A new building code aims to make dwellings more seismically sustainable by allowing adaptable designs.
According to the province, consultations between the home-building community have brought several concerns forward, especially considering economic uncertainty around US tariffs.
The province says the new code will help alleviate costs while allowing builders to meet requirements for adaptability and suitable housing.
“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,” they say.
“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.”
They also say it’ll allow the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs to continue collaborating with key partners to help enable more adaptable housing.
Most of the housing infrastructure was done, or started before, Mar. 8, 2024, with builders able to continue using the older code under certain circumstances.
Builders should apply for a building permit before March 8, 2027.
“Projects for which a building permit will be applied for on or after Mar. 10, 2025, must comply with the BCBC 2025, including seismic-design and adaptable-dwelling provisions,” says the province.
They say consultations will continue into 2026 as the ministry continues to review the model 2025 National Code requirements.
