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A legal perspective on Bill 23 from Aird Berlis. Download PDF.

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Digital version of the 2012 Building Code Compendium Now Available

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is making a digital English version of the 2012 Building Code Compendium available upon request. You can request a copy by visiting https://www.ontario.ca/page/request-digital-copy-2012-building-code-compendium

This version is the Building Code in-effect as of January 1, 2022 which includes recent amendments relating to:

building permits and inspections for tiny homes
remote inspections for all buildings

The digital version of the 2012 Building Code Compendium is available to be used for personal, non-commercial, and commercial uses (under a ministry-approved licensing agreement). Copyright and terms of use apply and can be found below.

Amendment packages for the hardcopy compendium will be made available through Publications Ontario. If you would like to receive the digital Building Code Compendium in another format, please email us at buildingtransformation@ontario.ca

Building Code Amendments in-effect on January 1, 2022

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing made amendments (Ontario Regulation 867/21) to Ontario’s Building Code related to:

building permits and inspections for tiny homes
remote inspections for all buildings
housekeeping amendments

Tiny homes amendments:

create a two-permit system for tiny homes that are constructed in one municipality and are to be located and occupied in another municipality.
allow building permit applicants to obtain a building permit and have “off site” inspections done by the building official in the municipality where the home is constructed.
require building permit applicants to obtain a second building permit in the municipality where the tiny home will be located demonstrating compliance with site-specific conditions such as applicable law and requirements related to siting the tiny home, including ingress/egress, foundations and anchoring.
set out responsibilities for the building officials in each municipality.
set out how the mandatory timelines apply in this two-permit system when two different municipalities are involved.

Remote inspection amendment (Article 1.3.5.3. of Division C of the Building Code):

clarifies that building officials have discretion to use alternative inspection methods when conducting inspections on the construction of buildings such as remote inspections and other means.

Four housekeeping amendments:

update outdated references to other statutes in the list of applicable law to account for changes made in 2021 by the new Ontario Land Tribunal Act, 2021, as well as changes to the Ontario Heritage Act.

2019 Building Code Amendments related to Stairs, Guards and Handrails
Amendments related to stairs, guards and handrails came into effect on January 1, 2022. They were part of 2019 changes to the Building Code to further harmonize Ontario’s Building Code with the 2015 National Codes.

Government Resources:

Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) -A 12-month paid internship designed to provide recent Indigenous graduates with the opportunity to gain professional level work experience. It is a pathway to build and develop transferable skills that can be used to gain sustained employment in their field of choice. A placement with the Building and Development Branch of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing may be an opportunity available to those interested.

Updates from the Ontario Ministry of Health including tips on how to protect yourself and recognize symptoms.

A list of essential workplaces in Ontario that includes the construction sector.

Construction site health and safety during COVID-19 from Ontario.ca

Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development home page

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing home page

Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility home page

Public Health Ontario

Government of Canada website