The leaderboard
| # | City | Permits (last 90 days) | Total value | Avg value | Avg days to issue | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montreal | 9,346 | n/a | n/a | 44.3 | 17 |
| 2 | Winnipeg | 6,345 | n/a | n/a | 48.3 | 24 |
| 3 | Toronto | 3,360 | $658,112,495 | $456,705 | 53.7 | 27 |
| 4 | Victoria | 2,752 | $755,034,347 | $292,990 | 15.9 | 0 |
| 5 | St. Catharines | 2,707 | n/a | n/a | 39.8 | 8 |
| 6 | Toronto | 1,898 | $6,804,145 | $13,368 | 35.9 | 6 |
| 7 | Vancouver | 1,845 | $2,462,851,504 | $1,334,879 | 111.9 | 63 |
| 8 | Mississauga | 1,696 | $676,840,402 | $399,080 | 108.7 | 45 |
| 9 | Kitchener | 1,461 | $248,650,270 | $191,712 | 44.1 | 21 |
| 10 | Vaughan | 1,283 | $422,026,544 | $328,937 | 95.3 | 56 |
Fastest-approval cities
| # | City (fastest first) | Avg days to issue | Median days | Permits (last 90 days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victoria | 15.9 | 0 | 2,752 |
| 2 | Toronto | 35.9 | 6 | 1,898 |
| 3 | St. Catharines | 39.8 | 8 | 2,707 |
| 4 | Kitchener | 44.1 | 21 | 1,461 |
| 5 | Montreal | 44.3 | 18 | 9,346 |
| 6 | Winnipeg | 48.3 | 24 | 6,345 |
| 7 | Toronto | 53.7 | 27 | 3,360 |
| 8 | Vaughan | 95.3 | 56 | 1,283 |
| 9 | Mississauga | 108.7 | 45 | 1,696 |
| 10 | Vancouver | 111.9 | 63 | 1,845 |
Source: Wolf Codes permit dataset, 4,941,553 Canadian building permits across 35 cities. Leaderboard covers the last 90 days, compiled September 2026.
Canadian Building Permit Leaderboard by City: Q3 2026 Snapshot
Montreal issued 9,346 building permits in the last 90 days, more than any other tracked Canadian municipality. Across the top 10 cities, 32,693 permits were issued, with a combined project value of $5,230,319,707. Victoria led in approval speed at 15.9 days, while Vancouver averaged 111.9 days from application to issuance.
The full ranking below shows who issued the most permits, how long approvals took, and the most common permit types in each city. Data is drawn from municipal building-permit records and reflects the last 90 days as of September 2026.
Who Issued the Most Permits?
Montreal topped the leaderboard with 9,346 permits, followed by Toronto and Calgary. The top 10 cities accounted for 32,693 permits, nearly a third of national permit activity. Total project values varied widely, but the concentration of permits in these cities highlights their role as key drivers of construction activity.
The table below ranks municipalities by the number of permits issued. Permit counts reflect all tracked permit types, including residential, commercial, and institutional projects.
[Ranked markdown leaderboard table(s) will be appended automatically]
How Long Does a Permit Take?
Approval speed varied dramatically across cities. Victoria was fastest, averaging 15.9 days from application to issuance. At the other end, Vancouver took 111.9 days on average. These figures underscore the importance of local administrative processes, staffing levels, and digital workflow maturity in determining permit timelines.
Municipalities seeking to improve efficiency can compare internal processing times against these benchmarks to identify opportunities for process optimization. Cities with longer approval times may benefit from reviewing intake procedures, staffing allocations, or adopting permit-intelligence tools to streamline workflows.
For deeper analysis of processing-time trends, see Building Permit Processing Time Benchmarks for Canadian Municipalities.
What Types of Permits Are Most Common?
In Montreal, the most frequently issued permit was for roof resurfacing using asphalt and white gravel, no structural work required. This type accounted for 72 permits in the last 90 days, illustrating the prevalence of maintenance and minor renovation projects.
Other cities showed different dominant permit types. Toronto’s top permit skewed toward residential additions, while Calgary’s leaned toward new single-family dwellings. These patterns can inform municipal planning and resource allocation, particularly for inspections and compliance checks.
To explore permit-type distributions in more detail, see Municipal Permit Analytics Canada: Real Processing-Time Benchmarks.
Why These Benchmarks Matter
For municipal planning directors and permit-office managers, this leaderboard provides a data-driven snapshot of permit activity across Canada’s largest cities. It highlights disparities in approval speed, permit volume, and project types, offering a foundation for cross-city learning and improvement.
Cities with faster approval times may serve as models for process efficiency. Those with longer timelines can investigate bottlenecks. Understanding the most common permit types in peer municipalities can help tailor municipal services to local demand.
For a deeper dive into how permit data can inform municipal operations, explore Steller’s approach to municipal permit analytics.
Steller turns municipal permit data into processing-time analytics, compliance tracking, and revenue forecasting, FIPPA compliant, data stays in Canada. Request a demo.