As mentioned in previous updates, at Standing Committee on Policy and Strategic Priorities on April 16th, the new Vancouver Building Bylaw (VBBL) was approved in principle. This outlined the proposed changes to the VBBL, especially regarding the recently enacted seismic and adaptability provisions. 

The proposed phasing in Vancouver is as follows, in comparison with the Province: 

In terms of next steps, the report listed the following: 

• Adaptability – As presented in prior reports to the Council, the Chief Building Official has proposed a future harmonization of the provincial adaptability requirements with the existing adaptability provision for lower-density housing forms not covered by the new provincial regulations. This is proposed to be addressed as a mid-cycle amendment to the Building Bylaw; and 
• Single Egress Stair – The province has introduced amendments for provisions to permit residential buildings of up to six storeys to be served by a single egress stair. Due to the complexity of this topic, specific recommendations pertaining to the implementation of single egress stairs and other forms of space-efficient egress are proposed to be introduced as a future mid-cycle amendment to the Building By-law. 

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

October 10, 2024

As part of the public consultation process, UDI submitted feedback to the City of Vancouver on the proposed changes to the Vancouver Building By-law (VBBL), highlighting key concerns and recommendations regarding adaptability, seismic provisions, embodied carbon, in-stream protections, and single-egress stairs. 

Adaptability and Seismic Changes 

We understand the City is adjusting the 2024 BCBC adaptability provisions in the VBBL through its proposed CCR-24-0008 to mitigate the space and cost impacts for Apartment/Condo type units. UDI supports these measures. However, we recommend that these standards not be applied to townhouses, as they are less suited for such adaptations and increase costs. We also support delaying the implementation of both adaptability and seismic provisions until at least May 2026, allowing time for the pending space study analysis which could potentially impact the implementation of the adaptability and seismic provisions of the 2024 BCBC.  

Embodied Carbon Emission Reductions 

While we acknowledge the City’s adjustments to reduce the burden of embodied carbon regulations, we remain concerned about the feasibility of these changes given current supply chain challenges and inflation in construction materials. We recommend the City delay these measures until senior government regulations and procurement policies are clarified. 

In-Stream Protection 

We recommend the City adopt enhanced protections for in-stream applications, similar to the recently announced provincial measures. These protections are crucial to avoid delays and additional costs for projects already in progress, especially given the significant changes proposed in the VBBL. 

Single-Egress Stair Buildings 

We recommend the City adopt the Provincial Ministerial Order allowing six-storey single-egress stair buildings in the VBBL. This change would make better use of smaller lots in dense neighborhoods and help Vancouver meet its housing targets by enabling more feasible redevelopment projects on smaller sites.  

Additional information can be found in UDI’s full submission. 

June 6, 2024

At the Standing Committee on City Finance and Services on May 29th, Council received a report from City staff on Adaptable Housing Design in the Vancouver Building Bylaw (VBBL).   

Council has approved in principle of the following recommendations: 

• The general adoption of amendments related to adaptable housing design provisions in the 2024 BC Building Code, as part of the next edition of the VBBL; and
• Deferral of implementation of new adaptable housing design provisions in the VBBL until at least May 28th, 2026 to provide developers, owners, and constructors with additional time to update their building designs and facilitate the amendment of in-stream projects, in addition to allowing City staff to evaluate the impacts of the new adaptable housing design provisions on the delivery of housing.   

City staff will now seek to develop additional refinements to the adaptable housing design provisions though the VBBL development process, with the goal of reducing the impacts on the construction industry, while preserving the core intention of these provisions and the City’s leadership in this area. City staff also propose to use the additional time to engage consultants to more fully study the developmental and construction concerns and to develop additional guidance documentation for both industry and staff, and seek to uncover additional regulatory improvements which could further mitigate impacts on the cost and delivery of housing. This work is currently underway through the Apartment Living initiative. City staff have initiated design testing through an external consultant to better understand the implications of the Province’s proposed adaptability requirements on unit mix, size, design, and form of development. 

The report acknowledges that more recently, there have been expressions of concern from the building industry that the potential additional space needed in a dwelling unit in order to accommodate the Province’s adaptable housing design requirements may be considerable (anecdotal estimates have suggested as much as an additional 80 to 100 sq.ft per unit) and this could then have a negative impact on the cost to construct housing and the industry’s ability to deliver housing. Additional analysis will be undertaken to more fully explore the potential spatial, design and cost implications for new housing development in Vancouver. City staff note that increases across a range of factors in recent years have placed significant pressure on the financial viability of new housing development in Vancouver, including construction, land and financing costs. By potentially increasing project costs and resulting in fewer dwelling units, the new requirements could add to these pressures and impact the supply of new housing, particularly for much needed new secured rental and social housing projects which face the greatest viability challenges. 

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