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2024 Ontario Building Code Changes for BCIN Candidates

What changed from the 2012 to the 2024 Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24): new structure, key dates, farm buildings, radon and the BCIN exams.

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The 2024 Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24) replaced the 2012 code (O. Reg. 332/12) on January 1, 2025, and the BCIN exams switched to it on March 30, 2026. The biggest changes for candidates are a new structure built on the 2020 National Building Code, a new Part 2 for farm buildings, and revisions across Parts 3, 7 and 9. The province says it removes at least 1,730 technical differences from the national code.

This page sticks to changes and dates published by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Humber Polytechnic, or a municipality, with sources listed. It is not a full list. For any article you rely on, check the 2024 Compendium itself.

Key dates

Date What happened
April 10, 2024 2024 Building Code released and filed
May 29, 2024 O. Reg. 203/24: editorial corrections, in force January 1, 2025
November 4, 2024 O. Reg. 447/24: encapsulated mass timber up to 18 storeys and other changes, in force January 1, 2025
January 1, 2025 2024 code in effect
January 16, 2025 O. Reg. 5/25: updates the Ontario Amendment Document version
March 31, 2025 Last day for permit applications under the 2012 code, only where working drawings were substantially complete by December 31, 2024
April 1, 2025 All permit applications must use the 2024 code
March 8, 2026 Last day to book a 2012 code exam
March 15, 2026 Last 2012 code exams written
March 16 to 29, 2026 No Building Code exams offered
March 30, 2026 Exams based on the 2024 code begin

A new structure

This is the change that affects how you study most.

The 2012 code was a full-length regulation on e-Laws. The 2024 regulation is one page long. It adopts the 2020 National Building Code of Canada, except where it is changed by the Ontario Amendment Document ("Ontario Amendments to the National Building Code of Canada 2020"). The full-length code is no longer on e-Laws.

To read it as one document, use the 2024 Building Code Compendium. It combines the National Building Code text and the Ontario amendments, along with the Building Code Act, 1992, appendix notes and the Ministry's Supplementary Standards. The Ministry publishes a free digital version on ontario.ca, and Publications Ontario sells print copies and offers PDF volumes. This is also what you use in the exam: Humber provides the digital Compendium, and you may bring a hard copy.

The three Divisions are still there: Division A (compliance, objectives, definitions), Division B (acceptable solutions, the technical Parts) and Division C (administration). But because the base text now follows the national code, many article numbers and wordings differ from the 2012 code. Some Ontario articles carry a letter, such as 1.3.3.3A (application of Part 10) in Division A, so type numbers exactly when you search.

Changes highlighted by the Ministry

The Ministry's CodeNews bulletin announcing the 2024 code (Issue 354, April 10, 2024) highlighted these:

Topic What changed
Farm buildings Ontario fully harmonized with the national requirements for large farm buildings by adding a new Part to Division B, with separate provisions for large and small farm buildings. This is Part 2, Farm Buildings
Two-unit houses Ontario's provisions harmonized with the national secondary suite requirements, except the national minimum suite sizes. Ontario kept its flexibility on suite size
Radon and soil gas Harmonized with the national approach. New houses need a rough-in for a subfloor depressurization system, with revisions to Supplementary Standard SB-9 and a new appendix note
Fire protection systems Standpipe, fire alarm and sprinkler provisions harmonized with the national code
Sewage systems Updated standard for prefabricated septic tanks and sewage holding tanks, including a safety screen below cleanout covers, and changes to Type A dispersal beds to distinguish materials used for the mantle

The later amendment O. Reg. 447/24, in force January 1, 2025, expanded encapsulated mass timber construction to buildings up to 18 storeys and broadened where it can be used.

Examples listed by a municipality

Municipal building departments have published their own summaries. The City of Kingston's list includes these items, among many others. We checked that the current 2024 wording matches each one:

  • Guards on stairs: the triangular opening formed by the riser, tread and bottom of a guard must prevent passage of a 150 mm sphere (Division B, 9.8.8.5).
  • Pipe sizes: plumbing pipe sizes are expressed as nominal pipe size (NPS) in Part 7.
  • Rainwater: Part 7 includes provisions for using treated rainwater as a non-potable supply.

Kingston's page is a municipal summary, not the Ministry's. Use it as a pointer and confirm in the Compendium.

What changed on the exams

  • Code edition. Since March 30, 2026, all 16 exams are based on the Building Code Act, 1992 and the 2024 Building Code. Humber and the Ministry say questions reflect the new Part 2 and revisions to Parts such as 3, 7 and 9.
  • New study guides. The Ministry published 2024 study guides for all 16 exams. For example, the General Legal/Process and Small Buildings syllabi now include the scope, application and classification articles of Part 2, Farm Buildings (2.1.1, 2.1.2 and 2.1.4).
  • Format unchanged. Still 70 questions, 3 hours, open book, 70% to pass.
  • Old passes still count. The Ministry says both the 2012 and 2024 versions of each exam meet the qualification requirements.

What this means for your study

  1. Throw out 2012-based notes, or at least confirm every article number and value against the 2024 Compendium.
  2. Re-tab your code. Tabs set up for the 2012 code will not line up.
  3. Use the 2024 study guide for your exam, not an older syllabus.
  4. Be careful with older practice questions. Anything written before 2025 was almost certainly built on the 2012 code. See BCIN Exam Sample Questions.
  5. Read Part 2 basics if your syllabus includes them. It is new to everyone.

Training providers have been moving to the 2024 code too. Humber notes that the switch of the exams aligned with training providers basing their manuals on the 2024 code.

Our free study guides are written for the 2024 code and cite 2024 articles throughout. Find yours on the exam pages, such as General Legal/Process, House or Small Buildings, and try the free quiz.

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

When did the 2024 Ontario Building Code take effect?
It was released and filed on April 10, 2024 and came into effect on January 1, 2025. Permit applications could still use the 2012 code until March 31, 2025 if working drawings were substantially complete by December 31, 2024. From April 1, 2025, all permit applications must use the 2024 code.
When did the BCIN exams switch to the 2024 code?
On March 30, 2026. The last 2012 exams were booked by March 8, 2026 and written by March 15, 2026, and no exams ran from March 16 to 29, 2026.
Do I need to rewrite an exam I passed under the 2012 code?
No. The Ministry states that both the 2012 and 2024 versions of each exam meet the qualification requirements.
Why can't I find the full 2024 Building Code on e-Laws?
Because the regulation, O. Reg. 163/24, is now one page long. It adopts the 2020 National Building Code of Canada as amended by the Ontario Amendment Document. The Building Code Compendium puts both together in one document.
How many changes are in the 2024 code?
The province says the 2024 code eliminates at least 1,730 technical variations between Ontario's and the national requirements. Humber and the Ministry describe this as 1,730 amendments.