Surrey Step Code Requirements
Current Step: 3 + EL-1 | ACH Target: 2.5 ACH50 | Climate Zone: 4 | HDD: ~2,900 | Permit Office: surrey.ca/building
Current Requirements
Step 3 with Zero Carbon EL-1 (measure and report) for all new Part 9 residential buildings. Surrey matches the provincial minimum for energy performance but adds Zero Carbon reporting requirements under Building Bylaw No. 17850.
Unique: Mid-Construction Blower Door Test
Surrey requires a mid-construction blower door test before insulation inspection for all Part 9 buildings. Step 3 projects must achieve mid-construction airtightness of 4.0 ACH or less. This is unusual among BC municipalities and means builders need their air sealing strategy in place early.
Metro Vancouver Context
Surrey is Metro Vancouver’s largest suburban municipality (~600,000 population). High construction volume means the local building community has strong experience with Step Code compliance. Contact [email protected] for specific questions.
Climate Advantage
Climate Zone 4 with ~2,900 HDD gives Surrey builders an easier path to Step Code targets compared to Interior BC. Wall assemblies that need R-28 in the Okanagan (CZ5) may only need R-22 in Surrey.
Rebates
- FortisBC: Available for gas-connected homes (most of Surrey is FortisBC gas territory)
- BC Hydro: Surrey is BC Hydro electric territory
- CleanBC Better Homes: Provincial and federal incentives apply
Use our rebate calculator to estimate your project numbers.