The number of dwellings approved for building demonstrates trends in the housing market supply over time.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publication Building Approvals, Australia reports the number of dwellings approved by dwelling type and sector. A dwelling is defined as a self-contained suite of rooms, including cooking and bathing facilities, intended for long-term residential use. The monthly publication presents details of building work approved including construction; alterations and additions; approved non-structural renovation and refurbishment work; and approved installation of integral building features. Construction activity not defined as buildings or dwellings (e.g. roads, bridges, railways, earthworks, etc.) is excluded. From July 1990, the statistics include all approved residential building valued at $10,000 or more and all approved non-residential building valued at $50,000 or more. Estimates in the publication are rounded.

In early 2020 the ABS suspended trend series, in addition to adopting forward factors to produce seasonally adjusted series. In May 2022 the trend series for Building Approvals was reviewed and reinstated. The rationale for suspending trend series was that it was unknown whether the impacts from COVID-19 would be short or medium to long-term, and therefore there was high probability of needing to significantly revise initial assessments of the impacts of COVID-19 on the trend. Over the two years between 2020–2022, the impacts of COVID-19 on Building Approvals series have not caused multiple abrupt changes in the series level in short succession, and so it is appropriate to describe a trend level through the period. The data presented in the Building approvals - dwellings approved dashboard menu option consequently reflects these changes.

Building Approvals, Australia data are also used in the following dashboard menu options: Building approvals - Local Government Area, Building approvals - new residential dwellings and Building approvals - value of buildings.

See ABS - Building Approvals, Australia for further information, including in-depth commentary and analysis, in particular the source data Quality Declaration. Source reference Data downloads, Dwellings approved, tables 01–07.