Construction permits for residential buildings down 4.8% in Q1
The number of construction permits issued for residential buildings fell by 4.8% in the first quarter to 7,266 compared with the same period last year, according to the National Institute of Statistics (INS) data published on Thursday.
Declines were recorded in the following development regions: West (-176 permits), South-East (-105), North-West (-36), Centre (-33), North-East (-29) and Bucharest-Ilfov (-15). Increases were reported in South-West Oltenia (+20 permits) and South-Muntenia (+10).
In March 2026, 3,112 construction permits for residential buildings were issued, up 30.4% compared with February 2026 and 0.5% compared with March 2025, with a total usable area of 71,345 sq m (+9.1%). Of the total residential building permits, 71.7% were for rural areas.
According to the INS, in March there was an increase in the number of construction permits issued for residential buildings compared with the previous month (+726 permits). By region, this increase is reflected in the following development regions: North-West (+175 permits), South-East (+141), South-Muntenia (+137), North-East (+126), Bucharest-Ilfov (+109), South-West Oltenia (+67) and Centre (+3). A decline was recorded in the West development region (-32 permits).
For non-residential buildings, 531 construction permits were issued in March (+8.8% compared with February 2026), with a total usable area of 605,237 sq m (+117.3%).
Compared with the previous month, in March 2026 there was an increase in usable floor area in construction permits issued for non-residential buildings (+326,703 sq m). By region, this increase is reflected in the following development regions: North-West (+313,305 sq m), Bucharest-Ilfov (+34,945), West (+22,919) and Centre (+16,928). Declines were recorded in the following development regions: South-West Oltenia (-23,286 sq m), North-East (-23,123), South-Muntenia (-11,362) and South-East (-3,623).
In March 2026 compared with March 2025, there was an increase both in the number of construction permits issued for residential buildings (+0.5%) and in total usable floor area (+0.2%) compared with March 2025.
By region, this increase in the number of construction permits issued for residential buildings (+17 permits) is reflected in the following development regions: Bucharest-Ilfov (+28 permits), North-West (+27), South-East (+15), Centre (+10) and North-East (+3). Declines were recorded in the following development regions: West (-46 permits), South-Muntenia (-11) and South-West Oltenia (-9).
Compared with March 2025, there was a decrease in the number of construction permits issued for non-residential buildings (-2.4%) and an increase in total usable floor area (+152%).
By region, this increase in usable floor area in construction permits issued for non-residential buildings (+365,016 sq m) is reflected in the following development regions: North-West (+330,063 sq m), Bucharest-Ilfov (+40,198), Centre (+22,702), West (+20,375), South-West Oltenia (+3,905) and North-East (+3,074). Declines were recorded in the following development regions: South-East (-29,392 sq m) and South-Muntenia (-25,909). AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Rodica State)
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