OBC DIVISION A · PART 1 — COMPLIANCE AND GENERALUpdated for the 2024 Ontario Building Code
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Division A, Section 1.3 — Divisions A, B and C of this Code
Full text of Section 1.3 (Divisions A, B and C of this Code) — Division A, Part 1 (Compliance and General) of the 2024 Ontario Building Code, with every article reproduced below.
On this page:
1.3.1.1.1.3.1.2.1.3.1.3.1.3.1.4.1.3.2.1.1.3.3.1.1.3.3.1A.1.3.3.2.1.3.3.2A.1.3.3.3.1.3.3.3A.1.3.3.3B.1.3.3.3C.1.3.3.4.1.3.3.5.1.3.4.1.
1.3.1.1.1.3.1.2.1.3.1.3.1.3.1.4.1.3.2.1.1.3.3.1.1.3.3.1A.1.3.3.2.1.3.3.2A.1.3.3.3.1.3.3.3A.1.3.3.3B.1.3.3.3C.1.3.3.4.1.3.3.5.1.3.4.1.
1.3.1.General
1.3.1.1.Scope of Division A permalink →
(1) Division A contains the compliance and application provisions, objectives and functional statements of this Code.
1.3.1.2.Scope of Division B permalink →
(1) Division B contains the acceptable solutions of this Code.
1.3.1.3.Scope of Division C permalink →
(1) Division C contains the administrative provisions of this Code.
1.3.1.4.Internal Cross-References permalink →
(1) Where the Division of a referenced provision is not specified in this Code, it shall mean that the referenced
provision is in the same Division as the referencing provision.
1.3.2.Application of Division A
1.3.2.1.Application of Parts 1, 2 and 3 permalink →
(1) Parts 1, 2 and 3 of Division A apply to all buildings covered in this Code. (See Article 1.1.1.1.)
1.3.3.Application of Division B (See Note A-1.3.3.)
1.3.3.1.Application of Parts 1, 7 and 12 permalink →
(1) Part 1 of Division B applies to all buildings covered in this Code. (See Article 1.1.1.1.)
(2) Subject to Article 1.3.3.3B., Parts 7 and 12 of Division B apply to all buildings covered in this Code.
1.3.3.1A.Application of Part 2 permalink →
(1) Part 2 of Division B applies to all farm buildings covered in this Code.
1.3.3.2.Application of Parts 3, 4, 5 and 6 permalink →
(1) Subject to Articles 1.3.3.1A., 1.3.3.3B., Parts 3, 4, 5, and 6 of Division B apply to all buildings described in Article
1.1.1.1. and
(a) classified as post-disaster buildings,
(b) used for major occupancies classified as
(i) Group A, assembly occupancies,
(ii) Group B, care, care and treatment or detention occupancies, or
(iii) Group F, Division 1, high-hazard industrial occupancies, or
(c) exceeding 600 m2 in building area or exceeding 3 storeys in building height used for major occupancies classified
as
(i) Group C, residential occupancies,
(ii) Group D, business and personal services occupancies,
(iii) Group E, mercantile occupancies, or
(iv) Group F, Divisions 2 and 3, medium- and low-hazard industrial occupancies.
(2) Subject to Articles 1.3.3.1A. and 1.3.3.3B., Part 4 of Division B applies to
(a) a retaining wall exceeding 1 000 mm in exposed height adjacent to
(i) public property,
(ii) access to a building, or
(iii) private property to which the public is admitted,
(b) a pedestrian bridge appurtenant to a building,
(c) a crane runway,
(d) an exterior storage tank and its supporting structure that is not regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Act,
2000,
(e) signs regulated by Section 3.15. of Division B that are not structurally supported by a building,
(f) a structure that supports a wind turbine generator having a rated output of more than 3 kW,
(g) an outdoor pool that has a water depth greater than 3.5 m at any point, and
(h) a permanent solid nutrient storage facility with supporting walls exceeding 1 000 mm in exposed height.
(3) Section 3.11. of Division B applies to public pools.
(4) Section 3.12. of Division B applies to public spas.
(5) Section 3.15. of Division B applies to signs.
(6) Section 3.17. of Division B applies to demountable stages and demountable support structures.
1.3.3.2A.Application of Part 8 permalink →
(1) Subject to Article 1.3.3.3B., Part 8 of Division B applies to the design, construction, operation and maintenance of
all sewage systems and to the construction of buildings in the vicinity of sewage systems.
1.3.3.3.Application of Part 9 permalink →
(1) Subject to Article 1.3.3.3B., Part 9 of Division B applies to all buildings described in Article 1.1.1.1. of 3 storeys or
less in building height, having a building area not exceeding 600 m2, and used for major occupancies classified as
(a) reserved,
(b) Group C, residential occupancies other than buildings used for retirement homes, (See Note A-9.1.1.1.(1) of
Division B)
(c) Group D, business and personal services occupancies,
(d) Group E, mercantile occupancies, or
(e) Group F, Divisions 2 and 3, medium- and low-hazard industrial occupancies.
1.3.3.3A.Application of Part 10 permalink →
(1) Part 10 of Division B applies to existing buildings requiring a permit under section 10 of the Act.
1.3.3.3B.Application of Part 11 permalink →
(1) Except as provided in Sentence (2), Part 11 of Division B applies to the design and construction of existing
buildings, or parts of existing buildings, that have been in existence for at least five years.
(2) If a building has been in existence for at least five years but includes an addition that has been in existence for less
than five years, Part 11 of Division B applies to the entire building.
1.3.3.3C.Existing Buildings (See Note A-1.3.3.3C.) permalink →
(1) Except as provided in Section 3.18. of Division B, Section 9.41. of Division B and Part 11 of Division B, if an
existing building is extended or is subject to material alteration or repair, this Code applies only to the design and
construction of the extensions and those parts of the building that are subject to the material alteration or repair.
(2) If an existing previously occupied building is moved from its original location to be installed elsewhere, or is
dismantled at its original location and moved to be reconstituted elsewhere, this Code applies only to changes to the
design and construction of the building required as a result of moving the building.
1.3.3.4.Building Size Determination permalink →
(1) Where a firewall divides a building, each portion of the building that is divided shall be considered as a separate
building, except for the purposes of
(a) a determination of gross area in Section 1.2. of Division C,
(b) a fire alarm and detection system in Sentence 3.2.4.2.(1) of Division B or Article 9.10.18.1. of Division B, and
(c) a plumbing system interconnected through a firewall.
(2) Except as permitted in Sentence (3), where portions of a building are completely separated by a vertical fire
separation that has a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 h and extends through all storeys and service spaces of the
separated portions, each separated portion is permitted to be considered as a separate building for the purpose of
determining building height, provided
(a) each separated portion is not more than 3 storeys in building height and is used only for residential occupancies
other than a retirement home, and
(b) the unobstructed path of travel for a firefighter from the nearest street to one entrance of each separated portion is
not more than 45 m.
(See Note A-1.3.3.4.(2))
(3) The vertical fire separation referred to in Sentence (2) may terminate at the floor assembly immediately above a
basement provided the basement conforms to Article 3.2.1.2. of Division B.
1.3.3.5.Designated Structures permalink →
(1) The following structures are designated for the purposes of clause (d) of the definition of building in subsection 1 (1)
of the Act:
(a) a retaining wall exceeding 1 000 mm in exposed height adjacent to
(i) public property,
(ii) access to a building, or
(iii) private property to which the public is admitted,
(b) a pedestrian bridge appurtenant to a building,
(c) a crane runway,
(d) an exterior storage tank and its supporting structure that is not regulated by the Technical Standards and Safety Act,
2000,
(e) signs regulated by Section 3.15. of Division B that are not structurally supported by a building,
(f) a solar collector that is mounted on a building and has a face area equal to or greater than 5 m 2,
(g) a structure that supports a wind turbine generator having a rated output of more than 3 kW,
(h) a dish antenna that is mounted on a building and has a face area equal to or greater than 5 m2,
(i) an outdoor pool,
(j) an outdoor public spa,
(k) a permanent solid nutrient storage facility with supporting walls exceeding 1 000 mm in exposed height,
(l) a demountable stage, and
(m) a demountable support structure.
1.3.4.Application of Division C
1.3.4.1.Application of Parts 1, 2 and 3 permalink →
(1) Parts 1 and 2 of Division C apply to all buildings covered in this Code. (See Article 1.1.1.1.)
(2) Part 3 prescribes qualifications of persons for the purpose of Section 15.11 of the Act.
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Code text is reproduced for reference from the Ontario Building Code (O. Reg. 163/24, 2024 Building Code Compendium). This page is provided for general information and is not an official copy. Always verify requirements against the official Ontario Building Code and confirm with your local building department.