2024 BC Building Code

The Province has adopted the 2024 edition of the British Columbia Building Code, including Book II Plumbing Systems (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.

To download a free copy of the BC Codes 2024, please visit the Building and Safety Standards’ website. Print publications are anticipated to be available for purchase online later in 2024. The Province will notify code users and industry professionals when the print publications are available.

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 adoption of the 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.