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Accessibility requirements in the BC Building Code

Last updated on April 8, 2025

BC Building Code accessibility requirements set minimum standard for building design and construction to improve usability. Learn about B.C.’s new accessibility and adaptability rules.

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​ Accessibility in the BC Building Code

The BC Building Code provides accessibility requirements so people can move through and use buildings safely.  

The BC Building Code does not set the rules for:

  • Furniture design and placement
  • Building operation and management

Contact the Accessibility Directorate for accessibility matters outside the BC Building Code scope.

New 2024 BC Building Code accessibility requirements

Effective March 8, 2024

New commercial and public buildings and their common spaces must have:

  • Power-operated doors on all building and accessible washroom entrances
  • An elevator in large two and three-storey buildings
  • Full-sized changing space in universal washrooms

Adaptability in the BC Building Code

Providing more adaptable dwellings helps increase accessible housing options.

Adaptable dwellings:

  • Help people stay in their home through illness or temporary or permanent injury
  • Help seniors who would like to age in place
  • Provide accessible housing options for people living with disabilities
  • Cut future retrofitting costs

Adaptable dwelling requirements

Effective March 10, 2025

At least one in 5 units must be an adaptable dwelling unit:

  • In large condominium and apartment buildings
  • On the first floor of smaller apartments and condominiums

These units need to include:

  • Accessible clearances through doorways and along paths of travel to the living space
  • Clear space in a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen
  • Switches and other controls at accessible heights
  • Reinforcement of bathroom walls to allow future installation of grab bars

These requirements do not apply to units that:

  • Are more than two storeys
  • Have a separate entry or exit to the exterior
  • Are not accessed by an interior accessible corridor

Bulletins about adaptable dwellings

Learn more about adaptable dwelling requirements in these bulletins:

Adaptable Dwelling Unit Illustrative Design Guide

An illustrative design guide with pictures, design ideas and explanations is available to support you to implement the 2024 BC Building Code adaptable dwelling unit requirements.

The guide is meant to support the Space and Cost Impact Report. It was developed assuming a 100 percent dwelling unit application. However, the design solutions and commentary can still be useful for a phased adaptable dwelling unit approach

Space and Cost Impact Report

A space and cost impact study of the 2024 BC Building Code adaptable dwelling unit and earthquake design provisions was done.

Additional resources

Past Building Accessibility Handbooks

Building accessibility handbooks provide illustrations and explanatory text to support users to understand and apply accessibility requirements.

BC Housing accessibility resources

BC Housing offers supports and resources to make homes more accessible:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation resources

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has design guides and standards:

Read about B.C.'s new accessibility legislation.