Housing Starts
Definition:
The number of housing starts (all dwelling types) in a given area.
For purposes of the Starts and Completions Survey, a start is defined as the beginning of construction work on a building, usually when the concrete has been poured for the whole of the footing around the structure, or an equivalent stage where a basement will not be part of the structure.
Methods and Limitations:
Geographical areas modified every 5 years to reflect most recent census definitions, therefore, data are not strictly comparable historically.
These data are obtained from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and are provided subject to CMHC Licence Agreement for the Use of Data.
The Starts and Completions Survey is conducted through site visits. These visits are used to confirm that new residential units have reached set stages in the construction process. Since most municipalities issue building permits, they are used as an indication of where construction is likely to take place. In areas where there are no permits, reliance is placed either on local sources or other field enumeration procedures.
The Starts and Completions Survey is carried out monthly in Census Agglomerations (CA) and Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA). This is where populations are in excess of 50,000 people as defined by the latest Census.
In urban areas with populations of 10,000 to 49,999, all starts are enumerated in the last month of each quarter. That is, four times a year, in March, June, September and December. In these centres, completion activity is modeled based on historical patterns.
Monthly Starts and Completions activity in quarterly locations are statistically estimated at a provincial level for single- and multi-family categories. Centres with populations below 10,000 are enumerated on a sample basis, also in the last month of each quarter.
The Starts and Completions Survey enumerates dwelling units placed on new, permanent foundations only, and designed for non-transient, year-round occupancy.
Dwelling Type Definitions:
A “Single-Detached” dwelling (also referred to as “Single”) is a building containing only one dwelling unit, which is completely separated on all sides from any other dwelling or structure. Includes link homes, where two units may share a common basement wall but are separated above grade. Also includes cluster-single developments.
A “Semi-Detached (Double)” dwelling (also referred to as “Semi”) is 1 of 2 dwellings located side-by-side in a building, adjoining no other structure and separated by a common or party wall extending from ground to roof.
A “Row (Townhouse)” dwelling is a 1-family dwelling unit in a row of 3 or more attached dwellings separated by a common or party wall extending from ground to roof.
The term “Apartment and other” includes all dwellings other than those described above, including structures commonly known as stacked townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, double duplexes, and row duplexes.
A mobile home is typically defined as a type of manufactured house that is completely assembled in a factory and then moved to a foundation before it is occupied.
Dwellings excluded from the survey include:
- trailers or any other movable dwelling (the larger often referred to as a mobile home) with no permanent foundation
- conversions and/or alterations within an existing structure
- seasonal dwellings, such as: summer cottages, hunting and ski cabins, trailers, and boat houses
- hostel accommodations, such as: hospitals, nursing homes, penal institutions, convents, monasteries, military, and industrial camps
- collective types of accommodation such as: hotels, clubs, and lodging homes
Source(s):
CMA: Statistics Canada. Table 34-10-0134-01 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing starts, under construction and completions in selected census metropolitan areas, annual
CMA, CSD, CA: Statistics Canada. Table 34-10-0125-01 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing starts, under construction and completions in large urban areas, annual
Canada, Province or territory: Statistics Canada. Table 34-10-0126-01 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, housing starts, under construction and completions, all areas, annual
Housing Starts in the Sustainable Development Goals
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11. Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, social development and much more. At their best, cities have enabled people to advance socially and economically.
However, many challenges exist to maintaining cities in a way that continues to create jobs and prosperity while not straining land and resources. Common urban challenges include congestion, lack of funds to provide basic services, a shortage of adequate housing and declining infrastructure.
The challenges cities face can be overcome in ways that allow them to continue to thrive and grow, while improving resource use and reducing pollution and poverty. The future we want includes cities of opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.