Housing starts and construction data for August 2026

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Today at 12:15pm UTC

Housing starts and construction data for August 2026

Canada NewsWire

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 16, 2026 /CNW/ -- The six-month trend in housing starts was down 1.3% in August compared to July to 244,149 units, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). The trend measure is a six-month moving average of the seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of total housing starts for all areas in Canada.

Actual monthly housing starts were down 2% year-over-year in centres with a population of 10,000 or more, with 17,691 units recorded in August, compared to 18,112 units in August 2025. The year-to-date total was 149,542 units, down 4% from the same period in 2025.

The total monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada was flat in August (229,046 units) compared to July (229,360 units).

The number of units under construction in centres with a population of 50,000 or more in August was flat, down 0.4% month-over-month to 371,658 units compared to July. Completions decreased with construction finishing on 17,550 units, down 11.2% compared to July. The number of units with approved building permits but not yet started increased slightly (+0.7%) month-to-month to 142,423 units in August.

Quote:

"Housing starts continued to trend slightly down in August, as modest gains in Quebec and Alberta only partially offset the decline in other provinces, most notably, Ontario," said Kevin Hughes, Deputy Chief Economist at CMHC. "The latest results are consistent with CMHC's Housing Market Outlook. While the current pace of starts is elevated compared to recent years, we expect the downward trend to continue as construction activity moderates in the coming months especially towards the end of the year"

Key Facts:

  • The rural starts monthly SAAR estimate was 11,224 units.
  • Among Canada's three biggest CMAs, Montreal posted a 6% month-to-month increase in the six-month trend, driven by higher starts of all types. Vancouver also recorded a 6% increase due to higher multi-unit starts while the trend measure in Toronto was flat, as the trends for both single-detached and multi-unit starts were unchanged.
  • Read more about what housing starts measure and why they matter on CMHC's Housing Observer.
  • Monthly Housing Starts and Other Construction Data are accessible in English and French on our website and the CMHC Housing Market Information Portal.
  • Housing starts data is available on the eleventh business day each month. We will release the September housing starts data on October 16 at 8:15 AM ET.
  • CMHC uses the trend measure as a complement to the monthly SAAR of housing starts to account for considerable swings in monthly estimates and to obtain a clearer picture of upcoming new housing supply. In some situations, analyzing only SAAR data can be misleading, as the multi-unit segment largely drives the market and can vary significantly from one month to the next.
  • Read about CMHC's definitions and methodology to better understand the foundations of the Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys.

Housing starts data facilitates the analysis of monthly, quarterly, and year-over-year construction activity in the new home market. The data CMHC collects as part of the Starts and Completions and Market Absorption surveys helps us obtain a clearer picture of upcoming new housing supply and is used as part of our various housing reports.

For 80 years, CMHC has been the foundation of Canada's housing system, promoting stability and sustainability. CMHC's mortgage insurance products support access to home ownership and the creation and maintenance of rental supply. CMHC research and data help inform housing policy. By facilitating cooperation between all levels of government, private and non-profit sectors, CMHC contributes to advancing housing affordability, equity, and climate compatibility. CMHC actively supports the Government of Canada in delivering on its commitment to make housing more affordable.

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Related Links:

Housing Starts in Canada - All Areas

 

Housing Construction Indicators, by Province for Centres 50,000 Population and Over

July 2026-August 2026











Province/Centre

Approved Units* Awaiting Housing
Start

Under Construction (Units)

Completions (Units)


July 2026

August 2026

%

July 2026

August 2026

%

July 2026

August 2026

%

Provinces










N.L.

509

498

-2.2

957

991

3.6

83

99

19.3

P.E.I.

316

322

1.9

1,093

1,140

4.3

60

11

-81.7

N.S.

3,149

2,968

-5.7

14,978

14,638

-2.3

119

792

##

N.B.

1,725

1,778

3.1

5,668

5,790

2.2

460

463

0.7

Atlantic

5,699

5,566

-2.3

22,696

22,559

-0.6

722

1,365

89.1

Que.

33,975

36,024

6

57,466

56,744

-1.3

7,491

3,510

-53.1

Ont.

30,839

32,006

3.8

151,670

149,314

-1.6

4,037

5,901

46.2

Man.

3,820

4,068

6.5

9,495

9,384

-1.2

419

451

7.6

Sask.

1,820

1,678

-7.8

6,889

6,724

-2.4

247

796

##

Alta.

23,565

22,829

-3.1

44,540

45,320

1.8

3,805

3,487

-8.4

Prairies

29,205

28,575

-2.2

60,924

61,428

0.8

4,471

4,734

5.9

B.C.

41,762

40,252

-3.6

80,335

81,613

1.6

3,052

2,040

-33.2

Canada 50,000+

141,480

142,423

0.7

373,091

371,658

-0.4

19,773

17,550

-11.2











Metropolitan Areas










Abbotsford-Mission

2,099

1,964

-6.4

2,887

2,874

-0.5

168

45

-73.2

Barrie

558

503

-9.9

2,414

2,452

1.6

87

61

-29.9

Belleville - Quinte West

114

110

-3.5

899

847

-5.8

18

81

##

Brantford

447

467

4.5

1,640

1,320

-19.5

246

354

43.9

Calgary

17,698

17,069

-3.6

24,547

25,049

2

1,879

1,715

-8.7

Chilliwack

82

205

150

1,266

1,235

-2.4

23

40

73.9

Drummondville

247

239

-3.2

905

917

1.3

203

59

-70.9

Edmonton

5,316

5,262

-1

18,289

18,544

1.4

1,729

1,532

-11.4

Fredericton

125

359

187.2

1,826

1,862

2

32

28

-12.5

Greater/Grand Sudbury

38

33

-13.2

547

588

7.5

30

5

-83.3

Guelph

138

197

42.8

252

253

0.4

189

5

-97.4

Halifax

3,060

2,785

-9

14,751

14,400

-2.4

116

776

##

Hamilton

531

710

33.7

6,920

6,715

-3

327

272

-16.8

Kamloops

335

435

29.9

929

921

-0.9

201

10

-95

Kelowna

1,295

1,244

-3.9

4,302

4,034

-6.2

20

287

##

Kingston

450

617

37.1

1,911

1,937

1.4

23

22

-4.3

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

681

702

3.1

7,712

6,884

-10.7

563

951

68.9

Lethbridge

361

326

-9.7

573

553

-3.5

56

82

46.4

London

1,886

1,899

0.7

6,649

6,457

-2.9

86

373

##

Moncton

1,033

862

-16.6

3,023

3,136

3.7

368

231

-37.2

Montréal

19,068

20,686

8.5

34,809

34,664

-0.4

3,403

2,070

-39.2

Nanaimo

212

205

-3.3

1,203

1,220

1.4

25

22

-12

Oshawa

844

812

-3.8

2,864

2,872

0.3

83

73

-12

Ottawa-Gatineau

6,664

6,021

-9.6

20,828

21,244

2

1,675

895

-46.6

  Gatineau

1,692

1,934

14.3

3,556

3,339

-6.1

832

304

-63.5

  Ottawa

4,972

4,087

-17.8

17,272

17,905

3.7

843

591

-29.9

Peterborough

132

129

-2.3

140

148

5.7

4

8

100

Québec

8,112

8,267

1.9

10,455

10,275

-1.7

1,746

431

-75.3

Red Deer

31

30

-3.2

312

312

0

32

18

-43.8

Regina

494

340

-31.2

2,015

2,258

12.1

25

62

148

Saguenay

986

946

-4.1

893

874

-2.1

187

116

-38

St. Catharines-Niagara

1,120

1,202

7.3

4,727

4,565

-3.4

74

272

##

Saint John

567

557

-1.8

819

792

-3.3

60

204

##

St. John's

509

498

-2.2

957

991

3.6

83

99

19.3

Saskatoon

1,326

1,338

0.9

4,874

4,466

-8.4

222

734

##

Sherbrooke

721

695

-3.6

1,885

1,786

-5.3

297

211

-29

Thunder Bay

140

136

-2.9

486

488

0.4

5

23

##

Toronto

17,878

19,516

9.2

92,749

91,584

-1.3

1,009

2,362

134.1

Trois-Rivières

910

943

3.6

833

754

-9.5

390

130

-66.7

Vancouver

35,751

33,456

-6.4

59,595

61,331

2.9

2,123

1,332

-37.3

Victoria

1,828

2,616

43.1

8,747

8,565

-2.1

433

248

-42.7

Windsor

261

250

-4.2

1,521

1,359

-10.7

176

248

40.9

Winnipeg

3,706

3,951

6.6

9,105

9,028

-0.8

381

412

8.1

CMA Total

137,754

138,582

0.6

362,059

360,554

-0.4

18,797

16,899

-10.1











*Units with approved building permits (excluding conversions) that have not yet begun construction and are not yet counted as housing starts. These units, where no construction activity has yet been observed through CMHC's Starts and Completions Survey (SCS), may be indicative of future housing starts.

## not calculable / extreme value


Source: CMHC Starts and Completions Survey (SCS)

© 2026 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

 

Housing Starts - Seasonally Adjusted at Annual Rates - 6 Month Moving Average (Trend)

August 2026



Single-Detached 

All Others






Total



July 2026

August 2026

%

July 2026

August 2026

%

July 2026

August 2026

w

Provinces (10,000+)










Nfld.Lab.

633

628

-1

731

751

3

1,364

1,379

1

P.E.I.    

279

262

-6

1,358

1,212

-11

1,637

1,474

-10

N.S.    

1,368

1,430

5

5,118

4,931

-4

6,486

6,361

-2

N.B.    

843

921

9

3,810

4,003

5

4,653

4,924

6

Que.   

4,966

4,796

-3

55,822

56,551

1

60,787

61,346

1

Ont.    

9,566

9,882

3

53,804

49,051

-9

63,370

58,933

-7

Man.    

2,229

2,230

0

6,714

5,980

-11

8,943

8,210

-8

Sask.    

1,921

1,835

-4

4,398

4,890

11

6,319

6,725

6

Alta.    

13,363

13,930

4

31,753

32,666

3

45,116

46,596

3

B.C.    

3,629

3,522

-3

33,410

33,100

-1

37,039

36,622

-1

Canada (10,000+)

38,797

39,435

2

196,918

193,136

-2

235,715

232,571

-1

Canada (All Areas)

44,372

45,067

2

203,073

199,081

-2

247,446

244,149

-1

Metropolitan Areas










Abbotsford-Mission

109

95

-13

1,408

1,442

2

1,516

1,537

1

Barrie

221

262

19

860

928

8

1,081

1,190

10

Belleville - Quinte West

144

177

23

162

172

6

306

349

14

Brantford

177

179

1

732

742

1

909

921

1

Calgary

5,807

6,212

7

15,888

17,086

8

21,695

23,298

7

Chilliwack

123

107

-13

834

826

-1

957

933

-3

Drummondville

211

193

-9

1,104

1,156

5

1,315

1,349

3

Edmonton

5,825

5,985

3

13,648

13,726

1

19,473

19,712

1

Fredericton

246

305

24

1,090

1,094

0

1,336

1,399

5

Greater/Grand Sudbury

86

95

10

152

200

32

238

295

24

Guelph

26

25

-4

102

94

-8

128

119

-7

Halifax

625

609

-3

4,122

4,112

0

4,747

4,721

-1

Hamilton

230

219

-5

1,700

800

-53

1,930

1,019

-47

Kamloops

80

74

-8

1,104

1,054

-5

1,184

1,128

-5

Kelowna

189

175

-7

1,932

1,338

-31

2,121

1,513

-29

Kingston

149

155

4

500

556

11

649

711

10

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

346

385

11

4,708

2,762

-41

5,054

3,147

-38

Lethbridge

283

282

0

752

770

2

1,035

1,052

2

London

505

556

10

4,050

4,242

5

4,555

4,798

5

Moncton

266

276

4

2,007

2,369

18

2,272

2,645

16

Montréal

1,230

1,251

2

27,487

29,240

6

28,717

30,492

6

Nanaimo

134

143

7

918

968

5

1,052

1,111

6

Oshawa

289

219

-24

506

494

-2

795

713

-10

Ottawa-Gatineau

2,330

2,420

4

12,534

12,163

-3

14,864

14,583

-2

  Gatineau

359

362

1

3,050

2,736

-10

3,409

3,097

-9

  Ottawa

1,971

2,058

4

9,484

9,427

-1

11,455

11,486

0

Peterborough

98

102

4

136

136

-

234

238

2

Québec

776

764

-2

9,144

9,038

-1

9,920

9,801

-1

Red Deer

130

130

-

402

396

-1

532

526

-1

Regina

448

394

-12

1,514

1,948

29

1,962

2,342

19

Saguenay

183

185

1

1,114

1,208

8

1,297

1,393

7

St. Catharines-Niagara

386

422

9

2,338

1,840

-21

2,724

2,262

-17

Saint John

204

191

-6

174

394

126

377

585

55

St. John's

536

556

4

656

716

9

1,192

1,272

7

Saskatoon

1,391

1,347

-3

2,858

2,908

2

4,248

4,255

0

Sherbrooke

308

296

-4

2,204

1,978

-10

2,512

2,274

-9

Thunder Bay

91

82

-10

280

280

-

371

362

-2

Toronto

2,612

2,611

0

22,500

22,520

0

25,112

25,131

0

Trois-Rivières

132

140

6

1,068

1,190

11

1,200

1,330

11

Vancouver

1,935

1,857

-4

21,270

22,666

7

23,205

24,523

6

Victoria

287

295

3

2,978

2,772

-7

3,265

3,067

-6

Windsor

346

376

9

634

708

12

980

1,084

11

Winnipeg

1,889

1,869

-1

6,098

5,490

-10

7,987

7,359

-8

Data based on

2021 Census

Definitions.    

Source:  Market Analysis Centre, CMHC    

 

Housing Start Data in Centres 10,000 Population and Over



















January - August 2025 - 2026










Area


Single-Detached 



All Others



Total



Province












2025

2026

%

2025

2026

%

2025

2026

%

N.L.


430

430

-

245

444

81

675

874

29

P.E.I.    


205

165

-20

799

826

3

1,004

991

-1

N.S.    


1,027

876

-15

4,956

3,287

-34

5,983

4,163

-30

N.B.    


589

566

-4

2,884

2,540

-12

3,473

3,106

-11

Atlantic


2,251

2,037

-10

8,884

7,097

-20

11,135

9,134

-18

Que.   


3,034

3,176

5

30,147

31,854

6

33,181

35,030

6

Ont.    


6,327

6,293

-1

32,319

33,530

4

38,646

39,823

3

Man.    


1,511

1,440

-5

2,770

3,736

35

4,281

5,176

21

Sask.    


1,084

1,159

7

2,490

2,787

12

3,574

3,946

10

Alta.    


10,506

9,088

-13

25,671

21,469

-16

36,177

30,557

-16

Prairies


13,101

11,687

-11

30,931

27,992

-10

44,032

39,679

-10

B.C.    


2,616

2,373

-9

26,048

23,503

-10

28,664

25,876

-10

Canada


27,329

25,566

-6

128,329

123,976

-3

155,658

149,542

-4

Metropolitan Areas






















Abbotsford-Mission

118

72

-39

1,459

752

-48

1,577

824

-48

Barrie


102

164

61

490

500

2

592

664

12

Belleville - Quinte West


105

101

-4

272

90

-67

377

191

-49

Brantford


210

157

-25

1,230

584

-53

1,440

741

-49

Calgary


4,596

3,981

-13

14,036

11,096

-21

18,632

15,077

-19

Chilliwack


86

73

-15

269

430

60

355

503

42

Drummondville


154

146

-5

645

662

3

799

808

1

Edmonton


4,732

3,941

-17

9,969

8,713

-13

14,701

12,654

-14

Fredericton


164

198

21

670

639

-5

834

837

0

Greater/Grand Sudbury


65

61

-6

125

107

-14

190

168

-12

Guelph


21

16

-24

78

66

-15

99

82

-17

Halifax


524

400

-24

4,442

2,660

-40

4,966

3,060

-38

Hamilton


212

128

-40

1,826

1,053

-42

2,038

1,181

-42

Kamloops


57

67

18

300

950

##

357

1,017

185

Kelowna


175

129

-26

1,862

1,184

-36

2,037

1,313

-36

Kingston


122

109

-11

734

290

-60

856

399

-53

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo


244

262

7

2,022

2,560

27

2,266

2,822

25

Lethbridge


232

176

-24

199

425

114

431

601

39

London


320

348

9

981

2,514

156

1,301

2,862

120

Moncton


192

147

-23

1,756

1,454

-17

1,948

1,601

-18

Montréal


832

823

-1

15,889

16,939

7

16,721

17,762

6

Nanaimo


59

80

36

278

494

78

337

574

70

Oshawa


260

203

-22

426

292

-31

686

495

-28

Ottawa-Gatineau


1,124

1,428

27

7,292

7,789

7

8,416

9,217

10

  Gatineau


286

252

-12

1,436

1,711

19

1,722

1,963

14

  Ottawa


838

1,176

40

5,856

6,078

4

6,694

7,254

8

Peterborough


51

64

25

17

68

##

68

132

94

Québec


457

532

16

5,457

5,413

-1

5,914

5,945

1

Red Deer


89

73

-18

232

215

-7

321

288

-10

Regina


235

281

20

858

1,044

22

1,093

1,325

21

Saguenay


166

143

-14

271

694

156

437

837

92

St. Catharines-Niagara


298

287

-4

1,166

1,349

16

1,464

1,636

12

Saint John


144

130

-10

172

211

23

316

341

8

St. John's


398

389

-2

238

406

71

636

795

25

Saskatoon


801

846

6

1,544

1,725

12

2,345

2,571

10

Sherbrooke


179

200

12

766

1,224

60

945

1,424

51

Thunder Bay


59

47

-20

63

236

##

122

283

132

Toronto


2,044

1,575

-23

14,407

14,382

0

16,451

15,957

-3

Trois-Rivières


117

98

-16

801

651

-19

918

749

-18

Vancouver


1,347

1,258

-7

17,058

16,040

-6

18,405

17,298

-6

Victoria


190

186

-2

3,357

1,913

-43

3,547

2,099

-41

Windsor


226

224

-1

515

370

-28

741

594

-20

Winnipeg


1,333

1,234

-7

2,376

3,341

41

3,709

4,575

23

Total


22,840

20,777

-9

116,548

111,525

-4

139,388

132,302

-5

1 Data for 2024, 2025 and 2026 based on 2021 Census Definitions.









Source: CMHC Starts and Completion Survey, Market Absorption Survey









 

Housing Start Data in Centres 10,000 Population and Over 


Single-Detached 

All Others

Total



August 2025

August 2026

%

August 2025

August 2026

%

August 2025

August 2026

%

Provinces (10,000+)










N.-L.

59

75

27

33

55

67

92

130

41

P.E.I.    

30

19

-37

164

39

-76

194

58

-70

N.S.    

147

112

-24

434

424

-2

581

536

-8

N.B.    

137

130

-5

490

451

-8

627

581

-7

Atlantic

373

336

-10

1,121

969

-14

1,494

1,305

-13

Qc

408

399

-2

2,496

3,255

30

2,904

3,654

26

Ont.    

987

1,072

9

3,995

2,810

-30

4,982

3,882

-22

Man.    

202

201

0

581

193

-67

783

394

-50

Sask.    

159

147

-8

227

492

117

386

639

66

Alta.    

1,269

1,589

25

2,640

2,850

8

3,909

4,439

14

Prairies

1,630

1,937

19

3,448

3,535

3

5,078

5,472

8

B.C.    

387

320

-17

3,267

3,058

-6

3,654

3,378

-8

Canada (10,000+)

3,785

4,064

7

14,327

13,627

-5

18,112

17,691

-2

Metropolitan Areas

Abbotsford-Mission

19

11

-42

67

24

-64

86

35

-59

Barrie

10

35

##

18

64

##

28

99

##

Belleville - Quinte West

16

24

50

1

5

##

17

29

71

Brantford

22

29

32

176

5

-97

198

34

-83

Calgary

467

715

53

1,564

1,507

-4

2,031

2,222

9

Chilliwack

15

3

-80

3

6

100

18

9

-50

Drummondville

14

12

-14

77

59

-23

91

71

-22

Edmonton

629

685

9

1,013

1,111

10

1,642

1,796

9

Fredericton

28

53

89

51

12

-76

79

65

-18

Greater/Grand Sudbury

12

20

67

14

27

93

26

47

81

Guelph

5

5

-

1

2

100

6

7

17

Halifax

81

38

-53

371

378

2

452

416

-8

Hamilton

52

16

-69

168

51

-70

220

67

-70

Kamloops

0

3

##

0

0

-

0

3

##

Kelowna

13

22

69

13

33

154

26

55

112

Kingston

14

19

36

4

29

##

18

48

167

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

36

47

31

613

55

-91

649

102

-84

Lethbridge

18

19

6

1

43

##

19

62

##

London

38

75

97

86

138

60

124

213

72

Moncton

58

40

-31

327

296

-9

385

336

-13

Montréal

81

89

10

1,557

1,808

16

1,638

1,897

16

Nanaimo

10

11

10

109

28

-74

119

39

-67

Oshawa

72

49

-32

190

32

-83

262

81

-69

Ottawa-Gatineau

177

217

23

354

1,105

##

531

1,322

149

  Gatineau

50

34

-32

101

53

-48

151

87

-42

  Ottawa

127

183

44

253

1,052

##

380

1,235

##

Peterborough

10

16

60

0

0

-

10

16

60

Québec

55

71

29

360

613

70

415

684

65

Red Deer

11

10

-9

13

8

-38

24

18

-25

Regina

37

35

-5

47

268

##

84

303

##

Saguenay

24

27

13

20

70

##

44

97

120

St. Catharines-Niagara

37

31

-16

194

80

-59

231

111

-52

Saint John

31

17

-45

12

116

##

43

133

##

St. John's

52

69

33

33

55

67

85

124

46

Saskatoon

116

105

-9

180

219

22

296

324

9

Sherbrooke

26

30

15

34

82

141

60

112

87

Thunder Bay

13

9

-31

0

16

##

13

25

92

Toronto

320

220

-31

1,836

972

-47

2,156

1,192

-45

Trois-Rivières

15

20

33

118

69

-42

133

89

-33

Vancouver

209

165

-21

2,317

2,802

21

2,526

2,967

17

Victoria

32

25

-22

595

36

-94

627

61

-90

Windsor

38

38

-

46

45

-2

84

83

-1

Winnipeg

155

161

4

517

174

-66

672

335

-50

Total

3,068

3,286

7

13,100

12,443

-5

16,168

15,729

-3

Data for 2022 based on 2016 Census Definitions and data for 2023, 2024 and 2025 based on 2021 Census Definitions.

Source: CMHC Starts and Completion Survey, Market Absorption Survey



## not calculable / extreme value

 

CMHC Deputy Chief Economist, Kevin Hughes

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Logo

SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)