If you are involved in British Columbia’s residential construction sector, you know the ground is shifting beneath our boots. Late 2025 has brought a whirlwind of legislative changes, tech rollouts, and sobering market statistics.
From the long-awaited arrival of payment protections to digital platforms that promise to cut design times in half, here is your essential briefing on what is happening right now in BC’s built environment.
1. The Game Changer: Prompt Payment Legislation Arrives
After years of advocacy from the BC Construction Association (BCCA) and industry partners, the province has finally moved to fix the cash-flow crunch.
On October 7, 2025, the provincial government introduced Bill 20: The Construction Prompt Payment Act. If you have ever been stuck waiting 60, 90, or 120 days for a cheque, this is the news you have been waiting for.
- The New Rule: Once a “proper invoice” is received, owners must pay contractors within 28 days.
- The Flow-Down: Contractors then have 7 days to pay their subcontractors, and so on down the chain.
- Adjudication: A new dispute resolution process will allow parties to resolve payment disagreements quickly (often within weeks) rather than tying up capital in years of litigation.
Why it matters: This aligns BC with other provinces like Ontario and Alberta, aiming to keep liquidity flowing in an industry where margins are tight and cash flow is king.
2. Tech Focus: The “DASH” to Faster Housing
In a bid to solve the “missing middle” housing crisis, the province officially spotlighted the Digitally Accelerated Standardized Housing (DASH) platform in November 2025.
Think of DASH as an open-source library for building homes. It connects developers and non-profits with standardized, pre-approved designs and prefabrication manufacturers.
- The Promise: The government estimates DASH can cut design time by 50-60% and construction costs by 20-25%.
- The Target: It specifically targets 3-to-6 storey wood-frame multi-family buildings.
- The Pilots: Ten municipalities, including Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, and Kelowna, have signed on as pilot partners to streamline approvals for projects using these standardized blueprints.
This is a massive step toward “industrializing” construction—moving away from bespoke, one-off designs for everyday housing and toward a more efficient manufacturing model.
3. Mass Timber Reaches New Heights
2025 has been a breakout year for mass timber in BC. Following the 2024 building code updates that allowed encapsulated mass timber buildings to rise to 18 storeys, we are now seeing the fruits of that policy.
- Major Projects: New announcements, such as the 18-storey Catalyst project in North Vancouver, are proving that tall timber is not just a concept—it’s the new reality for dense, sustainable urban housing.
- Capacity Building: The “Mass Timber Action Plan” is actively funding manufacturing capabilities in BC, ensuring that the glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT) used in these towers are grown and made right here in the province.
4. The Numbers: A Mixed Bag
The Fall 2025 Stat Pack (released late October) paints a complex picture of the industry’s health.
The Good News:
- Workforce Growth: The number of trades workers in BC has risen by roughly 14% year-over-year.
- Company Growth: The number of construction companies in the province continues to climb, showing resilience and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Challenging News:
- Construction Costs: Building costs are up 4%, keeping BC as one of the most expensive places to build in Canada.
- Housing Starts Dip: Despite the desperate need for supply, October 2025 data showed a sharp dip in housing starts, particularly in the multi-unit segment in Vancouver. High interest rates and development costs are still causing some developers to hit the “pause” button on new projects.
- Rental Rates: Interestingly, asking rents have seen declines in major hubs like Vancouver and Surrey, reaching multi-year lows in late 2025. While good for tenants, this changes the pro forma math for rental developers.
What This Means For You
- If you are a contractor: Get your invoicing systems ready. The new Prompt Payment legislation will require precise “proper invoices” to trigger the 28-day clock.
- If you are a developer: Explore the DASH platform. If your next project fits the 3-6 storey criteria, you might save months in permitting and significant capital in soft costs.
- If you are an investor: Watch the housing starts data closely. The current dip suggests a potential supply gap in 2027/2028, which could reignite price appreciation if demand remains steady.
As you can see, things are definitely changing in the Province, and we’re dedicated to staying on top of the latest news and information to help you with making the right decision when it comes to planning your own home or renovation investment. If you’d like to book a consultation with one of our experts, please visit our Contact page and fill out our form.