Short answer
The City of Vernon has required Step 3 of the BC Energy Step Code for new Part 9 homes since January 1, 2023 (Building Bylaw 5900, s.15.3), and Part 9 buildings must also meet Zero Carbon Step Code Emission Level 1, which is measure-only (s.15.6). Okanagan AeroBarrier seals Vernon and North Okanagan builds to a measured ACH50 target and documents the result before the energy advisor's test.
What Vernon's bylaw says
Vernon's Building Bylaw 5900 incorporates the Step Code. Part 9 new residential construction had to meet Step 1 from January 10, 2022 and Step 3 from January 1, 2023. Section 15.6 (added by Bylaw 5993) also requires Part 9 buildings to meet Emission Level 1 of the Zero Carbon Step Code, which is the measure-only level: you report emissions, there is no cap.
Step 3 means energy modelling and an on-site airtightness test by your energy advisor. Builders going for Step 4 or Step 5 need a tighter number. Step Code airtightness explained.
Real results in Vernon
One Vernon builder put it in his Google review: "Excellent results, brought our blower-door test down from 2.8 all the way to 1.09." That is a house that would have failed Step 3 brought past the Step 4 working target. Read the reviews.
Scheduling North Okanagan work
I travel up from Kelowna regularly for Vernon, Coldstream and Lake Country work, and I group North Okanagan jobs where I can. Give me your target date at framing and it is easy to line up. For a failed test, call me with the result and I will tell you how quickly I can get there. Failed blower door test.
Written by Sebastian Motora, owner-operator. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.