What can you do with this server?

The Canadian Building Code MCP Server enables AI assistants to search, navigate, and cite over 24,000 sections across 15+ Canadian building codes (NBC, OBC, BCBC, ABC, QCC, and more) through an MCP-compatible interface. Core Capabilities: * Search building codes - Find relevant sections using keywords with fuzzy matching, synonym support, and TF-IDF search across all codes * Retrieve section details - Access specific section content, citations, page numbers, and coordinates by section ID (e.g., 9.10.14.1) * Navigate code hierarchy - Explore parent, child, and sibling relationships between sections * Verify sections - Confirm section IDs exist and retrieve formal citations to prevent AI hallucination * Determine applicable codes - Identify which building codes apply to specific Canadian cities, provinces, or territories * List available codes - View all supported codes and their connection status * Connect personal PDFs (BYOD mode) - Set up local PDF paths for full text extraction instead of just coordinates, ensuring copyright compliance * Extract table content - Convert code tables to markdown format * Access via REST API - Use the hosted API for searches without local setup Key Benefits: * Token-optimized responses (81% reduction compared to naive approaches) * Compatible with MCP clients like Claude Desktop and Cursor * Enables accurate answers about building requirements, compliance documentation, and code navigation across Canadian jurisdictions

How do I use Canadian Building Code MCP Server?

1. Click on "Install Server". 2. Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state. 3. In the chat, type @ followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@Canadian Building Code MCP Server Find fire separation requirements for garages in the NBC" That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed. Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.

Canadian Building Code MCP

PyPI version License: MIT Smithery

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_path for 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

Canadian Building Code MCP Server