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National Model Codes

Last updated on May 1, 2024

How national model codes are developed

Beginning in November 2022, a new federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) governance model replaced the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) which handled code development since 1991. The newly formed Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) is now responsible for Canada’s National Model Codes. As part of a broader set of governance changes, strategic policy direction will be set by the Canadian Table for Harmonized Construction Codes Policy, which will oversee the CBHCC and include deputy minister-level decision-makers from provincial, territorial, and federal governments.

Further information on the transition and the new governance model can be found below:

Harmonizing construction codes

British Columbia signed the Construction Codes Reconciliation Agreement under the Canada Free Trade Agreement. The agreement supports the harmonization of building, plumbing, fire, and other construction codes across Canada.

Harmonizing construction codes, or removing differing requirements between construction codes, will help to decrease construction costs and reduce barriers related to manufacturing, operation, inspection, education, and training.

The agreement also recognizes that provinces and territories have important policy goals that make some variations necessary.

Some examples in B.C. include the BC Energy and Zero Carbon Step Codes, accessibility, and greater use of mass timber construction.

B.C. remains committed to working with national partners on finding greater alignment between national standards and B.C. provincial leadership.

Key commitments of the agreement

By signing the agreement, B.C. has agreed to:

  • Reduce or remove differences between provincial construction codes and the national model codes
  • Timely adoption of construction codes in B.C. (24 months following the release of the National Construction Codes 2020 and 18 months for future codes)
  • Participate in renewing the national code development system to one that better meets the needs of federal, provincial, and territorial parties
  • Support making the national model codes available for free in electronic format

National Codes Public Review

To help shape national code development, your participation is strongly encouraged in the National Model Codes public review. The BC Building, Plumbing and Fire Codes (BC Codes) are based substantially on the National Model Codes. Proposed code changes are intended to be adopted into the next BC Codes.

It is important for industry partners and code users to participate in national consultations, as code changes proposed in these national consultations are likely to be adopted into the subsequent BC Codes.

Consultations on the 2025 National Construction Codes

This year’s fall public review of proposed changes to the 2020 National Model Codes is now open and the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) encourages your participation in the review.

The proposed changes included in this public review address various topics in the National Building Code of Canada, the National Plumbing Code of Canada, the National Fire Code of Canada, and the National Energy Code of Canada for Buildings. Code users and interested parties are invited to visit the CBHCC’s website, examine the proposed changes, and provide feedback.

The review period is an opportunity for all Canadians to participate in the code development process. After the review period closes, members of the relevant code development committees will review the comments received and make recommendations on the proposed changes. If approved, the code changes will be included in the 2025 editions of the National Model Codes.

To participate, visit the CBHCC’s website

Codes

National Construction Codes include the National Building Code, National Plumbing Code, National Fire Code, National Energy Code, and National Farm Building Code.

The agreement will affect BC Codes adopted after 2022, including the:

Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes

The new Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC) website is now live. The website is and will become an important tool for sharing information as the CBHCC aim to educate Canadians about the code development system and get more people involved in the code development process. As the codes evolve, so will the content of the website.

Visitors to the site can learn more about Canada’s National Model Codes and how they’re developed, submit a code change request, and find information about upcoming meetings of the CBHCC and its code development committees.

www.cbhcc-cchcc.ca to learn more about Canada’s construction codes.

More information

Read the Construction Codes Reconciliation Agreement (PDF)

Email building.safety@gov.bc.ca to receive notice when new information is available or check this page now and again for updates.