What is a BCIN?

A BCIN is a five digit Building Code Identification Number.

Although a direct and clear answer to the question, understandably, this answer as to what is a BCIN is only begins a longer journey towards understanding what is a BCIN number, a BCIN designer and a BCIN design firm. We will also cover what services they can provide in Ontario and why hiring a BCIN designer near you might be an important consideration for your upcoming project.

What is a BCIN number?

The BCIN number is a five digit registration number provided by the Ministry of Municipal affairs and Housing(MMAH) for either a individual designer and/or a design firm within Ontario.

A public online search system known as Quarts is available to search the Ontario registry and find a qualified individual designer or design firm. The registry states what their qualifications are, if any, and if their registration is current. For example, the status of Mark H Smith Designs Inc as an actively registered and qualified design firm can be found here.  

What can a BCIN designer do?

A BCIN designer’s services are limited to preparing plans for permit submissions for buildings sizes that they have qualified and passed exams to work on. This Ontario building code table and definition for what is a building helps provide some details for the differing qualifications. For example, after successfully passing the building code act and small buildings qualification exams, a BCIN designer could then design, draft plans, stamp drawings and apply to building departments for building permits for a building project within Ontario that is not exceeding 3 storeys and is less than 600 sqm(6458sqft) in above grade overall footprint area. According to Statistics Canada, given “the median above-grade footprint area of recently built single detached houses is 1,190sqft”, therefore a BCIN designer with that qualification could handle designing a home that would more than triple the size of the average multi storey home within Ontario.

What can’t a BCIN designer do?

As the overall scale of a building project increases, so does its complexities in design. For projects like a community swimming pool [Institutional], a Tesla dealership [Commercial] or an Amazon warehouse [Industrial], the buildings would require the designs to be produced by the combined skillsets of Architects and Engineers. These kinds of projects are usually completed by specialized design firms which sometimes operate exclusively within a single building category. For example, at Mark H Smith Designs Inc., we cannot offer design services for any large scale residential projects such as an apartment building. We also cannot offer building design services for projects that would fall under the categories of Commercial, Institutional or Industrial buildings based on the specialization of the small buildings qualification our company works within. At Mark H Smith design Inc., we offer specialized design services that are focused solely within the category of single family residential homes and any of their accessory buildings such as a laneway home, garden suite or garage. Our scope of design services also includes working with homes that are duplexes and Triplexes as well as custom homes and any type of renovations or additions or conversions to those buildings.

What makes a BCIN designer or BCIN Design Firm license status current?

The BCIN designer or BCIN design firm must be formally registered with the Ministry of Municipal affairs and Housing(MMAH).

The BCIN designer or BCIN design firm must stay current with payments for annual registration fees and required insurance fees for Design Firms.

Why does a BCIN registration exist in Ontario?

Back on July 25th of 2003, Bill 124, the building code statue law amendment act was proclaimed into Canadian law. In brief, this law states that all building officials and all designers submitting designs for the purpose of obtaining a building permit are to be qualified and registered by the government, effective January 1st 2006. You can learn more about this law here.

Is a BCIN certified designer the same as a BCIN qualified designer?

This distinction is between synonyms that mean the same thing in regards to BCIN accreditation. Some BCIN designers may refer to themselves as certified BCIN designer’s or licensed BCIN designer’s whereas the language specifically used within the Ontario building code and at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regards designers as qualified BCIN designers. You can go to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Online registry here to search for an individual designer or design firm and determine which qualifications the BCIN designer has and if the design firm has a current status. You’ll also be able to find out which exams an individual has passed or find out if a design firm is registered to offer design services that can be submitted for the purpose of obtaining building permits. For example, if their qualifications show as House, Small Buildings, this means they have passed the comprehensive exam(s) that includes working on both houses and small buildings as defined with the building code here.

Should I hire a BCIN designer near me?

Maybe…it depends, I would choose to hire a BCIN designer near me based on how they determine their fees in relation to their service area within Ontario. Some designers may charge extra fees to come to your home or property location or may not offer services for your specific area at all. Also, depending on their services process and what’s included, they may provide in person consultations, design meetings along with final printed drawings and building permits delivered to your door as already included within their fee structure. Although hiring a BCIN designer near you is not required, it is recommended that you contact them and ask about their service area radius as well as if they have worked with your specific municipality’s building department previously to obtain building permits.

Want to learn more about BCIN designers and BCIN design firms?

Become a registered building practitioner: This Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing webpage offers additional information about BCIN registration in Ontario.

Search for a qualified designer: The MMAH provides an online search network to determine the status of any registered BCIN designer. You can review the BCIN designer status for Mark Smith or click on New search at the top right to search for a different BCIN designer of BCIN design Firm.

Apply for a BCIN: Humber college is the affiliated college that works directly with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing(MMAH) to administer all BCIN qualifying exams.

Still have an unanswered question or see some information above you would like to share some comments on? Please email us at info@markHsmith.ca or head over to our Contact Page