Canada's national model codes have been updated. The 2025 editions, including the National Building Code of Canada, were released in December 2025, and they bring some significant firsts. This is a plain-English rundown of what changed, how the codes take legal effect across the provinces, and how to check a project against them, with links to the official sources.
When was the NBC 2025 released?
The 2025 national model codes were released on 22 December 2025 by the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes and published through the National Research Council's Codes Canada. The National Building Code sits within a family that also includes the National Fire Code, the National Plumbing Code, and the National Energy Code for Buildings.
What changed in the NBC 2025?
The headline changes are meaningful, especially on accessibility and emissions:
- Accessibility expanded. The accessibility objective now applies to all types of dwelling unit.
- Operational emissions, for the first time. The codes introduce the first explicit, measurable limits on operational greenhouse-gas emissions.
- Existing buildings. New compliance pathways and energy provisions extend to alterations of existing buildings.
- Forward-looking climate data. Climatic design data has been updated to reflect a changing climate rather than only historical records.
- Other updates include a passive radon stack requirement and updates to mass-timber fire provisions.
Does the NBC apply automatically across Canada?
No. A national model code has no force in law until a province or territory adopts it, because construction falls under provincial and territorial jurisdiction. Several provinces, including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Quebec, maintain their own codes based on the national model, and they adopt each new edition on their own timelines. In practice, the edition that applies to your project depends on where it is being built.
How do you check a project against the NBC or your province's code?
Upload the National Building Code, your province's code, or any standard you use, along with your drawings and BIM model, and UptoCode checks the project against it and cites every finding to the clause and the drawing it came from. Because you provide the code, you can check against the exact edition and amendments that apply.
See how it works on the plan review in Canada page, or, if you work in Ontario, the Ontario Building Code. Create a free account and run a cited check on your next project.
Last reviewed 19 July 2026 against the National Research Council's Codes Canada. This article is general information, not compliance advice; confirm the current edition adopted in your province or territory before relying on it.