Building Permits

• Ministerial Order No. M40 (PDF), amending the Building Act General Regulation effective May 1, 2023
• Ministerial Order BA 2023 08 (PDF), amending the BC Building Code effective May 1, 2023
• Read the convenience copy of the code changes (PDF for information only)

• Part 3 Buildings will be required to be built to Step 2.
• Introduces modified TEUI targets for office and retail occupancies.
• CEA Certified Energy Advisor required.

• Part 9 Buildings will be required to be built to Step 3.
• More airtightness testing options.
• New energy performance improvement compliance calculations.
• CEA Certified Energy Advisor required.

Compliance with Step 3 of the BC Energy Step Code will be required by the Province on May 01st, 2023 throughout British Columbia, including the City of Langford for Part 9 buildings. All newly constructed and substantially reconstructed homes will require pre-building permit energy modeling performed by a certified Energy Advisor with documentation submitted at the time of permit application. Energy Advisors will be required to return mid-construction and prior to occupancy to confirm that the work meets the pre-construction modeling. Occupancy permits will be contingent upon the City of Langford Building Services Department receiving a compliant final energy advisor report.

When starting the building/site design process a Certified Energy Advisor must be retained to ensure the proposed building meets the requirements of the BC Energy Step Code.

Energy Step Code
BC Energy Step Code Builders Guide – BC Housing
Compliance tools for Part 9 Buildings
Compliance tools for Part 3 Buildings