Data quality, concepts and methodology: Building categories
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This publication, uses the following classification for the value of permits issued for construction of new buildings or for improvements: residential, industrial, commercial, institutional and government.
Residential: Includes all buildings intended for private occupancy whether on a permanent basis or not. Dwellings are divided into the following types: single-family, mobile, cottage, semi-detached, row house and apartment building.
Industrial: Includes all buildings used for manufacturing and processing; transportation, communication and other utilities, and agriculture, forestry and mining.
Commercial: Includes all buildings used to house activities related to the tertiary sector, such as stores, warehouses, garages, office buildings, theatres, hotels, funeral parlours and beauty salons.
Institutional and Government: Includes expenditures made by the community, public and government for buildings and structures like schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, churches, homes for the aged.
The number of dwelling units indicates the number of self contained dwelling units created. This should not be confused with the number of structures. For example, an apartment building containing six dwellings will be shown as six dwelling units. When an existing structure is converted into additional housing units, the number of units added is included. This publication uses the following classification for dwelling units:
Single-family: Refers to dwellings commonly called "single house". It includes single dwellings that are completely isolated on all sides, including single dwellings linked to other dwellings below ground. Included are bungalows, split levels, two-storey single-family homes built by conventional methods or prefabricated.
Mobile homes: Refers to houses designed and constructed to be transported on their own chassis and for easy moving.
Cottage: Refers to dwellings that cannot be occupied year-round or on a permanent basis because the facilities required for comfort are inadequate.
Double or Semi-detached: Refers to dwellings in which each of the two dwellings are side by side and joined by a common wall or garage, but not attached to any other building and surrounded by open space.
Row Dwellings: Refers to a row of three or more dwellings attached to each other without dwellings above or below.
Apartment Building: Includes dwellings in a variety of buildings such as duplexes, semi-detached duplexes, triplexes, row duplexes, apartments as such and dwellings adjacent to non-residential structures.
Conversion: Refers to the number of dwellings added by conversion of existing structures.
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