The Bavarian State Office for Statistics has announced the building permit figures for residential construction in the first half of 2026. According to the data, permits for a total of 29,155 dwellings were issued or exemption procedures completed during this period. This represents an increase of 12.3 per cent compared to the first half of the previous year.
This positive development continues a trend that was already visible last year. After a period of three challenging years for housing construction nationwide, a first improvement in permit figures was observed last year, which has now further solidified. Significantly more dwellings were permitted in the reporting period, particularly in the multi-family home as well as the single and two-family home segments.
Government Impulses and Expectations for the Federal Government
Bavarian Construction Minister Christian Bernreiter commented on the current developments. He stated that the positive trend which had begun was continuing. The Bavarian State Government had reduced bureaucratic hurdles and questioned standards through measures such as the modernisation laws and building type E to promote housing construction. In addition, the State Government was investing large sums in housing promotion; a total of EUR 3.6 billion was earmarked for the years 2026 and 2027, of which EUR 1 billion would come from a special fund.
Bernreiter emphasised, however, that the state would not be able to cover the entire housing demand alone. It was urgently necessary for private housing construction to regain momentum to meet the demand. For this purpose, he called for measures from the federal government, which should include improved depreciation options, tax relief, simplification of KfW programmes, and practical standards.
- —29,155 building permits in the first half of 2026 in Bavaria.
- —Increase of 12.3 per cent compared to the same period last year.
- —Continuous continuation of the positive trend since the previous year.
- —Focus on multi-family homes as well as single and two-family homes for permits.
The Baunova Bayern is cited as an instrument of the Bavarian State Government that has significantly contributed to generating effective impulses and initiating numerous construction projects. The current figures thus underscore the effectiveness of the measures taken so far at state level and show a clear upward trend in Bavarian housing construction.
