New Building Code requirements came into effect on January 1, 2012. These relate to energy efficiency and occupancy permits. Energy Efficiency If you apply for a building permit on or after January 1, 2012, the proposed construction must conform with enhanced energy efficiency requirements of Ontario's Building Code. The 2006 Ontario Building Code set out a 'roadmap' for energy efficiency to be implemented from January 1, 2006 through to December 31, 2011. As part of that roadmap, the Code set out energy efficiency benchmarks for houses and for large buildings. Subsequent Code amendments provided additional compliance paths that are consistent with those benchmarks. more... See more text