Construction Codes Advisory
Promoting construction of safe, healthy, habitable buildings



     Farm Buildings in The Construction Codes Act

Overview
The Construction Codes Act (the CC Act) is the legislation for governing the construction and occupancy of
buildings in Saskatchewan. The CC Act provides an exemption for farm buildings when the principal use of
the building is for farming purposes and the building satisfies specific criteria.

Farm Building Exemption
Clause 6(2)(c) of the CC Act establishes that construction standards do not apply to farm buildings; they are
exempt. To clarify the application of this exemption, the CC Act and The Building Code Regulations (the BC
Regulations) provide definitions with the criteria for a building to be considered a “farm building”. These
definitions help distinguish between farm buildings and other buildings located on agricultural land for the
purpose of applying the construction standards.

The CC Act defines a farm building as:

   “2 “Farm building” means, subject to the regulations, a building that:
      (a) does not contain a residential occupancy;
      (b) is located on land used for an agricultural operation as defined in The Agricultural Operations
      Act; and
      (c) is used for the following purposes:
         (i) the housing of livestock;
         (ii) the production, storage or processing of primary agricultural and horticultural crops or
         feeds;
         (iii) the housing, storage or maintenance of equipment or machinery associated with an
         agricultural operation;
         (iv) Any other prescribed purpose;”
Farm Buildings in The Construction Codes Act

The Agricultural Operations Act defines an “agricultural operation” as:

        “2(a) “Agricultural operation” means an agricultural operation:
             (i) that is carried out on a farm, in the expectation of gain or reward, including:
               (A) cultivating land;
               (B) producing agricultural crops, including hay and forage;
               (C) producing horticultural crops, including vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, sod, trees, shrubs,
               flowers, greenhouse crops and specialty crops;
               (D) raising all classes of livestock, horses, poultry, fur-bearing animals, game birds and game
               animals, bees and fish;
               (E) carrying on an intensive livestock operation;
               (F) producing eggs, milk, honey and other animal products;
               (G) operating agricultural machinery and equipment, including irrigation pumps and noise-
               scare devices;
               (H) conducting any process necessary to prepare a farm product for distribution from the
               farm gate;
               (I) storing, handling and applying fertilizer, manure, organic wastes, soil amendments and
               pesticides, including both ground and aerial application;
               (J) any other prescribed agricultural activity or process; or
             (ii) that is prescribed as an agricultural operation for the purposes of this Act;”

The BC Regulations further clarify the definition of a “farm building” by adding:

    “2(2) For the purposes of the Act and these regulations, a building is not a farm building if:
        (a) the building is used in the production, processing, wholesaling or distribution of cannabis as
        defined in the Cannabis Act (Canada) or The Cannabis Control (Saskatchewan) Act;
        (b) the building is used for the manufacture, sale, storage, wholesale or delivery of beverage
        alcohol as authorized by The Alcohol and Gaming Regulation Act, 1997; or
        (c) the building is classified for assessment purposes in one of the following classes:
            (i) commercial and industrial;
            (ii) elevators;
            (iii) railway rights of way and pipeline.




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Farm Buildings in The Construction Codes Act




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Farm Buildings in The Construction Codes Act

Farm Residences
Farm residences and other buildings where sleeping accommodation is provided on a regular, temporary or
seasonal basis are not considered farm buildings and are not exempt from construction standards. They are
required to comply with the applicable provisions of the National Building Code of Canada adopted for use
in Saskatchewan.

Subsection 2(1) of the BC Regulations defines a “farm residence” as:

    “Farm residence” is a building that contains a residential occupancy and that is located on land used
    for an agricultural operation as defined in The Agricultural Operations Act;”

Existing farm residences that were exempt from construction standards at the time of their construction
will remain exempt; however, any work on the building started after January 1, 2022, is required to comply
with the construction standards as specified in Section 6 of the BC Regulations.

Subsection 2(1) of the BC Regulations define “work” as:

    “Work” means any design, construction, addition, erection, placement, alteration, repair,
    renovation, demolition, relocation, removal, use, change of use, occupancy or change of occupancy
    of a building.”


Consult Your Local Authority
Although farm buildings are exempt from construction standards under the CC Act, a local authority can
choose, through their building bylaw, to require farm buildings to comply with construction standards and
obtain building permits.

Contact your local authority before you begin any renovation or construction projects, since each
situation is unique and requires special consideration. Discussing your project with the municipality and
their appointed building official can help you by ensuring your building project complies with all
construction codes before you begin.




 Building and Technical Standards Branch                                                    Construction Codes Advisory
 1430 - 1855 Victoria Avenue                                                         Farm Buildings in The Construction Codes Act
 Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3T2                                                                        August 2022
 (306) 787-4113 Phone                                                                            Updated May 2025
 btstandards@gov.sk.ca
 www.saskatchewan.ca/btstandards                                                            Original approved and signed by:
                                                                                                Chief Codes Administrator
 This guide is published by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations for purposes of providing information to users on the topic
 contained herein. In case of conflict between The Construction Codes Act (the CC Act), The Building Code Regulations (the BC Regulations)
 and The Agricultural Operations Act and this Advisory, provisions of the CC Act, the BC Regulations and The Agricultural Operations Act
 apply.
