September was a strong month for building permit activity in Kamloops.

There were a total of 93 permits issued last month worth more than $27 million.

Building and Engineering Development Manager Jason Dixon says that seems to be fairly normal in terms of monthly values for 2024.

“We look back through the year… it seems like that $20 million to $30 million a month is pretty standard. We had a few bigger months here and there, a few slightly smaller. But, you know, averaging over over $20 million a month in construction values. I think it’s a good sign. ”

Dixon says there was one project in particular that drove up those values in September. “I think the biggest project we saw was a apartment unit on Tranquille Road. A 59 unit building. That’ll have, or had, a construction value of $17 million. So that’s, by far and away, the biggest project of the month.”

Dixon says we have seen an uptick in activity in apartment type projects. “If you look at the stats and the multi-family – three or four units, which apartments sort of fit into that – where the $125.8 million so far this year versus $22.6 million at the same time last year. So we’ve seen an increase in that sector.”

Although Dixon doesn’t expect permit activity to break any records in 2024, we are seeing strong numbers so far this year with more than $280 million in building activity through the first nine months.