Advocacy Update: Fall 2025

The Issue:

The City of Vancouver is developing an action plan to bring at-risk buildings up to seismic code, including an at-risk building inventory, incentives, and new regulatory tools.

Our Action:

BOMA BC hosted a consultation with City staff and BOMA BC members to ensure the plan reflects the realities of existing commercial buildings. We will continue to engage the City of Vancouver as the City continues to explore options.

Why It Matters:

Seismic upgrades could trigger major retrofit costs. Input from our members is helping the City design programs that are practical, incentivize voluntary upgrades, and avoid unintended impacts on property owners.

The Issue:

Vancouver City Council recently endorsed a 0% property tax increase for the next budget — a long-standing BOMA BC advocacy ask.

Our Action:

BOMA BC is working closely with City officials and partner associations to ensure the freeze is implemented transparently — with no hidden fees or off-budget charges.

Why It Matters:

Predictable taxation is essential to maintain affordability and investment confidence in Vancouver’s commercial sector.

The Issue:

Last week, Vancouver abruptly scrapped its 2022 business-licence fee program that would have penalized non-compliant gas stations and parking lots (up to $10,000) for not installing EV chargers. Our members had made investments to prepare for this upcoming requirement.

Our Action:

BOMA BC is engaging with the City, noting how abrupt policy reversals impact capital planning, and how there are sunk costs from prior compliance investments. BOMA BC provided comments to the media indicating our frustration.

Why It Matters:

Frequent rule changes create uncertainty for investors and property owners planning infrastructure upgrades.

The Issue:

The City of Vancouver has proposed a new approach to its Commercial Curbside EV Charging program. The original program had significant limitations: only adjacent property owners could apply to install curbside chargers, and BCUC rules at the time restricted the sale of electricity by third parties.

Under the new proposal, licensed third-party operators would be able to install and operate curbside EV chargers. This removes the previous barriers, allowing a broader range of companies and organizations to invest in and expand Vancouver’s public EV charging network.

Our Action:

Engaging with City staff to ensure the redesigned program works for commercial property owners, including advocating for voluntary partnerships between building owners and third-party operators; ensuring owners are protected from costs, operational burdens, or liability, and providing input on power access solutions, whether at the development stage or via retrofits.

Why It Matters:

This program has the potential to expand public EV charging without cost or operational risk to building owners and enables buildings to offer EV amenities to tenants and customers.

The Issue:

The next National Building Code introduces a new “alterations” section setting scaled compliance requirements for existing buildings. This is a new framework for existing buildings that ties upgrade requirements to the scale of work.

Minor repairs and maintenance are exempt from code upgrades, while moderate projects would only require targeted improvements in affected areas. Full compliance would apply only when major alterations or a change of use occur — creating a more predictable, proportional, and cost-effective system for building owners.

Our Action:

BOMA BC met with the Ministry of Housing’s Construction Standards and Digital Solutions Branch to ensure the Province’s adoption works for commercial renovations and retrofits.

Why It Matters:

A balanced code approach protects safety and accessibility without making upgrades to existing buildings cost-prohibitive.

The Issue:

Post-Pandemic, it is no secret that office vacancy rates have remained elevated in Vancouver. While Vancouver is still performing better than other major markets, it is still higher than pre-2020 numbers. The City of Vancouver regularly checks in with BOMA BC to understand the health of the market, and what options the City of Vancouver has to address the issue.

Our Action:

BOMA BC met with Corrie Okell (GM, DBL) and Saul Schwebs (Chief Building Official) to discuss zoning, pilot programs, and creative reuse ideas such as vertical farming and pod hotels.

Why It Matters:

BOMA BC continues to press for permitting reforms and market-based solutions that revitalize underused commercial space.

The Issue:

Storefront and retail vacancies remain a major challenge in pockets of the Downtown Eastside. The City is exploring expedited temporary occupancy permits for non-profits and artists to activate vacant retail space in the Hastings/Chinatown corridor.

Our Action:

Participating in multiple consultations to raise concerns about insurance liability, safety, and program feasibility.

Why It Matters:

Well-intentioned programs must not shift risk or cost burdens onto property owners.

The Issue:

The Province is reviewing its flagship climate and energy strategy, CleanBC. This is an opportunity for industry to provide feedback on programs, policies, and regulations governing energy efficiency and decarbonization in the Province.

Our Action:

BOMA BC submitted recommendations emphasizing data access, energy benchmarking, C-PACE financing, and the need to balance carbon-reduction goals with affordability and reliability.

Why It Matters:

CleanBC policies and programs have a direct impact on the cost, feasibility, and pace of decarbonization across B.C.’s commercial building sector. BOMA BC members are committed to achieving climate targets, but they need access to reliable utility data, consistent reporting frameworks, and meaningful financial support to make retrofit projects viable. Current barriers—such as fragmented regulations, limited incentives, and administrative complexity—are slowing progress and increasing costs for building owners.

By addressing these issues, the Province can better align CleanBC with industry realities, enabling faster, more cost-effective emissions reductions and supporting continued investment in energy-efficient, low-carbon buildings.

The Issue:

The Province is reviewing overlapping jurisdictions between architects and engineers on existing-building projects.

BOMA BC is expressing concern about the Architectural Institute of BC’s decision to revoke Bulletin 34, which previously allowed engineers to lead building enclosure projects. This change has caused confusion among authorities, delayed permit approvals, and stalled essential repair and retrofit work, as there are not enough architects with the necessary expertise or availability.

Our Action:

BOMA BC submitted feedback to the Province calling for clarity that protects public safety and allows timely, cost-effective project delivery. BOMA BC argues that engineers are best qualified to lead these projects due to their specialized training in building science and structural systems, and that restricting their role could compromise public safety and increase project costs.

Why It Matters:

Clear professional roles mean fewer delays and lower costs in renewing critical building infrastructure.

The Issue:

Rising rents and affordability are a hot topic in Vancouver and across North America. And Commercial rent is no exception. LOCO BC, a small business association advocating for local businesses, is researching creative approaches to address small-business affordability.

Our Action:

BOMA BC is sponsoring LOCO BC’s research work as a partner, providing industry input and connecting members to share insights on practical tools to offer affordable rent, like interim use permits, micro-retail models, and tenant-developer partnerships.

Why It Matters:

As affordability challenges linger, BOMA BC wants to ensure constructive, market-driven ideas to expand access for small businesses while maintaining building viability.