New requirements in the 2024 BC Building code take effect on March 10, 2025
The BC Building Code, which includes the BC Plumbing Codes, regulates how new construction, building alterations, repairs and demolitions are done in BC. This code sets minimum requirements for safety, health, accessibility, fire and structural protection of buildings and energy and water efficiency. These provincial requirements apply to any permit applications submitted on or after this date. New BC Building Code (BCBC) 2024 provisions for adaptable dwellings and seismic design come into effect Monday, March 10, 2025, with adaptable-dwelling requirements being gradually implemented.
Key changes
Starting March 10, 2025, as mandated by the province, all building permit applications must fully comply with the 2024 BC Building Code, including new seismic design standards.
New buildings must adhere to zero carbon standards by meeting specific greenhouse gas emission level 1 and install systems to track and report these emissions
Seismic design
The 2024 BC Building Code includes significant changes to Section 9.23.13, addressing bracing requirements for lateral loads from wind and earthquakes. These requirements reflect British Columbia’s high seismic hazard values. The Ministry of Housing will provide additional resources, including an illustrated guide for lateral load design, to help builders and designers implement these new requirements.
New Zero Carbon standards
Effective March 10, 2025, new buildings must meet at least Level One (EL-1) of the Zero Carbon Step Code. This means that applicable buildings following the performance path will be required to measure and disclose operational greenhouse gas emissions.
Resources
- Government of BC News Release: Adaptable-dwelling, seismic provisions take effect March 10
- Government of BC Bulletin: Application of the 2024 BC Building Code
- Government of BC Bulletin: Transition period for seismic requirements in the British Columbia Building Code 2024
- BC Housing: Illustrated Guide – Seismic Bracing Requirements BC Building Code
- Building Officials Association of BC: Zero Carbon Step Code Update Background
The 2024 BC Building Code started on March 8, 2024. During a transition period, the seismic and adaptable dwelling unit rules from the 2018 code stayed in place. New BC Building Code (BCBC) 2024 provisions for adaptable dwellings and seismic design come into effect Monday, March 10, 2025, with adaptable-dwelling requirements being gradually implemented.
After consulting the home-building community and recognizing current economic uncertainty, such as the recent U.S. tariff threat, the adaptable-dwelling requirements will be introduced in a phased approach, starting at 20 per cent of units in large residential buildings, as opposed to the previously proposed 100 per cent. This will help reduce potential costs associated with these changes, allowing for a balanced approach to phasing in adaptability requirements, while meeting the need for suitable, affordable housing. It will also allow the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to continue collaborating with key partners to help enable more adaptable housing in the province.
Projects where design work began before March 8, 2024, may continue to follow the 2018 BC Building Code, provided they apply for a building permit before March 8, 2027. Projects for which a building permit will be applied for on or after March 10, 2025, must comply with the BCBC 2024, including the seismic-design and adaptable-dwelling provisions.
We are here to help
The SLRD is here to help builders and developers understand and implement the new provincial building code requirements. To get started, please review the provincial code updates and resources provided by the BC government.
For all building code and building plan inquiries, or if you have any questions about how these provincial requirements will be implemented locally, please contact the Chief Building Official, at bldgofficial@slrd.bc.ca.