Mid-rise developments are becoming increasingly common in Toronto, thanks in part to new municipal guidelines encouraging intensification of the city's arterial roads, or Avenues, which are well served by transit. The Avenue and Mid-rise guidelines have led to a number of redevelopment proposals around the city, some taller than the 6, 7, or 8 storeys that the City would like to see in most cases. Now, a change to the Ontario Building Code (OBC) will allow the wood-frame method of construction of buildings up to six storeys in height, two storeys higher than was previously allowed. The increase will make Avenues style buildings more affordable to build, which will translate to more affordable residential units for the end-user.

Wood-framed construction, image by Jack Landau

The Province is introducing safer, more flexible and affordable design options for the construction of wood frame buildings. New safety requirements for wood frame buildings include constructing stairwells and roofs with non-combustible materials, making Ontario's regulations the most rigorous in Canada. The new amendment to the OBC is also expected to boost the forestry industry, which currently supports more than 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in more than 260 communities across Ontario.

Most European and several North American jurisdictions allow wood-frame buildings up to six storeys, including British Columbia, where over 50 wood frame developments have been built since its building code was changed in 2009. Changes to the OBC allowing wood-frame buildings up to six storeys tall take effect on January 1, 2015, after which we should start to see a growing list of proposals taking advantage of the new amendment.