Canadian municipalities issued $13.6 billion in building permits in August 2026, up $1.1 billion or 8.8% from July, Statistics Canada reported on October 14. Almost the entire increase came from one place: permits for apartment buildings and other multi-unit housing. Ontario accounted for the largest share of that gain.
After adjusting for construction costs, the value of permits was up 8.6% from July and 12.4% from August 2025. That means more building was approved, not just more expensive building.
The August numbers at a glance
| Category | August 2026 | Change from July |
|---|---|---|
| Total permits | $13.6 billion | +$1.1 billion (+8.8%) |
| Residential | $8.5 billion | +$1.1 billion |
| Multi-unit residential | $5.8 billion | +$1.1 billion |
| Single-family homes | $2.6 billion | Essentially flat |
| Non-residential | $5.1 billion | -$29.8 million |
| Commercial | $2.2 billion | -$380.0 million |
| Industrial | $1.1 billion | +$317.3 million |
| Institutional | $1.8 billion | +$32.9 million |
Seasonally adjusted, current dollars. Source: Statistics Canada, The Daily, October 14, 2026.
Municipalities approved 21,800 multi-unit homes and 4,000 single-family homes in August, a 12.8% increase in units from July. Multi-unit projects made up about 85% of the homes approved and about two-thirds of the residential dollar value (Local Toronto calculations).
Ontario led the increase
Ontario issued $5.1 billion in permits in August, up 9.4% and more than a third of the national total. The province’s multi-unit permits rose by $696.0 million, the largest gain of any province. That single number is roughly 63% of the national increase in multi-unit permits.
Ontario’s non-residential side went the other way. Institutional permits, which cover schools, hospitals and government buildings, fell by $211.2 million, the main reason Canada’s institutional total barely moved.
| Province | August 2026 permits | Change from July |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | $5.1 billion | +9.4% |
| Quebec | $2.9 billion | +3.9% |
| British Columbia | $2.1 billion | +7.5% |
| Alberta | $2.0 billion | +21.7% |
| Manitoba | $0.5 billion | +26.9% |
| Saskatchewan | $0.3 billion | +15.9% |
The Toronto area: $2.4 billion in one month
The Toronto census metropolitan area issued $2.43 billion in permits in August, up 3.8% from $2.35 billion in July. On its own, the Toronto area accounted for about 18% of all permits issued in Canada that month.
| Metro area | July 2026 | August 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toronto | $2,345.6 million | $2,434.9 million | +3.8% |
| Oshawa | $49.3 million | $106.0 million | +115.0% |
| Hamilton | $241.0 million | $222.5 million | -7.7% |
| Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo | $117.5 million | $154.6 million | +31.6% |
| Ottawa (Ontario part) | $363.9 million | $280.3 million | -23.0% |
| Vancouver | $1,113.5 million | $1,272.5 million | +14.3% |
| Montreal | $1,432.5 million | $1,247.5 million | -12.9% |
| Calgary | $776.3 million | $986.9 million | +27.1% |
Oshawa more than doubled from a small base. Monthly permit values for smaller metro areas swing widely when a single large project is approved, so one month should not be read as a trend.
Permits are not shovels in the ground
A building permit means a project has been approved. It does not mean construction has started, and many approved condo and rental towers wait months or years for financing and presales. That gap is wide in the GTA right now. The City of Toronto recorded 4,557 housing starts in the first half of 2026, down from 10,372 in the first half of 2024, according to a city report to council.
The national trend is also flatter than August suggests. Over the 12 months to August 2026, municipalities approved 299,500 new homes, down from 305,500 in the previous 12 months, a drop of about 2%.
So August is a good month, not yet a turnaround. What it does show is that builders are still filing for multi-unit projects in Ontario, at a time when two big cost cuts are arriving:
- Development charges. Toronto, Mississauga and Vaughan have cut charges on new homes by 50% or more under the federal-provincial program. See which GTA cities have signed on.
- HST relief. Buyers who sign for a new home between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027 can get back up to $130,000 in HST. See how to tell whether a builder’s price already includes it.
It is too early to credit either policy for August’s jump. Permits filed in August reflect projects that were planned months earlier. The better test will be whether starts follow over the winter.
What it means for GTA buyers and owners
- Buyers of new condos and rentals: more approved supply in the pipeline adds to an already large inventory of unsold new homes. That supports builder incentives and gives buyers room to negotiate. Browse current GTA new home projects.
- Resale buyers: new supply takes years to arrive and does not change this fall’s prices. For current numbers, see the Toronto housing market report for September 2026 and our GTA market data page.
- Homeowners planning renovations or additions: permit offices handle these too. Our permit guide for home projects in the GTA covers what needs one.
Statistics Canada will release September building permit data on November 12.
Questions about the August building permit numbers
How much were Canadian building permits worth in August 2026?
$13.6 billion, up $1.1 billion or 8.8% from July, seasonally adjusted. Residential permits were $8.5 billion and non-residential $5.1 billion.
How many new homes were approved in August 2026?
About 25,800: 21,800 in multi-unit buildings and 4,000 single-family homes, up 12.8% from July.
How much did the Toronto area issue in building permits?
$2.43 billion in August 2026, up 3.8% from July, about 18% of the national total.
Do more building permits mean lower home prices?
Not right away. Permits are approvals, and it can take years for an approved project to start and finish. Over time, more completed homes add supply, which can slow price growth.
Sources
- Statistics Canada, The Daily: Building permits, August 2026, October 14, 2026, including Table 3 for census metropolitan areas.
- City of Toronto, report to council on the Development Charges Reduction Program, 2026, for Toronto housing starts.
Shares and percentages marked as Local Toronto calculations are derived from Statistics Canada figures. HomeLife Landmark Realty Inc., Brokerage.