Whereas small residential homes under 1000 ft293 m2 are an important part of British Columbias affordable housing supply and provide entry-level, workforce, and downsizing options for residents in communities of all sizes, and are relied on in rural and remote areas of BC as a primary form of affordable housing; And whereas energy performance and seismic requirements in the BC Building Code are similar across residential building sizes and do not reflect relative risk or provide the same benefits to small homes compared to larger and multi-storey homes, and result in disproportionately increased construction costs for small homes: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request that the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada engage a qualified, independent third party to undertake a cost-benefit review of the Building Codes impacts on affordability, safety, and energy efficiency for single-storey residential homes and accessory buildings under 1000 ft293 m2 and investigate the potential for a simplified rural building standardalternative compliance pathway for small homes under 1000 ft293 m2 that meets safety, climate, and seismic resilience requirements in a less complex and therefore more affordable way, while still ensuring safety.
