Canadian Housing Starts (March 2026) – April 17, 2026

Canadian housing starts decreased 6 per cent from the previous month, totaling 235,852 units in March at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Starts were up 10 per cent from the same month last year (SAAR).  In areas with 10,000 or more residents, single-detached housing starts decreased by 9 per cent year-over-year, while multi-family and other starts increased by 14 per cent compared to March 2025. 

In areas of British Columbia with 10,000 or more residents, starts were down by about 6.3 per cent from last March to 30,430 units (SAAR). In these urban areas, single-detached starts increased by 7 per cent, while multi-family starts fell by 8 per cent year-over-year. In 2026, year-over-year starts are up by 39 per cent in Vancouver, 13 per cent in Victoria, and 3 per cent in Kelowna, but down by 90 per cent in Abbotsford, 22 per cent in Nanaimo.