Whereas the Province of British Columbia has been implementing frequent and substantial updates to the BC Building Code to enhance safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility; And whereas local governments require sufficient time and resources to adapt to these changes, including training staff, updating bylaws, and supporting local builders and developers in compliance efforts; And whereas an accelerated pace of code revisions can create unintended challenges, including increased construction costs, delays in project approvals, and difficulties for smaller local governments with limited capacity to enforce new requirements effectively: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Province of British Columbia to implement a more measured approach to Building Code updates by ensuring: 1. Longer transition periods between code changes to allow for adequate training and implementation; 2. More extensive consultation with local governments, industry stakeholders, and Indigenous communities to assess the practical impacts of proposed changes; 3. Increased financial and technical support for local governments, especially smaller communities, to effectively adapt to new requirements; and 4. A focus on stability and predictability in the code update schedule to reduce uncertainty in the construction and development industry.
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs The Province has committed to adopt and enforce the model National Building Code NBC within 18 months of its publication, as part of the 2019 Construction Codes Reconciliation Agreement. The latest NBC was published in December 2025. When BC specific code requirements are proposed, the Province typically conducts a public consultation that is open to all members of the public. Notices of these consultations are widely distributed through the Provinces building code update subscription service, and to industry groups, including local government building officials, via email announcements. Historically, the Province has regularly delivered education and guidance to industry and local governments through information bulletins, educational materials, and presentations. In recent years, education delivery has been expanded and has been delivered in cooperation with many partner organizations in the building industry, including the Building Officials Association of BC, Canadian Home Builders Association of BC, Architects Institute BC, Engineers and Geoscientists BC, BC Housing and others. These materials and sessions are intended to support industry participants - including local governments - in understanding and preparing for upcoming changes to the BC Building Code.