According to data released by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), urban housing starts in Newfoundland and Labrador totalled 200 units in April 2026, an increase of 81.8% (or 90 units) compared with April 2025. April 2026 was unusually high — representing the highest monthly level since June 2014.

Urban housing starts in the St. John’s Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) increased by 87.5% (or 91 units), while housing starts in other urban areas decreased by one unit in April 2026 compared with April 2025. Higher housing starts were driven by increased starts of multiple units, which increased by 115 units (+213.0%), while single units decreased by 24 units (-48.0%).

Housing construction is generally limited in other urban areas in the first few months of the year. As a result, caution is advised in interpreting percentage changes during this period.

On a year-to-date basis, urban housing starts in the province totalled 370 units over the January to April 2026 period, an increase of 58.1% (or 136 units) compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

At the national level, urban housing starts decreased by 0.6% (or 123 units) in April 2026 compared to April 2025 and increased by 5.6% (or 3,744 units) over the January to April 2026 period compared with the same period in 2025.

 

Preliminary Housing Starts, Urban Areas Newfoundland and Labrador
	Apr 2025	Apr 2026	% Change	Jan-Apr 2025	Jan-Apr 2026	% Change
St. John’s CMA
Single	50	26	-48.0	121	94	-22.3
Multiple	54	169	213.0	105	218	107.6
Total	104	195	87.5	226	312	38.1
Other Urban Areas
Single	4	4	0.0	6	19	216.7
Multiple	2	1	-50.0	2	39	1,850.0
Total	6	5	-16.7	8	58	625.0
Total Urban Areas
Single	54	30	-44.4	127	113	-11.0
Multiple	56	170	203.6	107	257	140.2
Total	110	200	81.8	234	370	58.1
Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Economics Division, Department of Finance – (709) 729-3255 – infoera@gov.nl.ca