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 and enforce its own Building By-law 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 and work studios
Energy utilization
Rain screen cladding system
Seismic and climate

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Vancouver Building By-law

The Vancouver Building By-law (CBO) serves as the central hub for accessing past and present VBBLs, along with supporting documentation for the permitting process, including Letters of Assurance.

Access the Vancouver Building By-law (free) on the Province's print and digital publishing solutions platform (King's Printer)

Bulletins (past and present)
Review bulletins pertaining to all versions of the Vancouver Building By-law:
- Bulletins clarifying current VBBL requirements
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.

Amendments and supporting documentation
Important information
- 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).

Amendments and supporting documentation
- Review all amendments to Book I of the 2014 VBBL (1.7 MB)
- Review all amendments to Book II of the 2014 VBBL (760 KB)
Building permit

New construction and alterations projects typically require a building permit, or multiple permits, along with trade permits. Access the Building Permit webpage for information pertaining to your specific project proposal.

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.

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Questions about the Building By-law?

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