Ontario CodeNews Issue 379: Amendments to Ontario's 2024 Building Code

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has amended Ontario's 2024 Building Code to clarify requirements, save builders, developers, homeowners, manufacturers, and regulators time and money and create greater certainty in building permit and inspection processes.

The following changes came into effect on April 20, 2026:

1. Clarifying technical requirements for pipes when leaching chambers are used in shallow buried trench sewage systems.

2. Supporting the faster construction of new rapid transit stations by updating certain Building Code requirements.

3. Making housekeeping and editorial changes to:

• Re-establish the March 31, 2027 end date for Temporary Health and Residential Facilities, aligning it with O.Reg. 144/20 made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997.

• Remove the application fee for Canadian manufacturers at the Building Materials Evaluation Commission.

• Update cross-references and align the editions of referenced standards with the 2020 National Construction Codes.

• Make consequential applicable law updates.

• Correct minor drafting errors.

In addition, administrative changes are made in the Sudbury and North Bay areas to transfer responsibility for enforcing onsite sewage system requirements from the regional health unit and conservation authority to nine local municipalities and townships. The changes will come into effect on the following dates:

• North Bay area: May 1, 2026

• Sudbury area: November 1, 2026

These changes are now included in an updated Ontario Amendment Document which is the official legal document that contains the above changes. The changes will be highlighted with a yellow background. Send an email to obtain an Ontario Amendment Document.