Advocacy Update #28 - January 13, 2026
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In this issue:
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Changes to DCC/ACC Payment Schedules and Surety Bonds (as of Jan 1)
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New Resource: CHBA BC Policy Guidance on Cowichan Case
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Speculation and Vacancy Tax Updates in 2026
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Public Review on Proposed Changes to the BC Building Code
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On behalf of all of us at CHBA BC, we wish you and your families a happy and healthy year ahead.
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Changes to DCC/ACC Payment Schedules and Surety Bonds (as of Jan 1)
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Effective January 1, 2026, builders and developers will see changes to DCC and ACC regulation including: an extended payment timeline, a new payment structure, a surety bond option, and the inclusion of school site acquisition charges under the eligibility for installment payments.
If you would like to better understand these new changes, CHBA BC members now qualify for discounted member pricing when enrolling in the CPD course offered by our partners at HAVAN: Are You Sure You Know Everything You Need to Know About On-Demand Surety Bonds?
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New Resource: CHBA BC Policy Guidance on Cowichan Case
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Do you have questions about the Cowichan Tribes v. Canada court decision? CHBA BC has developed a new policy guidance document to help members understand the issues.
If you missed our webinar, you can also watch the complete recording here. CHBA BC members were joined by Sharon G.K Singh, Partner at McMillan LLP, who provided a legal overview of the ruling and walked through key elements of the case, along with the historical context behind the decision.
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Speculation and Vacancy Tax Updates in 2026
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The provincial speculation and vacancy tax will see further changes this year, including:
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Canadian citizens and permanent residents with empty or underused homes will pay a rate of 1%, up from 0.5%,
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Foreign owners and owners with most of their income unreported in Canada will be subject to a tax rate of 3%, up from 2%, and
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The tax credit for B.C. residents will be increased from $2,000 to $4,000.
The province reports that more than 99% of property owners who live in B.C. did not have to pay the tax in 2025.
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Public Review on Proposed Changes to the BC Building Code
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The Construction Standards and Digital Solutions Branch launched a technical public review on proposed changes to the BC Building Code, anticipated to take effect by March 2026.
Overall, the proposed changes appear to be beneficial to residential construction:
Other proposed changes include:
Access the survey on the proposed code changes here.
Member comments to CHBA BC may be emailed to Pauline.
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This newsletter is exclusive for Canadian Home Builders' Association of BC (CHBA BC) members. If a colleague would like to subscribe, please have them update their contact information with their local association. For questions, feel free to contact Jenny Scott, Director of Policy and Government Relations, or Pauline Rupp, Director of Technical and Building Innovation.
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