Permits rise by 3.3% compared to the previous month
The number of housing building permits issued in February increased by 3.3% compared to January, reaching a total of 33,151 permits, according to preliminary data released by the Ministry of Urban Affairs and Housing.
This figure is close to the average recorded over the past 12 months. Officials noted that the monthly increase was mainly driven by growth in multi-unit housing projects, while single-family housing activity remained largely unchanged. These statistics are adjusted for seasonal patterns and working days by the government’s Data and Statistical Studies Service (SDES).
Out of the total permits issued, 12,470 were for single-family homes, showing no change from the previous month. Meanwhile, 20,681 permits were granted for multi-unit housing, reflecting a 5.3% increase.
Over the 12-month period from March 2025 to February 2026, a total of 387,944 housing units were approved for construction. This represents a 5.1% decline compared to the average of the previous five years, according to SDES data.
On the construction side, 27,158 new housing projects were started in February, marking a 1.6% decrease compared to January. Over the past year, 283,007 housing units were started, which is 17.7% lower than the five-year average.
The ministry emphasized that these figures are still preliminary, as data collection remains incomplete. Additionally, the SDES has updated its methodology, leading to regular revisions of previously reported data. For example, January’s decline in building permits was adjusted to -1.5% instead of the earlier reported -6%. Similarly, housing starts in January were revised to a sharper drop of -3.1%, compared to the initially reported -1.8%.
The construction sector has been under significant pressure over the past three years. Rising building costs and higher interest rates have made it difficult for many households to move forward with home purchases. Furthermore, the end of government support programs for rental investments—particularly the Pinel tax incentive in 2025—has discouraged individual investors from entering the market.
Source: Original reporting by AFP, CoStar News.
