Ontario’s Amended Building Code Now Permits Mass Timber Construction Up to 18 Stories

An amendment to the Ontario building code permitting encapsulated mass timber construction up to 18 stories, an increase from the previous limit of 12, took effect on January 1, Storeys reported (1-3-25). The provincial government first proposed the change in April 2024.

When the amendment was first introduced, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Paul Calandra said, “The use of mass timber can help the sector build more homes faster, keep the cost of construction down and boost our northern economy. As we work to cut red tape in order to increase housing supply, we’re taking an innovative approach to help our partners get shovels in the ground.”

Associate Minister of Housing Rob Flack added that the increased emphasis on mass timber is part of the province’s “multi-pronged approach” to increase housing supply and help housing affordability. “Our government will continue to execute comprehensive housing initiatives that include smarter planning, less red tape, housing-enabling infrastructure investments and working with our partners to unlock the potential of high-speed homebuilding technologies to create sustainable communities for everyone,” he said.

There’s been an increased emphasis on mass timber not just in Ontario, but British Columbia as well, Storeys reported. In February 2024, Vancouver City Council took its first steps towards creating a new policy program to “remove barriers to mass timber” and encourage more developers to utilize it. The city’s proposed Mass Timber Policy for Rezonings calls for additional height and density through the rezoning process, allowing up to two additional stories on sites that currently allow for 8–11 stories, and up to three additional stories on sites that currently allow for 12 or more stories.