On June 11th, Council directed staff to prepare bylaw amendments aligning mass timber construction abilities with provincial regulation. This would enable taller encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 storeys (from 12) for residential and commercial, and extend construction to low and medium-hazard industrial, and care facilities uses.  

Recommended changes will expand the acceptable solutions in the Building Bylaw to include taller buildings, expand the use of encapsulated mass timber to new building uses, and allow more exposed mass timber in buildings. This will reduce the effort required by both applicants and City staff to demonstrate and ensure code compliance for mass timber projects. 

During the meeting, Council amended the motion, directing staff to explore participation in Metro Vancouver and the Zero Emission Innovation Centre's Offsite Wood Construction Early Adopter Program to help build capacity and accelerate the adoption of offsite construction methods that support the City's housing supply, affordability, and climate targets, including targets for new net zero construction and embodied carbon reductions, and with considerations for City staff time and possible financial contribution toward the initiative. Council also directed staff to report back on the potential to align Mass Timber Construction regulations with senior government regulations concerning Vancouver-specific residential restrictions on exposed mass timber, including considering fire safety issues.   

More information can be found in the full report by City staff.