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These figures describe the Ottawa portion of the metropolitan area, with Gatineau reported separately. They are broader than the City of Ottawa municipal boundary. They measure construction activity, rather than the number of homes currently available to buy or rent.
The quarter total is our sum of actual monthly counts from CMHC's July, August and September releases. The September release was published on October 16.
What happened during the quarter?
| Actual dwelling units | July 2026 | August 2026 | September 2026 | Q3 total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Housing starts | 1,059 | 1,235 | 914 | 3,208 |
| Completions | 843 | 591 | 419 | 1,853 |
Starts reached their highest monthly count of the quarter in August. September brought fewer starts, but its 914 units exceeded the 474 recorded in September 2025. Across the full quarter, 2025 starts totalled 2,018, compared with 3,208 this year: an increase of 1,190 units, or 59.0%.
The year-to-date comparison is more moderate. CMHC reports 8,168 starts from January through September 2026, against 7,168 over the same period of 2025, an increase of 14.0%. The quarter comparison and the year-to-date comparison answer different questions; neither should be presented as the other's growth rate. September release, actual starts tables.
Of the quarter's starts, 644 were single-detached dwellings and 2,564 were in CMHC's “all others” category. That second category should not be relabelled as apartments or rental housing. The tables used here do not provide that breakdown.
What remained in the pipeline at quarter end?
| September 2026 month-end measure | Units | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Permitted units awaiting a start | 4,329 | Units with approved building permits where construction had not started; conversions excluded |
| Units under construction | 18,382 | Units still in construction at the end of September |
The under-construction count rose from 17,075 at June's end to 18,382 at September's end, an increase of 1,307 units. The latest release also shows 4,329 permitted units awaiting a start, compared with 4,087 a month earlier. July release, June baseline; September release, construction indicators.
These are point-in-time counts. Adding July, August and September's under-construction totals would repeatedly count many of the same dwellings. Adding permitted units, starts and completions would also mix different stages and periods.
Nor does subtracting completions from starts produce a complete explanation of the change in the construction stock. CMHC's definitions allow adjustments, including changes in the number of dwellings within a structure. These aggregate tables do not identify which projects account for any adjustment. CMHC survey methodology.
What does this mean for a buyer or owner?
The results show more units entering construction over the quarter than reaching completion, alongside a larger stock still being built. They provide a useful regional context for evaluating future housing supply.
A buyer still needs project-specific evidence to assess a particular home. The construction totals do not establish an asking price, tenure, occupancy date or available floor plan. They also cannot establish a change in the value of a neighbouring property.
For a local comparison, start with the development's address and current plans, then check permits, construction progress and the product actually offered. Compare resale alternatives within a defined area and property type. The metropolitan total should remain background context rather than a substitute for that work.
Geography, revisions and calculation notes
CMHC's September workbook uses 2021 Census geography and notes that the Ottawa metropolitan area includes Arnprior and Carleton Place. We have kept Gatineau separate and have not converted these totals into municipal, ward or neighbourhood counts. September data tables.
Q3 totals above sum the July, August and September release counts. The starts calculation also reconciles to the published January–September total less January–June: 8,168 − 4,960 = 3,208. The corresponding 2025 calculation is 7,168 − 5,150 = 2,018.
The October 16 edition of CMHC's separate revised-starts dataset covers Q2 2026. It shows Ottawa CMA's original and revised Q2 totals both at 2,761. That check does not make the Q3 figures final. The Q3 calculation uses monthly release vintages and remains subject to subsequent revisions. July construction indicators match their repeat in August's release; August indicators match their repeat in September's release.
All counts in this article are actual dwelling units. No seasonally adjusted annual rate is added into a quarterly total. No September municipal, ward or neighbourhood series was verified for this edition.
Adapted from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation data under the CMHC Licence Agreement for Use of Data. This does not constitute an endorsement by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation of this product.
Earlier edition: August construction figures and original source notes.
Discuss these findings
For help applying these findings to a property or a move, contact Matt Richling. Include the area, property type and timing that matter to you.
Cite this edition
Richling, Matt. “Ottawa housing pipeline: 3,208 starts in Q3 2026” New Purveyors Lab. Q3 2026 construction. Updated October 16, 2026. Permanent edition.