The 2020 edition of the National Building Code of Canada became available on March 28, 2022, together with the other 2020 National Model Codes.
How national codes work
The national codes are models. They take effect only when a province or territory adopts them, sometimes directly and sometimes as the basis for its own building code with local changes. As a result, adoption happens on different schedules across the country, and projects in different provinces may be built to different editions at the same time.
Why it matters for building systems
Building codes set many of the requirements that fire protection, plumbing and mechanical systems are built to, often by referencing standards such as NFPA 13 for sprinklers. When a new edition is adopted, referenced standards can change too.
For owners planning residences, academic buildings and other institutional work, it’s worth confirming early which code edition will apply when the permit application is made, especially on projects that will take several years from design to construction.
