Housing starts and construction data for May 2026

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Today at 12:15pm UTC

Housing starts and construction data for May 2026

Canada NewsWire

OTTAWA, ON, June 15, 2026 /CNW/ - The six-month trend in housing starts was virtually flat in May, with a slight increase of 0.5% to 258,010 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 5.2% year-over-year in centres with a population of 10,000 or more, with 22,633 units recorded in May, compared to 23,879 units in May 2025. The year-to-date total was 93,644 units, up 3% from the same period in 2025, driven by higher starts in British Columbia and Ontario, outweighing year-over-year decreases in the Prairies.

The total monthly SAAR of housing starts for all areas in Canada decreased 6% in May (261,377 units) compared to April (278,380 units).

The number of units under construction in centres with a population of 50,000 or more rose 0.9% month-over-month to 374,662 units in May. Completions also increased, with construction finished on 16,880 units, up 10.6% compared to April. The number of units with approved building permits but not yet started fell 2.4% month-over-month to 138,842 units in May.

Quote:

"May's data showed mixed results. Year-to-date housing starts are slightly up from last year, and the monthly starts trend was basically flat, while units under construction and completions increased. Overall, these results suggest that construction activity is uneven and taken together with the decline of approved units not yet started and market intelligence point to weaker momentum for future supply," said Aled Ab Iorwerth, Deputy Chief Economist at CMHC.

Key Facts:

  • The rural starts monthly SAAR estimate was 14,357 units.
  • Among Canada's three biggest CMAs, Montreal posted a 18% year-over-year increase in actual housing starts this month driven by higher multi-unit. Vancouver recorded a 7% decrease due to lower multi-unit starts while Toronto starts decreased 12%.
  • Read more about why housing starts 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 June housing starts data on July 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 facilitate the analysis of monthly, quarterly, and year-over-year 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

April 2026-May 2026











Province/Centre

Approved Units* Awaiting Housing
Start

Under Construction (Units)

Completions (Units)


April 2026

May 2026

%

April 2026

May 2026

%

April 2026

May 2026

%

Provinces










N.L.

413

331

-19.9

851

836

-1.8

119

97

-18.5

P.E.I.

294

351

19.4

879

999

13.7

37

65

75.7

N.S.

3,858

3,061

-20.7

13,694

14,388

5.1

157

102

-35

N.B.

1,378

1,168

-15.2

5,877

5,854

-0.4

472

438

-7.2

Atlantic

5,943

4,911

-17.4

21,301

22,077

3.6

785

702

-10.6

Que.

34,533

33,570

-2.8

58,963

60,626

2.8

2,764

3,371

22

Ont.

29,408

28,558

-2.9

149,423

150,477

0.7

4,028

4,133

2.6

Man.

4,248

4,175

-1.7

9,161

9,646

5.3

195

200

2.6

Sask.

2,068

1,894

-8.4

5,823

6,271

7.7

549

248

-54.8

Alta.

24,139

23,799

-1.4

43,156

43,793

1.5

3,535

4,065

15

Prairies

30,455

29,868

-1.9

58,140

59,710

2.7

4,279

4,513

5.5

B.C.

41,985

41,935

-0.1

83,364

81,772

-1.9

3,401

4,161

22.3

Canada 50,000+

142,324

138,842

-2.4

371,191

374,662

0.9

15,257

16,880

10.6











Metropolitan Areas










Abbotsford-Mission

2,373

2,042

-13.9

2,766

3,044

10.1

186

189

1.6

Barrie

644

633

-1.7

2,030

2,155

6.2

52

15

-71.2

Belleville - Quinte West

147

150

2

819

817

-0.2

17

17

0

Brantford

410

389

-5.1

1,858

1,985

6.8

44

54

22.7

Calgary

18,779

17,849

-5

24,095

24,375

1.2

2,097

2,432

16

Chilliwack

150

151

0.7

1,209

1,220

0.9

137

8

-94.2

Drummondville

292

240

-17.8

1,032

1,022

-1

89

122

37.1

Edmonton

4,838

5,240

8.3

16,924

17,440

3

1,362

1,413

3.7

Fredericton

287

162

-43.6

1,440

1,403

-2.6

266

162

-39.1

Greater/Grand Sudbury

49

40

-18.4

572

537

-6.1

50

50

0

Guelph

111

115

3.6

545

423

-22.4

62

128

106.5

Halifax

3,750

2,992

-20.2

13,549

14,224

5

127

84

-33.9

Hamilton

376

513

36.4

6,994

6,960

-0.5

452

42

-90.7

Kamloops

333

421

26.4

1,252

1,275

1.8

28

33

17.9

Kelowna

1,376

1,184

-14

4,442

4,488

1

537

198

-63.1

Kingston

619

402

-35.1

1,835

2,039

11.1

12

13

8.3

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

780

619

-20.6

7,997

8,002

0.1

253

264

4.3

Lethbridge

360

492

36.7

836

796

-4.8

33

60

81.8

London

1,616

1,684

4.2

6,738

6,763

0.4

64

99

54.7

Moncton

603

550

-8.8

3,467

3,461

-0.2

171

238

39.2

Montréal

20,546

20,027

-2.5

34,410

35,838

4.1

1,537

1,750

13.9

Nanaimo

258

314

21.7

1,126

1,136

0.9

28

13

-53.6

Oshawa

755

822

8.9

2,760

2,746

-0.5

614

54

-91.2

Ottawa-Gatineau

6,011

6,295

4.7

21,555

21,418

-0.6

975

1,124

15.3

  Gatineau

2,090

1,842

-11.9

4,229

4,206

-0.5

138

360

160.9

  Ottawa

3,921

4,453

13.6

17,326

17,212

-0.7

837

764

-8.7

Peterborough

122

127

4.1

62

64

3.2

9

3

-66.7

Québec

7,891

7,328

-7.1

10,844

11,201

3.3

426

684

60.6

Red Deer

40

43

7.5

422

296

-29.9

21

151

##

Regina

181

331

82.9

1,781

1,830

2.8

81

38

-53.1

Saguenay

817

930

13.8

1,045

924

-11.6

88

30

-65.9

St. Catharines-Niagara

830

1,219

46.9

4,350

4,391

0.9

47

124

163.8

Saint John

488

456

-6.6

970

990

2.1

35

38

8.6

St. John's

413

331

-19.9

851

836

-1.8

119

97

-18.5

Saskatoon

1,887

1,563

-17.2

4,042

4,441

9.9

468

210

-55.1

Sherbrooke

449

610

35.9

2,040

2,094

2.6

206

93

-54.9

Thunder Bay

192

154

-19.8

359

441

22.8

13

5

-61.5

Toronto

17,732

16,195

-8.7

90,550

91,382

0.9

1,376

2,224

61.6

Trois-Rivières

656

767

16.9

1,012

995

-1.7

17

131

##

Vancouver

35,830

36,118

0.8

61,945

60,059

-3

2,345

3,354

43

Victoria

1,492

1,538

3.1

9,262

9,148

-1.2

48

347

##

Windsor

265

274

3.4

1,598

1,654

3.5

75

32

-57.3

Winnipeg

4,142

4,084

-1.4

8,773

9,246

5.4

188

195

3.7

CMA Total

138,890

135,394

-2.5

360,157

363,559

0.9

14,755

16,318

10.6

*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 Start - Seasonally Adjusted at Annual Rates - 6 Month Moving Average (Trend)

May 2026


Single-Detached 

All Others

Total


April 2026

May 2026

%

April 2026

May 2026

%

April 2026

May 2026

%

Provinces (10,000+)










Nfld.Lab.

704

672

-5

763

688

-10

1,466

1,360

-7

P.E.I.    

270

289

7

976

1,232

26

1,246

1,521

22

N.S.    

1,456

1,447

-1

5,163

5,862

14

6,619

7,308

10

N.B.    

1,073

1,011

-6

4,648

3,537

-24

5,721

4,548

-21

Que.   

5,391

5,509

2

55,348

54,232

-2

60,739

59,741

-2

Ont.    

9,583

9,465

-1

59,820

62,070

4

69,403

71,535

3

Man.    

2,141

2,208

3

5,808

4,944

-15

7,949

7,152

-10

Sask.    

1,875

1,951

4

2,520

3,308

31

4,395

5,259

20

Alta.    

13,135

13,429

2

29,703

30,204

2

42,839

43,632

2

B.C.    

4,142

4,077

-2

39,558

39,033

-1

43,700

43,110

-1

Canada (10,000+)

39,770

40,059

1

204,306

205,109

0

244,077

245,168

0

Canada (All Areas)

46,019

46,285

1

210,627

211,725

1

256,646

258,010

1

Metropolitan Areas










Abbotsford-Mission

186

164

-12

548

1,402

156

734

1,566

113

Barrie

209

132

-37

202

374

85

411

506

23

Belleville - Quinte West

126

131

4

184

144

-22

310

275

-11

Brantford

305

257

-16

840

1,136

35

1,144

1,393

22

Calgary

5,825

5,813

0

14,650

15,134

3

20,475

20,947

2

Chilliwack

124

118

-5

850

762

-10

974

880

-10

Drummondville

229

227

-1

1,428

1,254

-12

1,657

1,481

-11

Edmonton

5,526

5,822

5

12,198

12,330

1

17,724

18,152

2

Fredericton

282

245

-13

674

436

-35

956

681

-29

Greater/Grand Sudbury

87

92

6

338

142

-58

425

234

-45

Guelph

32

29

-9

416

404

-3

448

433

-3

Halifax

686

699

2

3,826

4,552

19

4,512

5,251

16

Hamilton

303

240

-21

3,162

3,094

-2

3,465

3,334

-4

Kamloops

132

123

-7

1,682

1,730

3

1,814

1,853

2

Kelowna

224

216

-4

1,780

1,844

4

2,004

2,060

3

Kingston

240

164

-32

200

614

207

440

778

77

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

389

387

-1

5,236

5,620

7

5,625

6,007

7

Lethbridge

320

312

-3

490

490

-

810

802

-1

London

419

448

7

4,630

4,206

-9

5,049

4,654

-8

Moncton

372

345

-7

2,420

1,967

-19

2,792

2,312

-17

Montréal

1,356

1,368

1

24,700

24,388

-1

26,055

25,757

-1

Nanaimo

117

110

-6

634

604

-5

751

714

-5

Oshawa

494

499

1

342

174

-49

836

673

-19

Ottawa-Gatineau

1,977

2,065

4

13,393

13,318

-1

15,370

15,383

0

  Gatineau

390

411

5

2,457

3,058

24

2,848

3,469

22

  Ottawa

1,587

1,654

4

10,936

10,260

-6

12,522

11,914

-5

Peterborough

66

71

8

22

22

-

88

93

6

Québec

742

736

-1

6,506

7,048

8

7,248

7,784

7

Red Deer

82

108

32

358

366

2

439

474

8

Regina

496

485

-2

1,022

1,062

4

1,517

1,547

2

Saguenay

239

226

-5

1,134

1,084

-4

1,373

1,310

-5

St. Catharines-Niagara

580

550

-5

3,014

2,886

-4

3,594

3,436

-4

Saint John

265

284

7

370

192

-48

635

476

-25

St. John's

561

535

-5

612

536

-12

1,173

1,071

-9

Saskatoon

1,358

1,447

7

1,472

2,214

50

2,830

3,661

29

Sherbrooke

218

265

22

2,532

2,190

-14

2,750

2,455

-11

Thunder Bay

91

90

-1

214

366

71

305

456

50

Toronto

2,352

2,363

0

22,848

25,220

10

25,200

27,583

9

Trois-Rivières

156

138

-12

832

828

0

988

966

-2

Vancouver

2,101

2,126

1

26,296

24,794

-6

28,397

26,920

-5

Victoria

317

298

-6

4,274

4,218

-1

4,591

4,516

-2

Windsor

289

309

7

990

684

-31

1,279

993

-22

Winnipeg

1,846

1,931

5

4,964

4,282

-14

6,810

6,212

-9

Data based on 2021 Census Definitions.

Source: Market Analysis Centre, CMHC


Housing Start Data in Centres 10,000 Population and Over






















January - May 2025 - 2026











Area


Single-Detached 



All Others



Total



Province













2025

2026

%

2025

2026

%

2025

2026

%

N.L.


193

179

-7

140

283

102

333

462

39

P.E.I.    


99

86

-13

417

555

33

516

641

24

N.S.    


480

455

-5

2,752

2,156

-22

3,232

2,611

-19

N.B.    


203

213

5

1,216

1,210

0

1,419

1,423

0

Atlantic


975

933

-4

4,525

4,204

-7

5,500

5,137

-7

Que.   


1,574

1,882

20

19,423

20,243

4

20,997

22,125

5

Ont.    


3,258

3,105

-5

18,880

22,979

22

22,138

26,084

18

Man.    


870

849

-2

1,684

2,340

39

2,554

3,189

25

Sask.    


634

646

2

1,766

1,397

-21

2,400

2,043

-15

Alta.    


6,363

5,111

-20

16,175

12,672

-22

22,538

17,783

-21

Prairies


7,867

6,606

-16

19,625

16,409

-16

27,492

23,015

-16

B.C.    


1,467

1,432

-2

13,525

15,851

17

14,992

17,283

15

Canada


15,141

13,958

-8

75,978

79,686

5

91,119

93,644

3

Metropolitan Areas






















Abbotsford-Mission


58

50

-14

902

680

-25

960

730

-24

Barrie


45

48

7

121

184

52

166

232

40

Belleville - Quinte West


43

34

-21

165

5

-97

208

39

-81

Brantford


104

113

9

933

568

-39

1,037

681

-34

Calgary


2,969

2,299

-23

9,443

6,682

-29

12,412

8,981

-28

Chilliwack


54

47

-13

241

348

44

295

395

34

Drummondville


91

93

2

337

490

45

428

583

36

Edmonton


2,798

2,196

-22

5,381

4,852

-10

8,179

7,048

-14

Fredericton


46

44

-4

234

199

-15

280

243

-13

Greater/Grand Sudbury


15

23

53

74

48

-35

89

71

-20

Guelph


8

3

-63

25

52

108

33

55

67

Halifax


266

232

-13

2,555

1,626

-36

2,821

1,858

-34

Hamilton


74

63

-15

691

670

-3

765

733

-4

Kamloops


46

52

13

110

844

##

156

896

##

Kelowna


105

67

-36

1,047

869

-17

1,152

936

-19

Kingston


62

53

-15

218

223

2

280

276

-1

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo


116

128

10

1,055

2,284

116

1,171

2,412

106

Lethbridge


124

83

-33

180

199

11

304

282

-7

London


169

151

-11

251

1,945

##

420

2,096

##

Moncton


66

62

-6

809

854

6

875

916

5

Montréal


468

465

-1

9,495

9,937

5

9,963

10,402

4

Nanaimo


33

50

52

123

298

142

156

348

123

Oshawa


105

95

-10

146

64

-56

251

159

-37

Ottawa-Gatineau


635

732

15

4,604

4,569

-1

5,239

5,301

1

  Gatineau


97

145

49

1,015

1,428

41

1,112

1,573

41

  Ottawa


538

587

9

3,589

3,141

-12

4,127

3,728

-10

Peterborough


22

18

-18

3

11

##

25

29

16

Québec


286

310

8

3,924

3,395

-13

4,210

3,705

-12

Red Deer


48

42

-13

197

163

-17

245

205

-16

Regina


131

143

9

721

517

-28

852

660

-23

Saguenay


84

80

-5

201

411

104

285

491

72

St. Catharines-Niagara


160

193

21

468

868

85

628

1,061

69

Saint John


54

71

31

77

53

-31

131

124

-5

St. John's


183

154

-16

135

243

80

318

397

25

Saskatoon


471

489

4

968

866

-11

1,439

1,355

-6

Sherbrooke


91

99

9

435

900

107

526

999

90

Thunder Bay


14

12

-14

31

183

##

45

195

##

Toronto


1,105

774

-30

9,769

10,319

6

10,874

11,093

2

Trois-Rivières


71

46

-35

539

363

-33

610

409

-33

Vancouver


754

758

1

8,938

9,755

9

9,692

10,513

8

Victoria


83

98

18

1,296

1,691

30

1,379

1,789

30

Windsor


108

95

-12

139

263

89

247

358

45

Winnipeg


794

770

-3

1,481

2,074

40

2,275

2,844

25

Total


12,959

11,335

-13

68,462

70,565

3

81,421

81,900

1

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



May 2025

May 2026

%

May 2025

May 2026

%

May 2025

May 2026

%

Provinces (10,000+)









N.-L.

67

66

-1

33

26

-21

100

92

-8

P.E.I.    

31

41

32

20

144

##

51

185

##

N.S.    

130

125

-4

579

824

42

709

949

34

N.B.    

88

94

7

474

359

-24

562

453

-19

Atlantic

316

326

3

1,106

1,353

22

1,422

1,679

18

Qc

445

558

25

6,127

5,417

-12

6,572

5,975

-9

Ont.    

874

880

1

4,992

4,781

-4

5,866

5,661

-3

Man.    

186

206

11

511

514

1

697

720

3

Sask.    

182

211

16

288

496

72

470

707

50

Alta.    

1,496

1,336

-11

4,278

3,585

-16

5,774

4,921

-15

Prairies

1,864

1,753

-6

5,077

4,595

-9

6,941

6,348

-9

B.C.    

352

346

-2

2,726

2,624

-4

3,078

2,970

-4

Canada (10,000+)

3,851

3,863

0

20,028

18,770

-6

23,879

22,633

-5

Metropolitan Areas









Abbotsford-Mission

18

13

-28

45

454

##

63

467

##

Barrie

24

4

-83

23

136

##

47

140

198

Belleville - Quinte West

11

14

27

0

1

##

11

15

36

Brantford

16

12

-25

353

169

-52

369

181

-51

Calgary

641

541

-16

2,398

2,178

-9

3,039

2,719

-11

Chilliwack

16

12

-25

4

7

75

20

19

-5

Drummondville

19

29

53

83

86

4

102

115

13

Edmonton

706

648

-8

1,517

1,294

-15

2,223

1,942

-13

Fredericton

21

21

-

109

105

-4

130

126

-3

Greater/Grand Sudbury

7

10

43

69

6

-91

76

16

-79

Guelph

1

0

-100

18

6

-67

19

6

-68

Halifax

56

66

18

488

693

42

544

759

40

Hamilton

19

8

-58

66

0

-100

85

8

-91

Kamloops

5

6

20

4

50

##

9

56

##

Kelowna

33

23

-30

379

221

-42

412

244

-41

Kingston

15

6

-60

2

211

##

17

217

##

Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo

20

23

15

37

246

##

57

269

##

Lethbridge

42

18

-57

38

2

-95

80

20

-75

London

27

44

63

26

87

##

53

131

147

Moncton

36

27

-25

262

201

-23

298

228

-23

Montréal

121

164

36

2,556

3,003

17

2,677

3,167

18

Nanaimo

4

7

75

18

16

-11

22

23

5

Oshawa

41

27

-34

44

13

-70

85

40

-53

Ottawa-Gatineau

113

263

133

933

816

-13

1,046

1,079

3

  Gatineau

30

59

97

389

366

-6

419

425

1

  Ottawa

83

204

146

544

450

-17

627

654

4

Peterborough

4

5

25

0

0

-

4

5

25

Québec

93

95

2

1,952

946

-52

2,045

1,041

-49

Red Deer

8

16

100

180

17

-91

188

33

-82

Regina

32

29

-9

28

60

114

60

89

48

Saguenay

26

15

-42

50

36

-28

76

51

-33

St. Catharines-Niagara

60

29

-52

78

139

78

138

168

22

Saint John

20

33

65

50

25

-50

70

58

-17

St. John's

62

60

-3

30

25

-17

92

85

-8

Saskatoon

145

175

21

249

432

73

394

607

54

Sherbrooke

21

43

105

55

103

87

76

146

92

Thunder Bay

9

5

-44

11

82

##

20

87

##

Toronto

310

241

-22

3,202

2,883

-10

3,512

3,124

-11

Trois-Rivières

21

16

-24

313

98

-69

334

114

-66

Vancouver

180

190

6

1,593

1,459

-8

1,773

1,649

-7

Victoria

14

20

43

362

213

-41

376

233

-38

Windsor

33

40

21

31

46

48

64

86

34

Winnipeg

174

187

7

499

481

-4

673

668

-1

Total

3,224

3,185

-1

18,155

17,046

-6

21,379

20,231

-5

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

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SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)