However, the number of new residential building permits was up 10% compared with November 2012, the data showed.
Residential constructions in rural areas made up for 59.1% of the new permits issued in November.
New permits for non-residential buildings, including administrative structures, stood at 586 units, compared with 688 units in October.
In January to November, Romania issued 35,223 housing permits, down 0.8% on the year.