Regional Indicator 6: Building Permits

	Why It's Important The value of non-residential building permits issued is an important measure of a jurisdiction's economic activity and attractiveness to investors. Note: *Regional BC includes the Abbotsford and Kelowna CMAs.

Regional Indicator Six measures the dollar value of permits issued by municipalities and regional districts for non-residential buildings. It includes industrial, commercial and institutional construction, as well as new government buildings. Also included are alterations, renovations and additions to non-residential buildings.

The value of building permits in BC has been above average for the last three years. Over the period 1990 through 2007 BC averaged $597 per person in real non-residential building permits. Values for 1998 through 2004 were between $42 and $167 lower than the long-run average while values for 2005 through 2007 were between $112 and $242 higher.

Regional BC and Vancouver exhibited the same pattern. Values were below the long-run average between 1998 and 2004 and above it between 2005 and 2007.

Victoria followed the same basic pattern but had above average values in 1999 and 2003 as well.