Building Information

The Province is responsible to regulate buildings and construction.  It gives local government the ability to administer and enforce provincial building requirements, including the BC Building Code.

The Town has enacted Bylaw 2174 Building and Plumbing Bylaw, to regulate construction and provide for the administration of building regulations.

To learn more about BC’s building regulatory system, the Province has produced this useful Guide.  The Guide is for anyone who would like a simple explanation of how buildings get built, including why building construction is regulated, what is the BC Building Code, and what do Building Officials Do.

2024 BC Building Code

The Province has adopted the 2024 edition of the British Columbia Building Code, including Book II  Plumbing Services. The new BC Building Code will be effective March 8, 2024, and will apply to building permits applied for on or after that date. Buildings with permits in place under the BC Building Code 2018 are generally not affected. 

The BC Building Code is based on the National Building Code, which is developed by the National Research Council of Canada. The BC Building Code is provincial regulation that governs how new construction, building alterations, repairs and demolitions are completed. This Code establishes minimum requirements for safety, health, accessibility, fire and structural protection of buildings and energy and water efficiency. It applies throughout the province except for some federal lands and the City of Vancouver.

The BC Building Code is available for reference free of charge at public libraries. For a fee, it is available in print and online at www.bccodes.ca.  The Ladysmith branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library is located at 740 1st Avenue.

Effective Date Extension for 2024 Seismic and Adaptability Designs 

To help avoid potential construction delays, additional costs, and impact on project feasibility, the Province has delayed the 2024 Building Code requirements related to adaptability and seismic design until March 8th, 2027 for all “in-stream” projects.

 In-stream projects are projects for which: 

  • a development permit application and drawings have been submitted to a local authority in relation to the building before March 8, 2024, or,
  • a rezoning application and drawings have been submitted to a local authority in relation to the building before March 8, 2024, or,
  • drawings have been prepared before March 8, 2024.

Exceptions to the implementation of the 2024 BC Building Code include Subsection 3.8.5., Subsection 4.1.8., Section 9.23. and Appendix C of Division B of the 2024 BC Building Code.

Applicable in-stream projects must apply for a building permit before March 8th, 2027, under the 2018 Code’s adaptable dwelling unit and seismic requirements.

Any project that does not meet the criteria for an exemption and applies for a building permit on or after March 10th, 2025, must comply with the entire BC Building Code 2024, including the adaptable dwelling unit and seismic requirements.

More information can be found within Ministerial Order No. BA 2024 04.

Secondary Suite Information

A SECONDARY SUITE is a self-contained accessory dwelling unit located within a Single Unit Dwelling, Duplex, Townhouse Dwelling, or Coach House Dwelling that meets the requirements for “secondary suite” under the BC Building Code.

Secondary Suites must also meet the following regulations:

  1. Maximum gross floor area of 90 square metres or 40% of the habitable floor space of a duplex or townhouse, whichever is less*.
  2. Shall be contained within a single-family dwelling, duplex, townhouse, or coach house.
  3. A Short-Term Rental or Bed and Breakfast is prohibited on a parcel where a Secondary Suite is located.

*There is no maximum GFA for a secondary suite in a single-family dwelling.

If a suite satisfies these regulations, its construction is then regulated by the BC Building Code. Please see the followings links: Provincial BC Secondary Suites Information Bulletin and Changes to the BC Building Code for Secondary Suite

Home Warranty Insurance for New Homes

The Province has implemented a requirement for home warranty insurance to protect new homes in British Columbia against construction defects such as materials and labour, building envelope and structural defects. It is Canada’s strongest construction defect insurance.

To learn more about new home warranty insurance, the Province has produced this useful Guide to provide prospective new home buyers and owners of new homes with information on home warranty insurance in British Columbia. 

B.C’s Homeowner Protection Act and its Regulations (Act) require that all new homes constructed under building permits must be covered by home warranty insurance unless they are specifically excluded by the Act or its regulations.

WorkSafeBC Compliance

Every owner must provide Town staff suitable access to all areas in accordance with WorkSafeBC’s Occupational Health and Safety Regulation. Town staff shall not enter or continue inspecting any site that to their knowledge is not in compliance with WorkSafeBC regulations and may refuse further inspections until unsafe conditions are corrected. Examples of unsafe conditions include:

  • Missing guards & handrails around stair openings, decks, balconies, crawlspace access, or trenches.
  • Open trenches or excavations 1.2m deep or more, that do not have proper shoring or as an alternative, a geotechnical engineer’s approval.
  • Cluttered construction debris which presents a tripping hazard or potential for other injuries.
  • Access provisions that are not in accordance with WorkSafeBC such as make-shift ladders, ramps, or stairs.
  • Unsecured overhead hazards such as materials, scaffolding or other items with potential for harm when dropped.
  • Perceived health hazards, such as disturbed asbestos containing material or uncontrolled silica dust.

Inspection staff may require a re-inspection fee for a second and each subsequent re-inspection when more than one site visit is required due to unsafe conditions.

Helpful information on construction site safety can be found in the WorkSafeBC manual Safe Work Practices in Residential Construction. Refer to WorkSafeBC’s website for additional information.

Call Before You Dig! - BC One Call information

Click or call BC 1 Call before you dig applies to outdoor improvement projects, big or small, such as:

  • Installing posts for fences, mailboxes, realtor signs, welcome signs, etc.
  • Building decks, retaining walls, patios, and installing fire pits
  • Tree planting and digging a garden
  • Anchoring playground equipment
  • Installing In-driveway heating systems

Find more information on BC One Call Here