Vancouver Building By-law (CBO)

The City of Vancouver is enabled under the Vancouver Charter to adopt by-laws to regulate the design and construction of buildings.

The Vancouver Building By-law regulates the design and construction of buildings, as well as the administrative provisions related to permitting, inspections, and the enforcement of these requirements.

Vancouver's ability to adopt its own Building By-law is unique in British Columbia. This ability allows City Council the opportunity to quickly respond to issues that have an impact on building safety within the City.

This ability has provided the City of Vancouver the opportunity to be a leader with respect to building regulations, in the areas of:

Safety
Health
Accessibility
Alteration to existing and heritage buildings
Artist Live/Work Studios
Energy utilization
Rain screen cladding system
Seismic/climate

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Vancouver Building By-law

2025 Building By-law invitation for public comment
Following the release of the newest version of the BC Building Code, the Chief Building Official and Building Policy staff are working to develop regulations for consideration by Council for adoption as a new Building By-law.

The Chief Building Official invites your comment and feedback with respect to the proposed substantive changes that will be incorporated into a new Building By-law.

Invitation to public comment (214 KB)

Your feedback

Your feedback is important and will help inform our decision-making in further developing construction regulations that:
- Are clear and understandable
- Are technically accurate
- Reduce the likelihood of unintended consequence
This survey is voluntary. A response is encouraged but not required on these topics:

Phase 1

Fire and Life Safety:
Health and Security:
Ventilation:
- CCR-24-0011 Healthy Homes (129 KB)
- CCR-24-0012 Ventilation Rates for Buildings (283 KB)
Energy and Environment:
Phase 2
2019 Building By-law 12511
On July 23, 2019, Vancouver City Council enacted the 2018 BC Building Code (BCBC) with Vancouver-specific additional requirements and revisions. These changes came into effect on November 1, 2019, with the release of the 2019 Vancouver Building By-law (VBBL).

Aspects of the 2019 VBBL can be incorporated in projects subject to the 2014 VBBL by following the details provided within the Vancouver Building By-law.

The Vancouver Building By-law is available at the Kings Printer .

Review the Vancouver Building By-law 2019 schedules (Letters of Assurances)

Important information
- Existing building permit applications, which have not yet been issued, will not be affected as long as they are not stagnant for more than 6 months.
- Completed building permit applications can still be submitted using the 2014 VBBL only if a successful intake meeting is completed by October 31, 2019.
- You may incorporate features of the 2019 VBBL into your current planning and design by using a generic alternative solution (Bulletin 2019-005-BU (108 KB)).
2014 Building By-law 10908
On April 1, 2014, Council adopted the 2012 British Columbia Building Code (BCBC) with additional requirements and revisions specific to Vancouver. It took effect January 1, 2015 (extended from July 1, 2014 at the June 24 Council meeting).

Developed in consultation with industry professionals, Building By-law 10908 includes amendments to the former Building By-law 9419 to improve housing for seniors and people with disabilities, while supporting the objectives of the Greenest City 2020 Action Plan.

(2014) Building By-law 10908 – amendments

As of March 1, 2018, amendments to the 2014 Vancouver Building By-law include:
- Energy requirements
  - Solar shades for Passive House projects
  - Insulation requirements
  - Limits to exterior lighting
- Building Fire and Life Safety
  - Residential security – door frames
  - Shower door swing direction
- Plumbing
  - Water efficiency
  - Landscape irrigation, geoexchange, and vehicle wash
To minimize delays in processing, ensure your project manager or project designer is aware of the changes to the requirements and incorporates them into building and trades permit applications.

All building and trades permit applications received after February 28, 2018 must comply with the new regulations

Download current Vancouver Building Amendments

Consolidated by-law amendments for VBBL 2014 (effective August 15, 2018)
- Book I (1.7 MB)
- Book II (760 KB)
Building permit

Bulletins

For bulletins pertaining to all versions of the Vancouver Building By-law, refer to the following link:

Review the latest bulletins clarifying bylaw requirements

Questions about the building by-law?

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Vancouver Building By-law (CBO)

Get updates

Vancouver Building By-law

2025 Building By-law invitation for public comment

2019 Building By-law 12511

2014 Building By-law 10908

Building permit

Bulletins

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