Under Canada’s constitution, provinces and territories regulate the design and construction of houses and buildings, and the maintenance and operation of fire safety systems in existing buildings.

While the National Model Codes (Building, Fire, Plumbing, and Energy Codes) are prepared centrally under the direction of the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC), adoption and enforcement of the Codes are the responsibility of the provincial and territorial authorities having jurisdiction.

Provinces and territories that adopt or adapt the national model codes

New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan Province-wide adoption of the National Building Code, National Fire Code and National Plumbing Code with some modifications and additions.
Newfoundland and Labrador Province-wide adoption of the National Fire Code and the National Building Code, except aspects pertaining to means of egress and to one- and two-family dwellings within Group C in Part 9. No province-wide plumbing code.
Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon Territory-wide adoption of the National Building Code and National Fire Code with some modifications and additions. Yukon adopts the National Plumbing Code.
Prince Edward Island Province-wide adoption of the National Plumbing Code. The province-wide fire code is not based on the National Fire Code. Major municipalities adopt the National Building Code.

Provinces that publish their own codes based on the national model codes

Alberta and British Columbia Province-wide building, fire, and plumbing codes that are substantially the same as the national models with variations that are primarily additions.
Ontario Province-wide building, fire and plumbing codes based on the national models, but with significant variations in content and scope. The Ontario Fire Code, in particular, is significantly different from the National Fire Code. Ontario also references the National Energy Code for Buildings in its building code.
Quebec Province-wide building, plumbing and energy for buildings codes that are substantially the same as the National Building Code, the National Plumbing Code and the National Energy Code for Buildings, but with variations that are primarily additions. Major municipalities adopt the National Fire Code.

Provinces and territories that have adopted regulations based on the 2015 editions of Codes Canada publications

Province/ Territory NBC 2015 NFC 2015 NPC 2015 NECB 2015 NECB 2017
Filed / Adopted Enforced Filed / Adopted Enforced Filed / Adopted Enforced Filed / Adopted Enforced Filed / Adopted Enforced
Y.T. April 2016 April 2017  April 2016 April 2017  April 2016 April 2017 – – – –
N.W.T. November 2016 November 2016 November 2016 November 2016 – – – – – –
Nun. April 2018 September 2018  April 2018 September 2018  April 2018 September 2018 – – – –
B.C. July 2018 December 2018 October 2018 December 2018  July 2018 December 2018  July 2018 December 2018 – –
Alta. February 2019 April 2019 February 2019 April 2019 March 2016 January 2017 – – February 2019 April 2019
Sask. January 2018 January 2018
(except Section 9.36.) Section 9.36.:
January 2019		 January 2018 January 2018 June 2016 June 2017 – – January 2018 January 2019
Man. – – – – – – – – January 2018 January 2019
Ont. – January 2020 – January 2020 – January 2020 – See note See note –
Que. November 2021 January 2022 – – March 2021 September 2021 June 2020 December 2021 – –
P.E.I. March 2020 (residential, March 2021) March 2020 (residential, March 2021) March 2020 March 2020 June 2016 January 2017 – – March 2020 March 2020
N.S. March 2017 April 2017 May 2017 May 2017 March 2017 April 2017 March 2017 April 2017 November 2019 January 2020
N.L. January 2019 February 2019 January 2019 February 2019 – – – – Under review Under review
Note
Ontario generally initiates its own energy requirements, which are incorporated in the Building Code.

Provinces and territories that have adopted regulations based on the 2010 and 2011 editions of Codes Canada publications

Province/ Territory NBC 2010 NBC Revision 2012 (Section 9.36.) NFC 2010 NPC 2010 NECB 2011
Y.T. Adopted / Effective April 2011 Adopted / Effective April 2013 Adopted April 2011 Adopted / Effective April 2011
N.W.T. Adopted / Effective April 2011 Adopted / Effective April 2011
Nun.
B.C. Adopted September 2012 / Effective December 2012 Adopted April 2013 / Effective December 2014 Adopted September 2012 / Effective December 2012 Adopted September 2012 / Effective December 2012 Adopted April 2013 / Effective December 2013
Alta. Adopted February 2015 / Effective May 2015 Effective May 2016 Adopted February 2015 / Effective May 2015 Adopted February 2015 / Effective November 2015
Sask. Adopted March 2013 / Effective May 2013 Adopted March 2013 / Effective September 2013
Man. Adopted / Effective April 2011 Adopted / Effective April 2016 Adopted September 2011 / Effective December 2011 Adopted / Effective April 2011 Adopted December 2013 / Effective December 2014
Ont. Adopted November 2012 / Effective January 2014 Adopted November 2012 / Effective January 2014 Adopted November 2012 / Effective January 2014
Que. Adopted April 2015 / Effective June 2015 Adopted  December 2012 / Effective March 2013 Adopted  January 2014 / Effective April 2014
N.B. Adopted December 2011 / Effective January 2012
P.E.I. Adopted 2011: Summerside, Charlottetown, Stratford
N.S. Adopted March 2011 / Effective June 2011 Adopted December 2013 / Effective December 2014 Adopted March 2011 / Effective June 2011 Adopted 2011 / Effective June 2011 Adopted December 2013 / Effective December 2014
N.L. Partially adopted except for fire protection and building accessibility