Time-Sensitive Membership Survey

Dear ARIDO Members,

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has established a Building Code Advisory Body to provide independent advice on opportunities to improve Ontario’s Building Code. The review will consider requirements that may be outdated, duplicative, unclear, overly prescriptive, difficult to apply, or disproportionate to risk, while continuing to protect health, safety, accessibility, energy efficiency and building performance.

ARIDO has been engaged as a stakeholder and participated in the Advisory Body’s consultation with Ontario’s design professions on July 23, 2026. We are now seeking feedback from all members on recurring Building Code issues, administrative challenges and practical barriers encountered in professional practice.

Member Consultation Period: Thursday, July 30 to Friday, August 7, 2026

Submit your feedback below:

Responses received by the deadline will be reviewed and consolidated into ARIDO’s submission. Feedback that falls outside the Advisory Body’s mandate or is based on an incorrect interpretation of the Building Code may not be included in the submission.

OBC concerns should be specific, practical and based on real project experience. Where possible, please identify the relevant Building Code section or Article, explain how the issue arises, who is affected, whether it is recurring, and any related municipal interpretation challenges.

Examples of Relevant Feedback

Members may wish to identify:

• Barriers or recurring challenges in obtaining building permits.
• Inconsistent interpretations or enforcement between municipalities, plans examiners or inspectors.
• Administrative requirements that affect timelines, predictability, cost or ease of compliance.
• Requirements that are unclear, outdated, duplicative, overly prescriptive or difficult to apply.
• Conflicts between Building Code provisions, referenced standards or applicable law requirements.
• Issues resulting from recent harmonization with the National Building Code of Canada.
• Ontario-specific requirements that should be retained.
• Requirements that create unintended accessibility barriers.
• Barriers to alternative solutions, innovative design, new materials, construction methods or digital review tools.
• Areas where clearer guidance or standardized interpretation would improve consistency.

The Advisory Body is seeking feedback on systemic and recurring issues, rather than individual permit disputes, appeals, project-specific enforcement matters or product approvals. Project examples are welcome where they demonstrate a broader issue affecting multiple projects, municipalities or sectors.

This is an important opportunity for ARIDO members to help shape future recommendations concerning Ontario’s Building Code. Your practical experience throughout design, permitting and construction is essential to ensuring ARIDO’s submission reflects the needs of the profession.

Thank you for contributing within this expedited consultation period.

Sincerely,
Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario