On June 3rd, Council referred updates to the existing voluntary incentives for high-performance buildings to a Public Hearing in July. The proposed updates are as follows: 

• Extending the duration of the incentives to 2030 to reflect the City’s climate targets and continue supporting high-performance builders that are working to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions;
• Increasing the incentive for larger buildings from 5% to 10%, aligning the 2026 requirements of transit-oriented areas by incorporating existing floor space exclusions into a single exclusion from floor area; and
• Set embodied carbon limits for the voluntary incentive for smaller buildings to reduce the embodied emissions associated with building materials and designs, including through re-use and salvage. 

More information on the incentives for high-performance buildings can be found in the full report by City staff.

Additionally, on September 15, 2025, the new 2025 Vancouver Building By-Law will come into effect and includes the requirement for commissioning of energy using systems for all new Part 3 construction under 10.2.2.22. New buildings commissioning has been a requirement for new Part 3 construction that received rezoning approval since 2017, which has accounted for approximately 50% of the new Part 3 buildings in Vancouver. This change in the 2025 VBBL extends commissioning requirements to all new Part 3 construction in Vancouver.  

The new consolidated version of the 2025 VBBL is not yet available in full but key excerpts are provided below. New equipment and systems in existing buildings will also require commissioning as per VBBL 11.3.2.2 and 11.3.2.3. Please refer to Part 10 (unofficial wording, effective September 15, 2025 found on this webpage under “Past, present and future versions of VBBL’s Part 10” tab for applicability details, including clarifications for those complying with 10.2.2.2 ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1 to align with the requirements of 10.2.2.22. 

 Please reach out to Greg McCall, Energy Policy Specialist Office of the Chief Building Official, directly if you have any questions on the new commissioning requirements.