over March came mainly from higher construction intentions for universities and other government buildings. The largest gain was in Alberta. Ontario had the largest decline. The monthly industrial decrease mainly resulted from lower construction intentions for manufacturing plants and transportation-related buildings. Decreases were reported in eight provinces, led by Ontario. Commercial construction increases occurred in seven provinces primarily in Ontario and Manitoba.