The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) has launched two rounds of public consultation on proposed changes for the next edition of Ontario’s Building Code, which continues the process of increased harmonization with the National Construction Codes.

Currently, proposed code changes are posted on the Regulatory Registry for comment until December 4. These include existing technical variations between the provincial and national codes, Ontario-only changes, and low-impact existing technical variations. The OAA expects to participate in focused engagement sessions with the Ministry, and the OAA’s Sub-Committee on Building Codes and Regulations (SCOBCAR) is also examining these revisions.

Additional proposed changes for the next edition of Ontario’s Building Code will be posted for comment in the winter of 2022. These proposals will focus on 2020 National Construction Code changes.

Through this and future code cycles, Ontario, along with the federal government and provinces and territories, will support commitments made through a Reconciliation Agreement under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, to work toward reducing the variations in the technical requirements, adopting construction codes in a timely manner, and having freely available National Construction Codes.