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August 09, 2017BUILDING PERMITS, JUNE 2017 
The value of building permits issued in Nova Scotia increased by 34.6 per cent in June, following a 24.7 per cent decrease in May. Residential and non-residential building permits issued increased by 33.7 per cent and 36.6 per cent respectively. Although monthly results for building permits are highly volatile, permit values had begun to pick up in early 2017, after remaining generally flat trend in 2016 and declining through much of 2015.
The trend in Nova Scotia building permit values particularly reflects the trends in the Halifax market. The value of Halifax building permits increased 51.3 per cent in June 2017 reflecting an increase in both residential (60.8 per cent ) and non-residential (35.9 per cent) permits. Residential and non-residential permits in Halifax have been on the rise since mid-2016 following a downward trend through much of 2015 and early 2016.
Outside the Halifax market, building permit values increased 7.7 per cent in June with an increase in non-residential permit of 38.2 per cent and a decrease in residential permit of 2.9 per cent.
Comparing the first six months of 2017 with the same period in 2016, NS building permits were up 25.7 per cent reflecting an increase in both residential (15.7 per cent) and non-residential (48.5 per cent) building permits.
Year-to date permitted dwelling units in Nova Scotia were up 77 units, reflecting an increase in multiples and singles in Halifax. However, permitted dwelling units outside Halifax were down 86 units reflecting a decrease in both singles and multiple units.
Compared with January through June 2016, in January through June 2017 building permit values (unadjusted) were up in four economic regions, with the largest gains in Halifax, followed by Southern Nova Scotia and the Annapolis Valley region. Permit values were up slightly in Cape Breton, and fell in the North Shore region.
Nationally, residential building permit values were on an upward trend in 2016 but have fallen in early 2017, and have risen in the past two months. Non-residential building permit values have been slowly but steadily trending downward since mid-2014. Compared to January through June of 2016, both residential permits (13.4 per cent) and non-residential permit (1.9 per cent) were up nationally in the first six months of 2017.
Comparing the first six months of 2017 to the same period in 2016, among other provinces Manitoba reported the largest gains in residential building permit values followed by PEI in percentage terms. Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick reported declines.
Comparing the first six months of 2017 to the same period in 2016, non-residential building permits increased in six provinces led in percentage terms by PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan reported declines.
Comparing the first six months of 2017 to the same period in 2016, overall building permit values were down in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Alberta, while all other provinces observed gains.
Sources: CANSIM 026-0006 and 026-0005
Statistics Canada Cat. No. 64-001-X
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