Insight
What Building Permits Tell You
Dwelling units created in building permits across Canada over the past 12 months: 295,800 units (Sep 2026).
Updated 2026-11-12
- Nanaimo: +78.9%
- Kingston: +51.9%
- Oshawa: +50.4%
- Saskatoon: +47.2%
- Saint John: +40.5%
- London: +34.1%
- Barrie: +25.7%
- Winnipeg: +25.4%
- St. John's: +22.6%
- Québec City: +21.2%
Permits lead starts
A permit is required before construction, so permits hint at future starts. Not every permitted project starts, and timing varies.
Permits by metro
| Metro | Value |
|---|---|
| Toronto Ont. | 34,530 units |
| Montréal Que. | 31,055 units |
| Calgary Alta. | 25,687 units |
| Vancouver B.C. | 25,300 units |
| Edmonton Alta. | 20,689 units |
| Québec City Que. | 11,389 units |
| Winnipeg Man. | 7,666 units |
| London Ont. | 6,212 units |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo Ont. | 5,345 units |
| Saskatoon Sask. | 5,297 units |
Sources
Informational only, not financial advice. Data as of the release snapshot generated 2026-11-12.