Decrease in building permits for residential buildings in 2026

In the first quarter of 2026, at the national level, 7266 building permits for residential buildings were issued, marking a decrease of 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics. In March 2026, 3112 permits were issued, representing a significant increase of 30.4% compared to February 2026, with a total usable area of 713450 sqm. The majority of permits (71.7%) were for the rural area.

Regional increases were observed in North-West, South-East, and South-Muntenia, while the West region recorded a decrease. Also, in March 2026, 531 permits for non-residential buildings were issued, with an increase of 8.8% compared to the previous month. Compared to March 2025, the number of permits for residential buildings increased slightly (+0.5%), but for non-residential buildings, it decreased (-2.4%). In Q1 2026, decreases were observed in most regions, except for South-West Oltenia and South-Muntenia, which recorded increases.