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
We travel up from Kelowna regularly for Vernon, Coldstream and Lake Country work, and we group North Okanagan jobs where we can. Give us 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 we can get there. Failed blower door test.
Written by Sebastian Motora, owner-operator. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.