A New Code Cycle

Canada's National Building Code is updated on a regular cycle, and each revision brings changes that affect how buildings are designed, how energy performance is calculated, and what documentation is required for permit. The 2020 NBC and its provincial adoptions through 2024–2025 introduced meaningful updates to energy, accessibility, and structural requirements that every design team should understand.

Key Changes Worth Knowing

The most significant updates in the current code cycle centre on energy performance. The new tiered energy requirements allow — and in some jurisdictions require — buildings to demonstrate compliance at higher tiers, moving beyond minimum prescriptive standards toward modelled performance outcomes. This has real implications for mechanical and electrical system design, as minimum-code HVAC and lighting may no longer be sufficient for permit.

Accessibility requirements have also been strengthened, with updates to washroom clearances, door hardware specifications, and wayfinding provisions. For renovation projects in particular, these changes can trigger upgrades that weren't anticipated in the original scope.

What This Means for Your Team

The most important takeaway is that code compliance is increasingly a design-phase conversation, not a permit-stage checkbox. Energy modelling, envelope performance, and system selection need to be discussed at schematic design — not after the building is substantially designed. Working with an engineering team that stays current on code is one of the simplest ways to avoid late-stage redesigns.