On December 31st, the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs signed Ministerial Order (BA 2024 05) under the Building Act. Beginning on March 10, 2025, new buildings regulated by the Step Code will have to meet at least EL-1 under the ZCSC. El-1 is a ‘measure only’ step, so “… a builder must measure and report the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that their proposed project will produce.” There are no requirements to reduce emissions. However, since May 2023, local governments have had ability to establish higher ZCSC requirements that mandate lower carbon operating emissions for new construction. Please see the BC Energy Step Code and Zero Carbon Step Code: A Best Practices Guide for Local Governments for more information on the ZCSC and the Energy Step Code.