Burgas province ranks fifth in Bulgaria for permits to build new homes in the third quarter of 2026, according to the National Statistical Institute. Officials issued 180 permits in the province, covering 1,013 homes yet to start.
Plovdiv leads for residential building permits with 349, followed by Varna with 260, the capital Sofia with 253 and Sofia province with 239. For homes yet to start, Burgas is third, behind the capital with 2,196 and Plovdiv with 1,303. Varna (960) and Pernik (351) come next.
Across Bulgaria, permits cover fewer homes. They were issued for 2,224 residential buildings with 8,624 homes and a total built-up area of 1,140,519 sq m. The number of buildings is up 0.4% on the second quarter, but homes are down 25.0% and floor area is down 15.6%. Against the same period of 2025, buildings are down 3.0%, homes are down 36.3% and floor area is down 22.7%.
There were 12 permits for administrative buildings and offices, with an area of 5,027 sq m. That is 20.0% fewer than in the previous quarter and 25.0% fewer than a year earlier. Their area fell by 51.9% and 65.9% respectively. Another 1,322 permits cover other buildings, with an area of 587,323 sq m. That number is 3.3% lower than in the second quarter and 4.0% higher than a year earlier, while the area fell by 28.4% and 14.1%.
Work began on 1,573 residential buildings with 7,296 homes and a built-up area of 917,800 sq m. Against the second quarter, buildings are down 11.3%, homes are down 18.1% and area is down 12.4%. Buildings are down 12.5% on a year earlier, but homes are up 13.2% and area is up 4.2%.
Work also began on 16 administrative buildings with a total area of 9,873 sq m. The number is the same as in the second quarter, while the area is up 6.6%. Against a year earlier, buildings are up 77.8% and area is up 35.5%.
Builders also started 622 other buildings, with an area of 291,501 sq m. That is 6.3% more than in the previous quarter and 4.9% fewer than a year earlier. Their area fell by 29.3% and 30.3%.
Plovdiv is first for new buildings started, with 241 residential, 5 administrative and 110 others. The capital Sofia follows with 238 residential and 15 others, then Sofia province with 177 residential and 31 others.