The total value of building permits fell sharply in April as construction intentions dropped in both the residential and non-residential sectors as well as in nine provinces.

Contractors took out permits worth $5.6 billion in April, down 8.4% from March, Statistics Canada said today.

“While the residential sector experienced only a modest decline, non-residential permit values fell sharply,” StatsCan said.

Non-residential permits fell 18.9% to just under $2 billion, the second biggest decline – when measured in dollars – since 1989, Statscan said. Intentions in the industrial, commercial and institutional sectors eased in April.

In the residential sector, an increase in the value of multi-family permits only partially offset a decline in single-family permits. Municipalities issued permits worth $3.6 billion, a 1.4% decline.