June 16, 2025
Parteek Singh Mahal
A Vancouver Island municipality is pushing the provincial government to revise its elevator regulations, aiming to make housing more accessible and affordable across British Columbia.
The District of Saanich recently voted unanimously to submit a resolution to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM). The resolution urges the province to “legalize” the use of smaller, more cost-effective European-style elevators in low and mid-rise buildings. These types of lifts are typically not installed under current regulations.
Councillor Teale Phelps Bondaroff, who spearheaded the motion, shared that the idea sparked from a casual conversation. “I was talking to some residents… and one of them in casual conversation mentioned the European elevator standards,” he explained.
A 2024 report by the Centre for Building in North America, cited in Phelps Bondaroff’s motion, highlights a significant discrepancy: elevator costs in Canada and the U.S. are three times higher than for comparable buildings in Europe.
The report further reveals that Canada has only four elevators per 1,000 people. This contrasts sharply with 15 in South Korea and over 20 in countries like Spain and Greece.
Currently, British Columbia adheres to the Canadian Standards Association’s B44 guide, which mandates large elevator cabins designed to accommodate stretchers. Phelps Bondaroff argues that this requirement drives up costs, leading most developers to forgo installing elevators in walk-up townhouses or smaller apartment buildings. Relaxing these standards, he suggests, could lead to more inclusive and affordable housing options.
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