The Ontario government’s decision to take steps to permit mass timber buildings of up to 18 storeys is being praised by stakeholders as a boost to the mass timber manufacturing sector and a step forward in the province’s drive to build more housing.

The current limit in Ontario’s Building Code is 12 storeys. Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra announced April 8 the government will move to amend the building code to permit encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys after reviewing analysis and feedback from a multi-province joint task force that includes Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.

Until recently Ontario’s building code permitted a maximum of six-storey wood residences but the most recent changes to the code effective July 1, 2022 topped the permitted use up to 12 storeys.

Mass timber advocate David Moses, principal of Moses Structural Engineers, observed during a recent presentation that the mass timber industry is gaining momentum as stakeholders realize it enables accelerated construction of affordable housing.

“Eighteen storeys in Ontario is great news,” said Moses. “This puts Ontario on par with the United States and it will hopefully be implemented very soon in B.C. and Quebec.