The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) 2020, developed by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes and published by the National Research Council of Canada, sets out technical requirements for the:
- design and construction of new buildings; and
- alteration, change of use and demolition of existing buildings.
The National Building Code of Canada is developed by the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes and published by the National Research Council of Canada.
The Government of Yukon currently enforces the 2020 National Building Code.
We’ll adopt the updated 2025 National Building Code of Canada on June 22, 2027.
Significant changes in the National Building Code for 2020
- requirements for a complete radon mitigation system to reduce radon exposure;
- updated climatic data values to use forward projections instead of historical values for snow loads and wind loads;
- new energy efficiency requirements for the alterations to existing buildings;
- a framework for building inspectors to enforce code requirements in retrofits;
- updated seismic values that affect things like bracing for lateral loads, hot water tanks, and heating or cooling equipment; and
- a framework that allows provinces and territories to choose a pathway to reduce operational greenhouse gas emissions of houses and buildings.
Find more information on the 2025 National Building Code of Canada.
2020 National Building Code changes
The 2020 National Building Code includes updates to:
- large farm buildings;
- mass timber buildings;
- accessibility rules;
- evaporative equipment
- home-type care occupancy; and
- energy efficiency tiers for houses and small buildings.
Large farm buildings
The 2020 National Building Code added technical requirements for large farm buildings.
These requirements include:
- fire protection;
- occupant safety;
- structural design; and
- heating, ventilating and air-conditioning.
Mass timber buildings
The 2020 National Building Code update allows encapsulated mass timber buildings up to 12 storeys.
Accessibility requirements
Accessibility requirements are updated to reduce barriers related to:
- anthropometrics;
- plumbing facilities;
- signage;
- entrances; and
- elevators.
Evaporative equipment
Design requirements for evaporative equipment are revised to minimize the growth and transmission of Legionella and other bacteria.
Home-type care occupancy
The 2020 update includes home-type care occupancy.
This helps support safe and affordable care in a home-type setting.
Energy performance tiers
The 2020 update include energy performance tiers.
These tiers give governments a way to set higher efficiency rules for houses and small buildings.
Log home energy efficiency exemption
The Government of Yukon adopted section 9.36 of the National Building Code in 2016.
This section includes changes that reflect the Yukon’s:
- climate;
- geography; and
- construction types.
This standard requires homes to meet a minimum EnerGuide efficiency rating of 78 out of100.
Builders can reduce some insulation requirements if the home meets this rating.
They can:
- reduce the minimum ceiling insulation from R60 to R40; and
- remove the insulation requirement in crawl space floors.
Builders and designers do not need to meet section 9.36 for homes that are 480 square feet or less.
Log homes must meet a minimum thickness for exterior walls
- Squared logs must be 8 inches thick.
- Rounded logs must be a minimum of 10 inches in diameter.
Log homes outside Whitehorse are exempt from section 9.36.
Whitehorse Building Standards
The City of Whitehorse sets its building standards by municipal bylaw.
These standards are usually higher than the requirements of the National Building Code.
For questions about Yukon-related updates to the National Building Code, email [email protected], or phone 867-667-5741 or toll free in the Yukon 1-800-661-0408, extension 5741.