- Total housing permits rose 13.8% from a year earlier
- New-construction permits rose 14.1% from a year earlier
- Two-family homes posted the strongest gain through the first half of 2026
WIESBADEN, Germany — German authorities approved the construction of 21,600 homes in June 2026, up 13.8% from a year earlier, the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said in an emailed press release on Tuesday.
The increase was driven mainly by permits for new residential construction.
New Construction Drives the Result
Permits for 17,800 homes in new buildings were issued in June. That was a rise of 2,200 homes, or 14.1%, from June 2025.
Another 3,900 homes were approved through conversions of existing buildings. That figure rose by 400, or 12.1%, from a year earlier.
Building permits are an early indicator of future construction activity. A permit, however, does not guarantee that a project will begin or be completed.
Permits Rise Across Housing Categories
From January through June 2026, permits for new homes in residential buildings rose 15.8% from the same period a year earlier.
Permits for single-family homes increased 12.7%. Approvals for homes in two-family buildings increased 27.3%.
Permits for apartments in multifamily buildings increased 16.9%.
The figures indicate a broader improvement in planned residential construction.