GHG & Energy Reporting Requirements for BC Multi-Unit Buildings: What Strata Managers and Owners Need to Know
If you manage or own a multi-unit residential building in the City of Vancouver, Victoria, or Saanich, there’s a new compliance obligation on your radar: mandatory annual energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting. Missing the deadline isn’t just a paperwork problem — it can trigger real fines and public non-compliance status.
Here’s a practical breakdown of everything you need to know.
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What Is GHG Reporting and Who Does It Apply To?
Energy and carbon emissions reporting requirements apply to multi-unit residential properties in participating municipalities. The program requires building owners or strata corporations to submit annual energy use and greenhouse gas emissions data to their local authority.
Currently, three jurisdictions participate:
City of Vancouver — governed by a bylaw passed several years ago
City of Victoria — now participating as of this reporting cycle
District of Saanich — covered under the Energy Carbon Emissions Reporting Bylaw of 2025
Note: Properties on UBC endowment lands are not included.
What Data Do You Need to Report?
The report must capture all energy consumption on the property, regardless of how many separate utility accounts exist. This includes:
Total electricity usage
Total natural gas consumption
Other fuels — heating oil, propane, district energy connections
GHG emissions calculated from all fuel types
For mixed-use buildings with multiple legal entities (commercial, retail, residential), all entities must be consolidated under one building ID and reported together — even if each unit receives its own utility bills.
The ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM) Platform
All data is entered into ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager (ESPM), a North American benchmarking platform used to track and compare building energy performance. Once submitted, the municipality receives read-only access and can monitor your building’s performance over time. The report also includes a supporting workbook with the technical data behind your ESPM submission.
Deadlines by Jurisdiction
City of Vancouver
2024 reporting (buildings over 100,000 sq ft): Deadline was June 1, 2025
2025 reporting (buildings over 50,000 sq ft): Deadline June 1, 2026
City of Victoria & District of Saanich
Buildings over 30,000 sq ft must now report
Deadline June 1, 2026 for 2025 calendar year data
Practical note: Most December utility data doesn’t become available until February, which means the effective reporting window runs from March through end of May.
Fines for Non-Compliance
This is a mandated reporting program — not optional. Bylaw notices can be issued for:
Missing or late submissions
Failure to register your building in the reporting system
Incomplete reports
Fines range from $250 per violation in the Capital Regional District to $500 per violation in the City of Vancouver. Importantly, paying a fine does not remove the obligation to report — penalties escalate, and unpaid fines may be sent to a collection agency.
Vancouver’s Live GHG Compliance Map
The City of Vancouver has a publicly accessible, near-real-time interactive GHG emissions map showing each building’s compliance status. Buildings are color-coded: green (compliant), yellow (in progress), or red (out of compliance). Property owners can control how much detail is publicly visible. Victoria and Saanich are in the process of launching similar portals.
How Electric Asset Can Help
While it’s technically possible to file these reports independently, most strata managers and councils don’t have the bandwidth or familiarity with the ESPM platform, utility data consolidation, and evolving municipal requirements — especially as Victoria and Saanich come online with their own nuances.
Electric Asset offers turnkey GHG reporting compliance services, including:
Annual energy and GHG report filing by the June 1 deadline
Extension requests if data collection requires more time (historically granted)
Consolidated digital billing data available to management and council
Full process management through to compliance
Council support and owner information sessions (online or in-person)
We’ve guided every client through compliance without a single fine — including during Vancouver’s first year when the program launched with significant challenges.
Related Services for Your Building
GHG reporting is one piece of a growing compliance landscape for BC multi-unit buildings. Electric Asset also helps with:
Electrical Planning Reports (EPR) — mandated under the Strata Act, assessing capacity for heat pumps, EV charging, and electrical upgrades
EV Ready Plans — required if applying for EV charger rebates
Vault Maintenance Reports — electrical system health assessments for older or larger buildings
Rebate Management — pre-approvals, documentation, and end-to-end processing
EV Charging Installation — for condos, townhomes, and rental buildings, with energy management systems built in
Not Sure If Your Building Needs to Report?
If you’re unsure whether your property falls under current requirements — especially in Victoria or Saanich where the reporting portals are still being launched — send us your building address and strata number and we’ll confirm your obligations directly with the relevant authority.
Visit us at electricasset.com or email us to get started.
Electric Asset Inc. is a BC-based electrical consulting and compliance firm specializing in multi-unit residential buildings. Services include GHG reporting, electrical planning reports, EV charging installation, and rebate management.
