Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.
Building permit indicators are the number of dwellings and square meters of useful floor area.
The purpose of those indicators is to show the development in construction activity in terms of unit numbers and useful floor areas.
Building permits for new building construction are broken down by the Classification of Products by Activity (CPA) into building permits for residential and non-residential buildings.
National classification: Construction Technical Regulation STR 1.01.03:2017. Classification of Buildings;
3.3. Coverage - sector
CPA classification ver.2.1: Section F of codes 41.00.11, 41.00.12 and 41.00.13 for building permits in terms of the number of dwellings; CPA classification: Section F of codes 41.00.1 and 41.00.2 for building permits in terms of size.
3.4. Statistical concepts and definitions
Indicators are harmonized according to the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 are set out in Annes IV to this Regulation. There are the main statistical variables provided:
Building permit (construction authorizing document) – a document by which the competent authority grants the builder (customer) the right to implement the building construction project.
Residential building – a residential building with more than half of the useful floor area occupied by living quarters (dwellings). Buildings to accommodate people from different social groups (dormitories, children's homes, shelters, care homes, family homes, monasteries, etc.) are also included.
Dwelling (living quarters) – one-dwelling house, a part thereof, flat or other living quarters meant for a person or family to live in.
Useful floor area of dwelling – the total floor area of living rooms and other premises in the dwelling (kitchens, sanitary facilities, halls, built-in wardrobes/cabinets, heated loggias and another warm auxiliary area). Useful floor area does not include the floor area of balconies, terraces, loggias, unheated cellars.
Non-residential building – any building whose total floor area or the largest part thereof is used for non-residential purposes.
Total floor area of the non-residential building – the sum of the main and auxiliary areas. The main area is the area of premises used for the primary purpose of a non-residential building (such as production, storage, education, etc.). The auxiliary area is the total area of all premises in the non-residential building, excluding the main area.
3.5. Statistical unit
Observation unit(s): Building permit granted by a municipality.
3.6. Statistical population
Target population – building permits granted for the construction of new residential and non-residential buildings.
Building permits indicators:
Number of dwelling excluding residencies for communities;
Square meters of useful floor area: buildings.
3.7. Reference area
Lithuania (there are covered all regions in Lithuania).
3.8. Coverage - Time
Since 1Q 1999.
The same time series are available nationally and transmissions to Eurostat.
The information is valid for all aggregates for Building Permits Indicators (new residential buildings excluding residencies for communities for number and all new buildings of useful floor area).
3.9. Base period
Not applicable (data are provided in absolute figures)
Building Permits Indicators are published nationally and those indicators are transmitted to Eurostat: number of building permits, number of buildings, number of dwellings, useful floor area – 1000 square meters.
Indicators of building permits are included from the beginning and to the end of the calendar quarter, when they are granted.
6.1. Institutional Mandate - legal acts and other agreements
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 of 30 July 2020 laying down technical specifications and arrangements pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council on European business statistics repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistics
Regulation (EC) No 2019/2152 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 November 2019 on European business statistics, repealing 10 legal acts in the field of business statistic;
Statistical data and information on indicators of building permits are transmitted to Eurostat.
Data on building permits issued are sent to other international organizations on request.
7.1. Confidentiality - policy
In the process of statistical data collection, processing, and analysis, and dissemination of statistical information, Statistics Lithuania fully guarantees the confidentiality of the data submitted by respondents (households, enterprises, institutions, organizations, and other statistical units), as defined in the Confidentiality Policy Guidelines of the State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania).
7.2. Confidentiality - data treatment
Statistical Disclosure Control Manual, approved by Order No DĮ-26 of 19 January 2024 of the Director General of Statistics Lithuania;
The State Data Governance Information System Data Security Regulations and Rules for the Secure Management of Electronic Information in the State Data Governance Information System, approved by Order No DĮ-202 of 27 August 2021 of the Director General of Statistics Lithuania.
The aggregation data on indicators of granted building permits are not treated as confidential.
8.1. Release calendar
Statistical information is published on the Official Statistics Portal according to the Official Statistics Calendar
Statistical information is prepared and disseminated under the principle of impartiality and objectivity, i.e. in a systematic, reliable and unbiased manner, following professional and ethical standards (the European Statistics Code of Practice), and the policies and practices followed are transparent to users and survey respondents.
All users have equal access to statistical information. All statistical information is published at the same time – at 9 a.m. on the day of publication of statistical information as indicated in the calendar on the Official Statistics Portal.
Statistical information is published following the Official Statistics Dissemination Policy Guidelines and Statistical Information Dissemination and Communication Rules of Statistics Lithuania approved by Order No DĮ-176 of 2 July 2021 of the Director General of Statistics Lithuania.
Data are available to all users simultaneously. No users have advance access to the statistical data.
Data on indicators of granted building permits are transmitted to Eurostat quarterly and the same frequency is published nationally.
Detailed data on indicators of granted building permits are disseminated yearly for national users in Database of Indicators on the Official Statistical Portal.
10.1. Dissemination format - News release
A quarterly press release regarding indicators of building permits for the construction of new buildings is not issued.
10.2. Dissemination format - Publications
Statistical information on building permits for the construction of new buildings is not published in publications.
10.3. Dissemination format - online database
Information is available in the Database of Indicators (Business statistics > Construction > Building construction > Indicators of building permits for the construction of new buildings).
The Database of Indicators is available on the Official Statistics Portal. The Database of Indicators can be accessed on the Official Statistics Portal. The Indicators Database page is designed for viewing and analyzing statistical information. For detailed guidance on using the Indicators Database, refer to the Indicators Database User Guide.
Data on new buildings, dwellings, and their useful floor area for which building permits have been granted, have been published quarterly in absolute figures, since the 1st quarter of the 1999 year.
The standard tables are produced:
Number of new residential buildings, number of dwellings by codes of F 41.00.01, excluding F 41.00.14;
Number of new non-residential buildings by codes of F 41.00.2;
Useful floor area (1000 square meters) by building type, categorized as F 41.00.1 and F 41.00.2.
10.4. Dissemination format - microdata access
Micro-data access is not available.
However, State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania) may, on the basis of contracts concluded with higher education institutions or research institutes, provide statistical data to researchers of these higher education institutions and research institutes to carry out specific statistical analyses for research purposes. Statistical data are provided in accordance with the provisions specified in the Description of Procedure for Data Depersonalisation and Pseudonymisation (only in Lithuanian). More information is available on the Official Statistics Portal, in the section Data Provision.
10.5. Dissemination format - other
Data on indicators of granted building permits are sent to Eurostat database on the 46th day after the end of the reference quarter.
In 2007, a management system has been implemented that meets the requirements of the international quality management system standard ISO 9001. The main activities of the State Data Agency, ensuring quality management and continuous improvement are determined in the Quality Policy. Monitoring of the quality indicators of statistical processes and their results self-assessments of statistical research managers, allowing to identify areas for improvement and promptly eliminate shortcomings are carried out regularly.
More information on the quality assurance of statistical information and its preparation is published in the Quality Management section on the website of the State Data Agency.
11.2. Quality management - assessment
The monitoring of the quality of building permit data is based on the ESS quality requirements (relevance, accuracy, timeliness, and punctuality, coherence, and comparability).
In 2022, the self-assessment of the quarterly statistical survey on new residential and non-residential buildings manager was carried out. It showed that the results of the survey meet the requirements for the quality of statistical information.
12.1. Relevance - User Needs
The main users of statistical information are State and municipal authorities and agencies, the National Bank of Lithuania, international organizations, Eurostat, the media, researchers and students, business communities and internal users.
Statistical information on building permits is used to show construction prospect.
12.2. Relevance - User Satisfaction
Since 2005, user opinion surveys have been conducted on a regular basis. Official Statistics Portal traffic is monitored, website visitor opinion polls, general opinion poll on the products and services of Statistics Lithuania, target user group opinion polls and other surveys are conducted.
The compilation of a user satisfaction index was launched. The said surveys are aimed at the assessment of the overall demand for and necessity of statistical information in general and specific statistical indicators in particular.
More information on user opinion surveys and results thereof are published in the User Surveyssection on the State Data Agency website.
12.3. Completeness
The indicators like as the number of new residential and non-residential buildings whose construction has been authorized, the number of dwellings in those buildings, the useful floor area of dwellings, the total floor area and volume of buildings are prepared and published. The content and detail of the indicators comply with EU requirements.
13.1. Accuracy - overall
Data on building permits are based on the data from the Building Permits and State Construction Supervision Information System of the Republic of Lithuania Infostatyba (IS Infostatyba). These data are covered all Lithuanian municipalities (60 units). The response rate is 100 %.
The overall accuracy of the administrative data on building permits is of good quality. The errors of data on IS Infostatyba are corrected through the logical and arithmetical controls. Data for the previous quarter are revised at the end of the following reference period. The quarterly data on building permits granted are not considered to be final after the first release. At the end of the year data on building permits are checked with the data of building permits published on the external portal of the IS Infostatyba, at Information System Infostatyba external portal. Inconsistent values are corrected by contacting the specialists of municipalities, which are filled with data on building permits in IS Infostatyba, by phone. Then false records are corrected. Finally, revised data on building permits are published.
13.2. Sampling error
The sample for the compilation of indicators of building permits on new residential and non-residential buildings shall not apply.
The statistical survey of granted new building permits is an administrative source; it consider to be a census.
13.3. Non-sampling error
Coverage errors
Data on building permits are filled in Information System „Infostatyba“ by all municipal authorities (60 umits), and Statistics Lithuania receives those data on the 15th day after the end of the reference quarter; therefore, the over coverage rate is 0%.
Non-response errors
The non-response error is zero (0%) because the data on indicators of granted building permits are covered all the building permits issued by all municipal authorities in Lithuania.
Measurement errors
Data on granted building permits are extracted from computerized model documents, which reduce the risk of errors. In the Information System „Infostatyba“, data are corrected through complex data revision procedures. Quality control procedures are applied to ensure the good quality of administrative data.
Data on indicators of building permits are from administrative sources. According to the specific STS requirements, the response rates are:
at the time data are provided to Eurostat is 100 %
at the time data are first published nationally is 100%
development during one data collection exercise is not available
over the course of a year is not available.
14.1. Timeliness
Statistical information is released on the 46th day after the end of the reference quarter in accordance with an approved advance release calendar.
Quarterly data are transmitted to Eurostat on the 46th day after the end of the reference quarter.
100 percent of statistical information is released on time. In case of delay, users are notified in advance by indicating the reason and a new date of publication.
15.1. Comparability - geographical
The same statistical concepts are applied in the entire national territory.
Statistical information on indicators of new building permits granted is comparable among EU countries.
15.2. Comparability - over time
There are no breaks in the time series since 1999 year. Data are comparable over time.
15.3. Coherence - cross domain
The variable of building permits granted for new buildings is compared with variables such as new residential and non-residential buildings completed, as well as new residential and non-residential buildings whose construction has been started.
Statistical information on new buildings and dwellings whose construction has started and been completed is obtained, made available, and published at the same frequency as statistical information on new buildings and dwellings for which building permits have been granted.
The correlation coefficient between new buildings for which building permits were granted and new buildings completed is medium (it's 0.65) with a time lag of 6 years.
The correlation coefficient between new buildings for which building permits were granted and new buildings whose construction has started is strong (it's 0.71) with a time lag of 1 year.
The data on new buildings for which building permits were granted are not confronted with other data of statistical domains because there are no other data sources on building permits.
Statistical information on indicators of new building permits which are issued is inconsistent between different statistical domains.
15.4. Coherence - internal
Indicators of new building permits granted like number of dwellings and square meters are coherent for common types of buildings.
Cost:
Annual cost: 248 person-hours per year.
Burden:
Administrative data are used; there is no administrative burden for respondents.
Major revisions are made when there are changes in the classification, methodology, or base year. Users are informed about the results and change immediately.
The same revision policy is applied to data released nationally and transmitted to Eurostat.
There are no vintage statistics on indicators of new building permits granted in the Database of Indicators.
17.2. Data revision - practice
The key reason for the revision of the quarterly statistical information is to improve the accuracy of building permits for the construction of new residential and non-residential buildings. Statistical information is revised by using data on revoked building permits for construction of new residential and non-residential buildings obtained from the Building Permits and State Construction Supervision Information System the Republic of Lithuania (IS) “Infostatyba”.
The indicators of building permits for the construction of new buildings are revised by deducting the data on revoked building permits for construction.
The indicators of building permits for the construction of new buildings are revised once a year, at the end of the accounting year, in February.
Information about revision procedure of building permits for construction of new buildings is available on the Official Statistical Portal:
An approved calendar of scheduled revisions of indicators of building permits for the construction of new buildings for the current year is available on the Official Statistics Portal. Revised indicators are published in Database of Indicators with the footnote „revised data“.
The size of revisions for 2020-2024 years was:
Differences between growth rates for unadjusted data series, 2020-2024 average
Indicator
Mean Revision (MR)*
Mean Absolute Revision (MAR)*
Unit measure
Code
Label
PSQM
F41001_41002
Buildings
3.8
7.1
PSQM
F41001
Residential buildings
2.3
3.7
PSQM
F41001X410014
Residential buildings, except residences for communities
Residential buildings, except residences for communities
3.6
6.0
PNUM
F410011
One-dwelling buildings
1.0
3.1
PNUM
F410012_410013
Two- and more dwelling buildings
7.4
11.3
* As compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year
The benchmarking process is not used; there are no comparable data sources for the corresponding variables of building permits.
18.1. Source data
Administrative data Information System „Infostatyba“, provided under an agreement between the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate under the Ministry of Environment and Statistics Lithuania.
The data of indicators of new building permits granted is an administrative source; it considered to be a census.
18.2. Frequency of data collection
Quarterly. The collected data are refering to full reference quarterly.
18.3. Data collection
The statistics of new building permits is based on extraction from administrative sources on the construction permission documents issued by civil servants of the municipalities. When the municipalities issued a new building permit, simultaneously filled extraction of the statistics data on indicators of new building permits granted, and it is reported in the Information System „Infostatyba“. Statistics Lithuania receives the Information System „Infostatyba“ compiles regional aggregated data from micro-data on a quarterly basis.
Those records are transferred into ORACLE and sent via the Internet on the 15th working day after the end of the reference quarter.
18.4. Data validation
Data validation is applied by type of rules before it transmitted to Eurostat:
At the first stage, the structure of the file data received through the link of Oracle is checked. It is important that all required information is including in the file.
At the second stage: data checks for accuracy and completeness. Also, data checks based on the level of each cell (identify by the coordinate of one row and one column) of record by of building type and administrative unit. There are checks the arithmetic average between the number and floor area of dwellings and buildings, the floor area and volume of the buildings and dwellings, number of dwellings in building and etc. In the case of larger deviations, the reasons are analyzed, i.e. statistical data are revised once again, and false records are corrected.
In the third stage for the reference quarter data on buildings and dwellings are compared with the previous quarter and the same quarter of the previous year.
Data on indicators of building permits were checked in absolute figures which after that will be sent to Eurostat.
Before sending it to Eurostat data file is validated and converted tool into the SDMX-ML format using SDMX Converter Tool.
The data file is transmitted to Eurostat in the BCS_BPI domain by EDAMIS.
18.5. Data compilation
Estimates for non-response: None
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels: None
The data on building permits granted are expressed in absolute figures and there is not index calculation.
Methods of weighting and chaining are not relevant either.
Transmission of the data to Eurostat: file of building permits data is validated and converted tool into the SDMX-ML format using SDMX Converter Tool.
18.6. Adjustment
The data on new building permits seasonally adjustment and working day adjustment are transmitted to Eurostat quarterly.
Raw data are corrected for seasonal effects using TRAMO-SEATS method with Jdemetra+ Ver. 2.2.2. Seasonal adjustment series are estimated for eleven times series, except for Residences for communities (F_CC113). Seasonal adjustment models completely reviewed every year, when the latest data for the whole year are available. Also, with review of models we are using benchmarking and balancing techniques that makes the quarterly data to be consistent with the annual working days adjusted data. After updating the models, the changed year and three years back are benchmarked. In mostly time series data were logarithmic and almost all models are additive. Calendar influence is being used, because Lithuania has quite a number of days off. Also the whole time series were seasonally adjusted, because most of times series does not have structural break. Before the models were updated, ARIMA model were automatically selected and outliers were distinguished. And most of times series were seasonally adjusted by using direct approach. Based on the results and trend obtained, the models were reviewed again and these settings were often adjusted manually.
Building permit indicators are the number of dwellings and square meters of useful floor area.
The purpose of those indicators is to show the development in construction activity in terms of unit numbers and useful floor areas.
Building permits for new building construction are broken down by the Classification of Products by Activity (CPA) into building permits for residential and non-residential buildings.
24 September 2025
Indicators are harmonized according to the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1197 are set out in Annes IV to this Regulation. There are the main statistical variables provided:
Building permit (construction authorizing document) – a document by which the competent authority grants the builder (customer) the right to implement the building construction project.
Residential building – a residential building with more than half of the useful floor area occupied by living quarters (dwellings). Buildings to accommodate people from different social groups (dormitories, children's homes, shelters, care homes, family homes, monasteries, etc.) are also included.
Dwelling (living quarters) – one-dwelling house, a part thereof, flat or other living quarters meant for a person or family to live in.
Useful floor area of dwelling – the total floor area of living rooms and other premises in the dwelling (kitchens, sanitary facilities, halls, built-in wardrobes/cabinets, heated loggias and another warm auxiliary area). Useful floor area does not include the floor area of balconies, terraces, loggias, unheated cellars.
Non-residential building – any building whose total floor area or the largest part thereof is used for non-residential purposes.
Total floor area of the non-residential building – the sum of the main and auxiliary areas. The main area is the area of premises used for the primary purpose of a non-residential building (such as production, storage, education, etc.). The auxiliary area is the total area of all premises in the non-residential building, excluding the main area.
Observation unit(s): Building permit granted by a municipality.
Target population – building permits granted for the construction of new residential and non-residential buildings.
Building permits indicators:
Number of dwelling excluding residencies for communities;
Square meters of useful floor area: buildings.
Lithuania (there are covered all regions in Lithuania).
Indicators of building permits are included from the beginning and to the end of the calendar quarter, when they are granted.
Data on building permits are based on the data from the Building Permits and State Construction Supervision Information System of the Republic of Lithuania Infostatyba (IS Infostatyba). These data are covered all Lithuanian municipalities (60 units). The response rate is 100 %.
The overall accuracy of the administrative data on building permits is of good quality. The errors of data on IS Infostatyba are corrected through the logical and arithmetical controls. Data for the previous quarter are revised at the end of the following reference period. The quarterly data on building permits granted are not considered to be final after the first release. At the end of the year data on building permits are checked with the data of building permits published on the external portal of the IS Infostatyba, at Information System Infostatyba external portal. Inconsistent values are corrected by contacting the specialists of municipalities, which are filled with data on building permits in IS Infostatyba, by phone. Then false records are corrected. Finally, revised data on building permits are published.
Building Permits Indicators are published nationally and those indicators are transmitted to Eurostat: number of building permits, number of buildings, number of dwellings, useful floor area – 1000 square meters.
Estimates for non-response: None
Estimates for grossing-up to population levels: None
The data on building permits granted are expressed in absolute figures and there is not index calculation.
Methods of weighting and chaining are not relevant either.
Transmission of the data to Eurostat: file of building permits data is validated and converted tool into the SDMX-ML format using SDMX Converter Tool.
Administrative data Information System „Infostatyba“, provided under an agreement between the State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate under the Ministry of Environment and Statistics Lithuania.
The data of indicators of new building permits granted is an administrative source; it considered to be a census.
Data on indicators of granted building permits are transmitted to Eurostat quarterly and the same frequency is published nationally.
Detailed data on indicators of granted building permits are disseminated yearly for national users in Database of Indicators on the Official Statistical Portal.
Statistical information is released on the 46th day after the end of the reference quarter in accordance with an approved advance release calendar.
Quarterly data are transmitted to Eurostat on the 46th day after the end of the reference quarter.
The same statistical concepts are applied in the entire national territory.
Statistical information on indicators of new building permits granted is comparable among EU countries.
There are no breaks in the time series since 1999 year. Data are comparable over time.
