HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1 Section 1 of the Building Act, S.B.C. 2015, c. 2, is amended by adding the following definitions:

"access" has the meaning prescribed by regulation;

"adaptable" has the meaning prescribed by regulation;

"mobility aid" means any manual or electric wheelchair, scooter, boarding chair, walker, cane, crutch, prosthesis or other aid that is specially designed to assist a person with a disability with a need related to mobility; .

2 Section 3 (2) is amended by adding the following paragraphs:

(k) require the following in respect of new housing developments:

(i) a minimum ratio of dwelling units in a multi-unit building that are adaptable dwelling units if the dwelling units are one storey;

(ii) a minimum ratio of dwelling units in a multi-unit building that meet the requirements set out in the National Standard of Canada CAN/CSA B651-l8, entitled Accessible design for the built environment, published in November 2018 by the Canadian Standards Association, as amended from time to time, if the dwelling units are more than one storey;

(iii) a minimum ratio of single family dwellings that are adaptable single family dwellings if the single family dwellings are one storey;

(iv) design and construction of new buildings that include all of the following in order to allow access with the use of a mobility aid:

(A) at least one entrance to a building or dwelling unit that is flush to the floor;

(B) all doors having a minimum clear width of 815 millimeters when measured from the doorstop to the face of the door when open at a right angle;

(C) at least one accessible bathroom on the main floor of a building or dwelling unit;

(l) The minister may, by order, confer authority to a person or an organization to inspect for compliance with the requirements referred to in paragraph (k).

Commencement

3  This Act comes into force on the date of Royal Assent.

Explanatory Notes

SECTION 1: [Building Act, section 1] adds definitions.

SECTION 2: [Building Act, section 3]

• adds accessibility requirements to the design of buildings or planning of building activities in respect of new housing developments;
• adds authority for the minister to authorize a person or an organization to inspect for compliance with the accessibility requirements under section 3 (2) (l), as proposed by this Bill.