Canadian Building Code MCP
AI-powered search for 24,000+ Canadian building code sections.
Enable AI assistants to search, navigate, and cite building regulations across NBC, OBC, BCBC, and 13 other Canadian codes.
Works with Claude Desktop and any MCP-compatible client (Cursor, Windsurf, etc.)
Why This Exists
Architects and engineers waste hours searching through thousands of pages of building codes. This MCP server lets AI do the heavy lifting:
You: "What are the fire separation requirements for a 3-storey
residential building in Saskatchewan?"
Claude: [Searches NBC 2025, finds relevant sections, extracts text]
"According to NBC 2025 Section 3.2.2.55, Group C buildings
up to 3 storeys with sprinklers require:
- Maximum area: 1,800 m²
- Floor assemblies: 45-min fire-resistance rating
- Load-bearing walls: Same rating as supported assembly"
Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| 24,000+ Sections | NBC, OBC, BCBC, ABC, QCC + 11 more codes indexed |
| Smart Search | Fuzzy matching, synonyms, "Did you mean?" suggestions |
| Token Optimized | 81% reduction vs naive approach (v1.2.0) |
| Copyright Safe | BYOD model - coordinates only, you provide the PDF |
| Jurisdiction Aware | Knows which code applies where (ON→OBC, BC→BCBC) |
Architecture
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MCP Client (Claude, Cursor, etc.) │
└─────────────────────────┬───────────────────────────────────┘
│ MCP Protocol
▼
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Building Code MCP Server │
│ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ │
│ │ search_code │ │ get_section │ │ get_table │ │
│ │ (fuzzy+TF-IDF│ │ (BYOD text) │ │ (markdown) │ │
│ └──────┬───────┘ └──────┬───────┘ └──────┬───────┘ │
│ │ │ │ │
│ ▼ ▼ ▼ │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ maps/*.json (15.9 MB) │ │
│ │ Section IDs, pages, keywords, bbox │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│ │ │
│ ▼ (BYOD mode only) │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│ │ User's PDF (via PyMuPDF) │ │
│ │ Text extraction at runtime │ │
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Two Modes:
- Map-Only (default): Returns page numbers & coordinates. No PDF needed.
- BYOD: Connect your PDF via
set_pdf_pathfor full text extraction.
Quick Start (1 minute)
Option 1: uvx (Recommended)
# Install uv (one-time)
pip install uv
Add to claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"building-code": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["building-code-mcp"]
}
}
}
Option 2: pip
pip install building-code-mcp
{
"mcpServers": {
"building-code": {
"command": "building-code-mcp"
}
}
}
Example Conversations
Finding Requirements
You: "I'm designing a 6-storey office building in Vancouver.
What are the fire separation requirements?"
Claude: Let me search the BC Building Code...
[Uses search_code("fire separation office", code="BCBC")]
[Uses get_section("3.2.2.57", code="BCBC")]
Based on BCBC 2024 Section 3.2.2.57, a 6-storey Group D
(business) building requires:
- Sprinkler system: Required
- Floor assemblies: 1-hour fire-resistance rating
- Maximum building area: 7,200 m²
Checking Specific Sections
You: "What does OBC section 9.10.14.1 say about spatial separation?"
Claude: [Uses get_section("9.10.14.1", code="OBC_Vol1")]
OBC Section 9.10.14.1 - Spatial Separation Between Buildings:
"Buildings on the same property shall have spatial separation
between them based on the aggregate area of unprotected openings
in exposing building faces..."
Jurisdiction Lookup
You: "Which building code applies in Calgary?"
Claude: [Uses get_applicable_code("Calgary, Alberta")]
Calgary follows the Alberta Building Code (ABC) 2023.
Primary codes: ABC, AFC (Fire), APC (Plumbing)
Also check: National codes (NBC, NFC) for reference
Supported Codes
National Codes (4)
NBC 2025, NFC 2025, NPC 2025, NECB 2025
Provincial Codes (9)
- Ontario: OBC 2024 (Vol 1 & 2), OFC
- British Columbia: BCBC 2024
- Alberta: ABC 2023
- Quebec: QCC, QECB, QPC, QSC (2020)
User's Guides (3)
IUGP9 (Part 9 Housing), UGP4 (Structural), UGNECB (Energy)
Total: 24,000+ indexed sections
Token Efficiency (v1.2.0)
Built-in optimizations reduce token usage:
| Optimization | Reduction |
|---|---|
list_codes compact mode | 81% |
disclaimer as resource | 61% |
Default verbose=false | ~50% |
Best practice: Use limit=5-10 and only request verbose=true when needed.
See Token Efficiency Guide for details.
Tools Available
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
list_codes | Show available codes and connection status |
search_code | Find sections by keywords |
get_section | Get section details (page, citation, text) |
get_table | Get table content as markdown |
get_hierarchy | Navigate parent/child sections |
verify_section | Check if section ID exists |
get_applicable_code | Find codes for a location |
set_pdf_path | Connect PDF for text extraction |
API Access
REST API: https://canada-aec-code-mcp.onrender.com
curl https://canada-aec-code-mcp.onrender.com/search/fire+separation
Note: Hosted API runs in Map-Only mode. Use local MCP for full text.
Development
git clone https://github.com/DavidCho1999/Canada_building_code_mcp.git
cd Canada_building_code_mcp
pip install -e ".[all]"
python src/mcp_server.py
License
MIT License - See LICENSE