Media Release – Justice and Public Safety Building permits under 2010 National Building Code accepted until Dec. 31, 2021

Building permits under 2010 National Building Code accepted until Dec. 31, 2021

NB

6 May 2021

FREDERICTON (GNB) — A grace period has been established to allow the construction industry time to transition from the 2010 National Building Code to the 2015 version, as part of changes to a regulation under the Building Code Administration Act effective immediately.

“Since adopting the 2015 National Building Code earlier this year, concerns were raised by some developers who had performed significant work in planning construction based on the 2010 code,” said Justice and Public Safety Minister Hugh J. Flemming. “We listened and are extending the grace period to provide the industry with more time to adjust to the new building code.”

The amended regulation will allow building permits under both the 2010 and 2015 National Building Codes to be accepted until Dec. 31, 2021. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, only permits based on the 2015 National Building Code will be accepted.

In addition to the establishment of the grace period, the regulation was also amended to ensure that buildings designed for overnight accommodation with a total floor area of less than 56.08 square meters (625 square feet) are exempt from the code, such as small camps and lodges or sheds.

“We have seen in the last year the renewed interest in exploring our beautiful province through recreational activities,” said Flemming. “This exemption will remove a barrier for those seeking to build a simple fishing or hunting camp, and for entrepreneurial New Brunswickers who are developing overnight accommodations to meet the demand for ‘glamping sites’ and other small structures designed for camping.”

The regulation was also amended to exempt buildings which fall under the definition of accessory buildings. This allows the use of ungraded lumber – lumber that is not “stamped” –  for these buildings.

The Building Code Administration Act was introduced and passed in March 2020 to allow the government to adopt the latest version of the National Building Code and the National Energy Code for Buildings. The day-to-day operations of administering building permits and performing inspections are the responsibility of local governments and regional service commissions.

Information on the National Building Code of Canada is available on the National Research Council website.

06-05-21

MEDIA CONTACT:

Coreen Enos, communications, Department of Justice and Public Safety, coreen.enos@gnb.ca.