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Could be part of 'user pays' when it comes to public services. Some of those publications the governments put out end up costing some very real money so some have a charge attached when they are really aren't intended for the general public. They may have also had pressure from the builders etc. not to just hand them out lest they have every buyer wandering through their homes with their books and driving them nuts with misinterpretations of codes.
It's just another form of taxation in the guise of the publics best interest.
why on earth would they charge citizens for the building codes....please
Are you in Ontario, Velocci? If so, you can purchase the Ontario Building Code from ServiceOntario here:
[url]http://www.obc.mah.gov.on.ca/Page1405.aspx[/url]
It's $140, though. :eek:
If you're downtown, you may be able to browse a copy at the Publications Ontario office at 777 Bay Street.
There are national, provincial and municipal codes. The national codes only apply if there are no provincial codes. I think, for example, the territories do not have their own codes, so they apply the national codes. And of course the codes are only as good as the inspectors enforcing them. My experience has been that many building inspectors do not seem to understand the codes and so enforcement is rather subjective. Ultimately what ends up mattering is not that it is "to code", but that your inspector SAYS its to code, or at least their interpretation of the code. Our inspector was a real PITA. He would come and say that something wasn't to code but when we asked him what it had to be, he said he wasn't allowed to tell us that and that we should hire a contractor. I think you'll probably be hard pressed to find the codes posted free online. Generally you have to purchase them. Though they might be available at the library. We bought the Ont. electrical code book - I seem to think we ordered it from Publications Ontario (the government publisher).
Each Province will have their own codes and even each different city will have theirs. Best to look up ones for your area.