Prince George, B.C. – There  may be more to  the recent rash of  construction permits issued for single  detached residential housing in Prince George than just the  impending colder season.

Builders may have been trying to get the footings poured and construction underway before a new rule was added to the building code in B.C.

There were 30 permits for  single family home construction issued in October and November in Prince George.

In November  there were 15 permits issued,  compared to  just 4 in the same month a year ago,  and 5  such permits issued in November of 2012.

As of Friday, December 19^th,  there are new requirements  in B.C.  for insulation,  ventilation and radon rough- ins.

Municipalities  are supposed to  follow provincial guidelines and  make the necessary changes to their own  bylaws. That’s not all,  building inspectors  are  supposed to  provide  consistent  interpretation of the building code.

What will the changes mean to the  cost of building a home?

That’s difficult to pinpoint says Canadian Home Builders’ Association of Northern B.C.  Executive Officer Terri  McConnachie.  “Code requirements that improve indoor air quality in our new energy efficient homes is a good thing, and it’s a guess that it could cost builders up to $10,000 depending on what steps they choose to take to meet the new codes.” Those steps could include installing a Heat Recovery Ventilation system ( HRV) as a standard for new homes,  which  McConnachie says is  perfect  for colder climates and health indoor  air  quality.

She adds that builders in the Prince George region have been  following or exceeding  more stringent energy  efficiency practices  for years, and it’s likely the new  energy  efficiency  requirements will hit  builders in the  more southern regions harder.