Overview

Ontario has released a new Building Code to reduce regulatory burdens for the construction industry, increase the safety and quality of buildings, and make it easier to build housing.

The 2024 Building Code streamlines processes for the sector and increases harmonization with the National Construction Codes by eliminating at least 1,730 technical variations between the provincial and national requirements.

This latest edition of the Building Code was developed in consultation with our partners in the sector — including building officials, fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders and the construction industry — to ensure that Ontario’s buildings continue to be among the safest in North America.

Timing and transition provisions

The 2024 Building Code comes into effect on January 1, 2025, with a three-month grace period until March 31, 2025 for certain designs that are already underway.

Please take careful note of the following transition period dates:

Until December 31, 2024

  • Permit applications must be submitted using the 2012 Building Code

January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025

  • Permit applications may be submitted using the new 2024 Building Code
  • Permit applications may be submitted using the 2012 Building Code if the applicant demonstrates that their working drawings were substantially complete by December 31, 2024

April 1, 2025

  • Permit applications must be submitted using the 2024 Building Code

Get the 2024 Building Code Compendium

Please follow these two steps to get the PDF of the 2024 Building Code Compendium for non-commercial use:

  1. Request a digital copy by submitting a short questionnaire
  2. After submitting the questionnaire, the confirmation page will include an email link to send us a request

Once you've sent your email request, we will reply shortly with the PDF of the Building Code Compendium.

Request a digital copy for non-commercial use

Get a print version of the 2024 Building Code Compendium

Production of the print version of the Compendium is underway. You can sign up to be notified when the print version of the Compendium is in stock.

You can also subscribe to the ministry’s CodeNews email subscription service. CodeNews subscribers will be notified when they are available.

Building Code training

Building Code training for the purposes of exam preparation is provided by George Brown College. These training courses will continue to teach the 2012 Building Code provisions until new course material is developed. An announcement will be made at a later date about training changes that correspond to the 2024 Building Code.

In the meantime, the ministry is developing a comprehensive approach to help the building sector understand the new requirements in the 2024 Building Code and to help build capacity in the sector. Further details will be shared at a later date.

Building Code exams

Building Code exams provided by Humber College will continue to use the 2012 Building Code provisions. An announcement will be made at a later date about exam changes that correspond to the 2024 Building Code.

How to read the new Ontario Building Code

The structure of the Ontario Building Code regulation has changed. The new Building Code regulation is one page long and adopts the National Building Code of Canada 2020, except where it is amended by the Ontario Amendment Document  (that is, the “Ontario Amendments to the National Building Code of Canada 2020”).  The full-length version of the Building Code will no longer be available on E-laws. Email us to request a copy of the Ontario Amendment Document.

The Building Code Compendium consolidates the National Building Code and the Ontario Amendments into one single, comprehensive document.