The Vancouver Building By-Law (VBBL)

Last revised July 08, 2026

The Vancouver Charter, S.B.C. 1953, c. 55 enables the City of Vancouver to adopt bylaws that regulate the design and construction of buildings such that they can be tailored to suit the needs and interests of the city, particularly with respect to building safety. The bylaw not only regulates design and construction, but also provides the authority to enforce these requirements. The ability to regulate building at the civic level is unique in BC and allows the City of Vancouver to be a leader in many areas of building regulations, including accessibility, energy use and artist live/work studios. The by-law has changed over time, but each iteration is based on the BC Building Code with revisions and modifications specific to Vancouver.

The current bylaw – Vancouver By-law #14343 took effect on September 15, 2025. A Vancouver city council report dated March 15, 2025 states that the 2025 by-law is primarily based on the 2024 BC Building Code with some Vancouver-specific provisions. This change was in response to recommendations to have the Vancouver building by-law align more closely with the BC Building Code for greater consistency and a common understanding of building regulations across the province.  

The complete 2025 Vancouver Building Bylaw can be downloaded from the City of Vancouver (linked in references). A print version is currently not available. Past versions are available through the King’s Printer or through the Vancouver Public Library.

Content reviewed June 25, 2026