Imagine a world...
where barriers to construction are removed for diverse building methods and practices.
Canada faces surging housing demands due to population growth and labor shortages in construction. Modular and prefabricated construction, where up to 90% of the work occurs in factories before being assembled on-site, can help fill the gap in housing demand and enhance productivity. This approach can reduce project timelines through parallel work streams, while improving quality control, reducing disruptions to surrounding communities, and increasing worker safety.
However, modular and prefabricated construction remains under-utilized in Canada, in part due to lengthy permitting processes. For example, the permit process can take up to six times longer than traditional construction, which can create challenges for manufacturers and developers.
In 2025, Innovation North collaborated with CSA Group and National Research Council Canada (NRC) to identify and help address permitting challenges for prefabricated homes. The project engaged with provinces and territories, building officials, manufacturers, and designers across Canada to identify specific bottlenecks and develop recommendations for streamlining modular and prefabricated construction approvals. This included exploring ways to increase the use of CSA’s standard on the Procedure for certification of prefabricated buildings, modules, and panels (CSA A277), all while maintaining safety and quality standards.
Learn more about this project and read the full workshop report on CSA Group’s website.
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