Through the Homeowner Protection Act, the Government of B.C. is establishing new requirements for home builders specializing in the construction of single-family homes and small residential buildings. In order to renew their licences on an annual basis, home builders will be required to take continuing education courses in professional development as it relates to residential construction.

Under the new enhanced builder licensing system, home builders must demonstrate proficiency in seven residential construction areas including the British Columbia Building Code, construction management and customer relations. Home builders with existing licences will not need to re-qualify, but they will be expected to participate in annual continuing education courses.

“Our goal is to protect new homebuyers across British Columbia,” says Rich Coleman, Minister Responsible for Housing in B.C. “We worked with the construction industry to make these changes, raise the bar of professionalism and maintain B.C.’s position as a leader in the residential marketplace.”

The new system will be phased in over the course of 16 months to allow time for industry professionals to adjust and prepare for the new requirements. There will be no additional licensing fees for builders and a combination of education, experience and/or equivalencies can be pursued to meet requirements.

Further information can be found on British Columbia’s Homeowner Protection Office website.