Regulations & Codes
Six women shaping Canada’s residential spaces
Women developers, architects and interior designers are helping to manifest just a few of the country’s most dynamic condos and communities.
Ontario unveils more regulatory adjustments
A recycled title adorns the Ontario government's latest initiative to be framed as red tape reduction. Bill 213, the Better for People, Smarter for Business Act, 2020, is an omnibus effort to amend more than two dozen statutes.
Are condos prepared for climate change?
While many condos haven’t yet experienced the major effects of climate change, statistics and case studies foreshadow the impacts that could come.
Canada wavers on airtightness testing
The timing might have been opportune for uptake of the measure — provided it was adopted into provincial and territorial building codes — because it would have applied broadly in what is currently Canada’s most buoyant commercial real estate sector.
State of emergency allows for planning decisions
Ontario has taken legislative steps to ensure that municipal councils do not need to worry about decision timelines under the Planning Act during the COVID-19-related state of emergency.
Sights and sounds of proposed code changes
A package of proposed changes to Canada's National Building Code aims to improve navigability and safety in large buildings for people with mobility, vision and/or hearing constraints.
Managing short-term condo rentals
The explosive growth of online short-term rental websites has caused considerable controversy and concerns for condominium corporations
Ontario spurns unpaid building code advisors
The 2019 Ontario budget lists the Building Code Conservation Advisory Council among 10 provincial agencies deemed to be unnecessary or imprudent expenditures.
Manitoba sticks to optional new home warranty
After first postponing the date the legacy legislation from its predecessor would come into force, the provincial government now plans to repeal the New Home Warranty Act.
Mixed uses to ease into suburban office parks
The new policy would give developers a basis to challenge any local government's veto of non-employment land uses in suburban office parks.
Site security comes under renewed scrutiny
Construction site security is under renewed scrutiny after a member of the public gained access to a downtown property and scaled a crane.
Digging into development under Premier Ford
How might Ontario’s development landscape shift as the PCs take over the provincial policy levers from a 15-year-old Liberal government?
Will ‘ultra-high-rises’ cost more to maintain?
The new crop of 'ultra-high-rise' condos rising in Toronto will be more complicated and consequently more costly to maintain, one engineer is warning.
Ontario looks to boost elevator availability
Ontario is looking to boost elevator availability in multi-storey residential buildings, as well as long-term care and seniors’ homes.
Turning down the volume on noise complaints
Provincial authorities are preparing to introduce requirements relating to sound transmission due to deficiencies that could cut down on noise complaints.
Toronto looks to boost kid-friendly condos
Draft guidelines designed to promote kid-friendly condos are poised for a two-year trial run after getting green-lit last week.
Big data backs medium-density development
The development of courtyard apartments, multiplexes and town homes could be among the building blocks of better housing affordability in Ontario.