Power to Act:

Energy reporting and disclosure, also known as energy benchmarking, is the practice of measuring a building’s energy use over time and comparing its performance to similar buildings. For new construction, it offers a way to assess whether a building performs as intended once it’s occupied—bridging the gap between design-stage energy modelling and real-world outcomes.

Unlike energy code compliance, which relies on simulations conducted before construction, post-occupancy reporting and disclosure reveals how a building actually operates. It can help identify inefficiencies, inform performance improvements, and support long-term planning for retrofits and emissions reductions.

Because energy reporting and disclosure requires at least 12 months of utility data, it applies after a building is operational. This means it cannot be used to regulate the construction phase, but local governments can still require energy performance reporting after a defined period of occupancy. Doing so supports both climate targets and asset management goals, while staying within the limits of the Building Act.

To support implementation, local governments can refer to the Step-By-Step Guide: Supporting Local Governments in British Columbia to Implement Energy Benchmarking, which provides detailed guidance on program design, data access, and stakeholder engagement.

As new buildings become more complex—with integrated systems for heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, and water—commissioning has become a critical step to ensure these systems work together efficiently. Commissioning is a quality assurance process that begins during design and continues through construction and early occupancy. It verifies that systems perform as intended and helps building operators maintain long-term energy efficiency and occupant comfort.

The benefits of commissioning include reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, lower operating costs, and better-performing buildings. For local governments in B.C., requiring commissioning can be an effective way to ensure that climate and performance goals are met from day one.

Local governments can require commissioning through three main pathways. The most direct approach is enacting a bylaw under section 8(3)(l) of the Community Charter, though this may raise questions under the Building Act unless ministerial approval is obtained. Alternatively, commissioning can be secured through section 219 covenants, applied on a parcel-by-parcel basis during rezoning or permitting. Where the local government owns the land, commissioning requirements can also be included in development agreements, leases, or licenses.

To meet climate targets and reduce long-term reliance on fossil fuels, many BC municipalities are exploring strategies to limit or phase out new natural gas servicing in buildings. These approaches favour all-electric designs or on-site renewable energy systems and are motivated by concerns over future stranded gas assets, shifting regulatory landscapes, and the need for resilient infrastructure.

While the Building Act limits municipal authority over technical building systems, municipalities can still influence mechanical system choices by adopting the Zero Carbon Step Code (ZCSC), a performance-based compliance path that sets greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) limits for new buildings. Higher steps in the ZCSC effectively require electric systems in most cases, providing a clear policy lever within provincial jurisdiction. Municipalities can further support the transition through legal and planning tools that target servicing, infrastructure, and development approvals.

Municipalities may designate Development Permit Areas (DPAs) to encourage energy conservation and GHG reduction, allowing regulation of external features like heat pumps and solar collectors. They may also negotiate section 219 covenants during development approvals that commit developers to avoid fossil fuel systems or prioritize electric heating. Additionally, local governments have the option of pursuing public franchise agreements under section 22 of the Community Charter to restrict new gas servicing, though this path is legally untested and may prompt utility opposition.

When combined with ZCSC adoption, these tools offer a layered and flexible strategy to transition new development away from natural gas while remaining within provincial jurisdiction.

Municipalities in BC have zoning powers that can be used to limit or prohibit land uses related to fossil fuel production, processing, and retailing. These powers allow local governments to shape how land is used in ways that align with climate objectives, particularly by discouraging or preventing new fossil fuel infrastructure in their communities.

Under section 479 of the Local Government Act, municipalities may enact zoning bylaws that prohibit specific land uses, including those involving the sale or processing of fossil fuels, where such uses are deemed incompatible with long-term land use plans or climate goals.

Local governments may also negotiate section 219 covenants during rezoning processes, securing voluntary agreements from landowners to limit fossil fuel-related uses in future developments. While covenants offer flexibility, their applicability may be more limited under recent legislative changes such as Bill 44, which allows small-scale multi-unit housing up to 4 or 6 units on residential lots that were previously zoned for single-family homes, and Bill 47, which restricts rezoning discretion in areas designated as transit-oriented areas.