BC BUILDING CODE CHANGES EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2023 energystepcode.ca/requirements
The Province has committed to taking incremental steps to increase energy-efficiency requirements in the BC Building Code and to make buildings net-zero energy ready by 2032 in line with CleanBC goals. The BC Energy Step Code is a part of the BC Building Code.
The BC Energy Step Code is a provincial standard that provides an incremental and consistent approach to achieving more energy-efficient buildings that go beyond the requirements of the base BC Building Code. It does so by establishing a series of measurable, performance-based energy-efficiency requirements for construction that builders can choose to build to, and communities may voluntarily choose to adopt in bylaws and policies.
The BC Energy Step Code came into force in April 2017; builders have the option of building to the requirements in the Energy Step Code at any time. Currently, local governments have the authority to require or incentivise builders to meet one or more steps. In future, new homes will need to be built better than the current BC Building Code:
