The Canadian Press

The value of building permits increased 1.6% to $5.1 billion in September, their second straight monthly increase.

Statistics Canada says the numbers were boosted by higher intentions in the residential sector, which more than offset a decline in the non-residential sector.

The agency reports gains in the value of multi-family dwellings, especially in British Columbia and Ontario, helped boost the value of residential permits 9.4% to $3.2 billion.

The value of non-residential permits fell 9.1% to $1.9 billion in September, largely due to drops in the institutional and commercial components in British Columbia.

Overall, the value of building permits fell in three provinces — British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador — and two territories, Nunavut and Yukon.

Municipalities took out $1.1 billion worth of building permits for multi-family dwellings, up 32.1% from August.