Last month, via CodeNews 354, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) announced the release of the 2024 edition of Ontario’s Building Code.

2024 Building Code Format and Release of the Compendium

The new Ontario Building Code regulation O. Reg. 163/24 references the 2020 National Building Code of Canada (NBC) for the harmonized parts of the Code and the Ontario amendments document for the differences in the province.  

Production of the 2024 Building Code Compendium, a two-volume set in both digital and print versions, is underway and is expected later this year. OAA members may use the “Notify Me” function through the Publications Ontario website to receive an email when the compendium is in stock.

Timing, Transition, and Training

The 2024 edition of Ontario’s Building Code comes into effect on January 1, 2025, with a three-month transition period until March 31, 2025 for applications for which the working drawings were substantially complete before 2025. Then, on April 1, 2025, all permit applications must use the 2024 Ontario Building Code.

MMAH is developing a training approach to help the industry understand the shift in requirements and to help build capacity in the sector.

The OAA is also working with industry partners to develop education and training that would include key building code users in one setting in an effort to have a common understanding of the changes, implementation, and transition rules. A session was offered at the OAA Conference in Niagara Falls earlier this week.

2024 Ontario Building Code Highlights: What’s New?

The OAA is reviewing the new requirements and changes, but some of the major changes include:

• introduction of the new Part 2 to Division B of the code for farm buildings;
• changes related to septic systems;
• accessibility requirements for large buildings;
• expanding requirements about carbon monoxide alarms;
• ·new radon mitigation requirements for new houses; and
• changes related to fire safety and exterior cladding for large buildings.

OAA Updates and the Importance of Anticipating Changes

The OAA’s Practice Advisory Services (PAS) team will be focusing on updating the OAA’s Building Code Data Matrix, as well as other practice resource documents. Stay tuned for future updates.

OAA members are also encouraged to get the latest information related to building code updates by registering for the CodeNews email publication. It is also important for Ontario architecture practices to begin anticipating required changes to existing in-house tools, checklists, and standard details. As the January 1, 2025 date approaches, it is critical to start measuring the impact to projects and discussing with clients how this may affect projects.

This article originally appeared in the Practice Advisory—the OAA’s bimonthly e-newsletter developed by the OAA’s Practice Advisory Services team, comprising architects and other staff, which offers numerous resources for both member and the public. The OAA does not provide legal, insurance, or accounting advice. Readers are advised to consult their own such representatives to obtain suitable professional advice in those regards.