Please see below for information from the BC Building Safety Standards Branch
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I am writing to advise that the Province has adopted the 2024 editions of the British Columbia Building Code, including Book II Plumbing Systems, and Fire Code (BC Codes 2024). A news release announcing adoption is available on BC Gov news.
The BC Codes 2024 will come into effect on March 8, 2024 and will apply to building permits applied for on or after that date. Buildings with permits in place under the BC Codes 2018 will generally not be affected by the adoption of the new BC Codes.
The effective date for the new adaptable dwellings and earthquake design changes will be deferred to March 10, 2025 to allow additional engagement and sufficient training to support innovative and cost-effective design solutions. This delay represents a measured approach that aims to balance accessibility and housing supply priorities while minimizing impacts to industry. The delay also considers human rights, equity for all people, accessibility engagement feedback, and product availability and affordability.
To download a free copy of the BC Codes 2024, please visit the the Building and Safety Standards’ website.
Print publications are anticipated to be available for purchase online later in 2024. The Building and Safety Standards Branch will notify code users and industry professionals when the print publications are available.
The BC Codes are substantially based on the National Model Codes. The 2020 National Model Codes adopted more than 400 technical changes to improve the level of safety, health, accessibility, fire and structural protection, and energy efficiency provided by the Code. BC Codes 2024 harmonized with the 2020 National Model Codes to enable mass timber construction and require rough-ins for radon safety province-wide, as well as other topics to make new buildings more accessible and healthy.
Although the 2024 BC Building Code includes most of the 2020 National Building Code requirements, some BC-specific Code changes include:
requiring 100% adaptable dwellings in large condominium and apartment buildings and some first-floor dwelling units in new small apartments and condominiums with shared entrances and common corridors to be adaptable (effective March 2025);
reinforcement of bathroom walls to allow future installation of grab bars (effective March 2025);
early adopting national provisions to improve earthquake design changes for housing and small buildings with high seismic hazard values (effective March 2025);
more complete and specific language for constructing extended rough-ins for radon subfloor depressurization systems (March 2024);
adopting cooling requirements to provide one living space that does not exceed 26 degrees (March 2024); and
retaining existing ventilation requirements for systems serving single dwelling units.
New National Code content for large farm buildings and farm building equipment as well as un-sprinklered home-type care occupancies have not been adopted. The Province will be conducting further analysis on these matters. The National Farm Building Code of Canada 1995 continues to apply to farm buildings.
For more information about the new BC Codes changes, please visit our website.
The Building and Safety Standards Branch is working with partners to develop and deliver educational events and materials. Additional code resources, including technical bulletins will be posted to our website, in the coming months.
The Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes is conducting a public review on proposed changes to the National Construction Codes 2025. We invite you to share this with others in your organization and encourage you to participate. This is your opportunity to provide feedback on proposed changes that will be considered for adoption in future BC Codes. The public review will conclude on December 18, 2023.
If you have any questions, please email Building.Safety@gov.bc.ca.
Please share this information as appropriate within your organization.
Sincerely,
Jun’ichi Jensen
A/Executive Director
Building and Safety Standards Branch
Ministry of Housing
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