April 2025: Residential Building Permits Up Monthly, But Down Year-on-Year

In April 2025, a total of 3,140 building permits were issued for residential buildings, marking a 1.5% increase compared to March 2025, but a 12.2% decrease compared to April 2024.

January–April 2025 vs. January–April 2024

Between January 1 and April 30, 2025, a total of 10,770 building permits were issued for residential buildings—down 2.1% compared to the same period in 2024.

April 2025 vs. March 2025

In April 2025:

• 3,140 permits were issued for residential buildings (+1.5% vs. March), with a total usable floor area of 659,764 sqm (-7.3%).
• 70.1% of these permits were issued for construction in rural areas.
• The increase in residential permits amounts to +45 permits month-on-month.

Regional Trends – Residential:

Permit increases were observed in the following development regions:

• North-West: +67 permits
• West: +26
• North-East: +20
• South-East: +19
• South-Muntenia: +16

Decreases were recorded in:

• South-West Oltenia: –68 permits
• Bucharest-Ilfov: –30
• Center: –5

Non-Residential Buildings:

• 507 permits were issued (–6.8% vs. March), with a total usable area of 272,824 sqm (+13.6%).
• This represents an increase of 32,603 sqm in total usable area compared to March.

Regional Trends – Non-Residential (usable floor area):

Increases were recorded in:

• West: +30,213 sqm
• North-West: +23,334
• Center: +10,179
• South-West Oltenia: +827

Decreases were recorded in:

• South-East: –14,601 sqm
• Bucharest-Ilfov: –7,327
• North-East: –7,115
• South-Muntenia: –2,907

April 2025 vs. April 2024

Compared to April 2024, April 2025 saw:

• A 12.2% decrease in residential building permits (–438 permits)
• A 23.7% decrease in total usable floor area

Regional Trends – Residential:

Permit decreases were observed in:

• North-East: –141 permits
• South-Muntenia: –100
• Center: –80
• Bucharest-Ilfov: –55
• West: –38
• North-West: –22
• South-West Oltenia: –21

An increase was recorded only in:

• South-East: +19 permits

Non-Residential Buildings:

Compared to April 2024:

• Permits dropped by 15.4%
• Total usable floor area fell by 55.1% (–334,576 sqm)

Regional Trends – Non-Residential (usable floor area):

Decreases were recorded in:

• Bucharest-Ilfov: –263,703 sqm
• North-East: –59,306
• North-West: –51,288
• Center: –17,137
• South-West Oltenia: –6,958

Increases were recorded in:

• West: +38,672 sqm
• South-Muntenia: +23,366
• South-East: +1,778