Building permits issued in 2025 by Town of St. Marys down from previous years

Number of residential dwelling units built increases in 2025

By Galen Simmons

Though the number of building permits issued by the Town of St. Marys dropped in 2025 compared to previous years, the town approved the construction of more residential dwelling units than it has since 2021.

At the Jan. 27 St. Marys council meeting, town staff presented year-end statistics and reports for each of their departments. Town director of building and development Grant Brouwer presented an overview of his department’s building and planning work last year, telling council the town issued a total of 113 building permits. From those permits, 57 new residential dwelling units were built – seven single-family dwellings, nine townhouse units, seven accessory dwellings and 34 apartment units.

“When you take a look at what happened on the building side, things were a little soft; everybody saw that, everybody knows that right across the province,” Brouwer said. “When you take a look at our housing numbers, our numbers were fairly consistent throughout the year, if not peaking above our five-year trend of 42 units a year.”

While the 113 building permits issued by the town last year was the lowest number of permits issued in at least a decade, and the total construction value in town last year – just over $24 million – was the lowest the town’s seen since 2019 (nearly $16.8 million), the town saw more residential dwelling units built in 2025 than in 2024 (42), 2023 (28) and 2022 (55). In 2021, the town saw 72 residential units built.

“The majority of (the residential dwelling units built in 2025) were around high density – what we call St. Marys high density or, generally, medium density,” Brouwer said. “When you take a look at the building permits, building permits were down considerably. … Twenty years ago, we were up over 200 and that’s tracked down for a number of reasons. The significance this time – why it’s tracked down – is because when we do a permit for a medium-density block, it’s one permit and it could be 12 units in there, where typically, if it’s 12 single-(family dwellings), you’d get one building permit for each.”

One of the highlights from last year’s building activity, Brouwer said, was the approval and construction of seven accessory dwelling units, up from six last year and the highest number built in recent memory. This type of alternative housing, Brouwer said, is proof St. Marys’ efforts to promote alternative housing, higher density and intensification through its Opening Doors Action Plan are paying off.

“Taking a look at the crystal ball for 2026, we’re starting to see that as well,” Brouwer said, pointing to a zoning bylaw amendment approved by council at the Jan. 27 meeting that will permit the severance of 236 Queen St. W into two properties to allow for the construction of a new single-detached dwelling on the severed lot.

“ … We’re starting to see that … gentle intensification … where people are trying to take those lots they have today and now they can get some more density within that. So, some good news even though things are a bit low.”

On the planning side, Brouwer said 2025 was a year of transition for St. Marys. While provincial housing starts slowed significantly, the town continued to advance strategic initiatives aimed at modernizing planning policies and supporting intensification. Development activity showed a clear shift toward higher‑density housing, consistent with broader affordability and sustainability goals.

Town planning staff reviewed eight pre‑consultations, one official plan amendment, five zoning bylaw amendments, four site plan applications, four consents, one minor variance and 17 community improvement plan (CIP) pre‑consultations.

“That related to 12 different (CIP) grants; five of those 12 reached the maximum eligible amount of either $10,000 or $8,000 depending on what stream they are,” Brouwer said. “And then four of the 12 were located within the downtown core, again strengthening one of council’s strategic priorities. Five were for the creation of dwelling units and helping with dwelling units.”

Brouwer said the town has already fielded three inquiries for CIP grants this year, which he said is a good sign property owners are already considering how they can leverage funds provided by the town to make improvements.