If you are planning a new build in Langford or Colwood, a heat pump is no longer just the efficient option: under the Zero Carbon Step Code levels both cities have adopted, new homes need electric space heating and hot water. Colwood has required this for houses since March 2024, and Langford's requirement takes effect for building permit applications from December 1, 2026. Here is what that means for choosing and sizing a heat pump for a new house.
What do Langford and Colwood require for heating in new builds?
Both cities use two BC codes together. The BC Energy Step Code sets how energy-efficient the building must be. The Zero Carbon Step Code limits greenhouse gas emissions from the home's space heating and hot water systems, in stepped Emissions Levels up to EL-4. Colwood describes EL-4 plainly: home heating and hot water systems "are required to be electric".
| Rule for Part 9 houses | Langford | Colwood |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Step Code | Step 3 | Step 3 (since May 1, 2023) |
| Zero Carbon Step Code | EL-2 from July 1, 2026; EL-4 from December 1, 2026 | EL-4 since March 4, 2024 |
| What EL-4 means for heating | Electric space heating and hot water | Electric space heating and hot water |
| Where to confirm | City of Langford building permits page | City of Colwood BC Energy Step Code page |
Langford's page also lists in-stream exemptions for larger Part 3 projects with development permits issued or applied for before set dates. Those rules are for apartment-scale buildings, not typical houses. Dates are as published by each city on the day we checked; confirm the level that applies to your permit with the building department before you design the mechanical system.
Heat pump options for a new build in Langford and Colwood
Because you are designing from scratch, you have choices a retrofit does not. Our ducted vs ductless comparison goes deeper; this is the new-build view.
| System | Good fit for | New-build notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted central heat pump | Detached houses, 2+ storeys | Ducts can be planned inside the conditioned space; one outdoor unit; easy to pair with an HRV. |
| Ducted mini-split (low-profile air handler) | Townhouses, compact homes | Small air handler in a bulkhead or ceiling; lower airflow suits low heat loads. |
| Multi-zone ductless | Simple layouts, suites | No duct design needed; watch for oversized heads in small, airtight rooms. |
| Air-to-water heat pump | Radiant floor designs | Higher cost; can also feed hot water through a combined system. |
Hot water has to be electric too. A heat pump water heater, or a combined space and water heating system, is the efficient route. For homes with a suite, see our guide to heating a garden or secondary suite, since suites have their own rules.
How should you size a heat pump for an airtight new home?
This is where new builds go wrong most often. Step Code homes are tested for airtightness and lose far less heat than older houses, so rules of thumb that work for a 1970s house oversize badly. For scale, Natural Resources Canada lists a typical Victoria heating load of 85 GJ a year for an older 2,000 sq ft detached house and 60 GJ for a newer one built after 2004. A Step 3 home is tighter again.
- Start from the energy model. Every Step Code house has an energy model from an energy advisor. Ask for the design heat loss, and use it, not square footage.
- Do a room-by-room heat loss. Airtight homes can have big differences between a sunny great room and a north bedroom. Room loads decide where heads or registers go.
- Pick a variable-speed unit that turns down low. In a tight home the heat pump spends most of the winter at low output. A unit that can modulate down avoids short cycling, which wastes energy and wears parts.
- Check the cooling side. Large west-facing glass can make cooling, not heating, the bigger load in summer. Size for whichever governs.
- Plan the backup. Victoria's design temperatures are mild, but decide up front whether you want backup strips, and set them to engage only at low outdoor temperatures.
Our general heat pump sizing guide explains BTU and tonnage if the terms are new.
Ventilation: why the HRV matters as much as the heat pump
An airtight house needs mechanical ventilation to keep the air fresh and control moisture. Most Step Code homes in the Westshore use an HRV or ERV running continuously. If you choose a ducted heat pump, plan the HRV and air handler together so they do not fight each other. Our HRV vs ERV guide for Victoria covers which suits our damp winters.
Can you get a heat pump rebate on a new build?
Generally no. The CleanBC Better Homes Home Renovation Rebate Program requires a year-round primary residence at least 12 months old, and the standard heat pump rebate must replace an existing electric heating system. A brand-new house in Langford or Colwood does not fit either rule. Budget for the heat pump as part of construction cost, and look instead at running costs, which our heat pump operating cost guide works out for Victoria homes.
When should the HVAC contractor get involved in a new build?
- At design. Before framing drawings are final, so ducts, line sets and the outdoor unit location are planned, not squeezed in.
- Before the mid-construction airtightness test, so penetrations for line sets and condensate are sealed properly.
- At rough-in, alongside the electrician, since the heat pump needs its own circuit and a permit from Technical Safety BC.
- At commissioning, so settings, backup heat lockouts and HRV balancing are documented for the final inspection.
The electrical side and the overall build budget are their own topics; your builder and electrician should plan the panel size with the heat pump, water heater and any EV charger in mind from the start.
Building in the Westshore? Send us your plans or energy model and we will size a system to it. Request a free new-build estimate or see our heat pump services.