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Discover the new regulatory requirements of the 2026 Quebec Electrical Code
April 13, 2026
11 minutes
This article summarizes the major amendments to Chapter V – Electricity of the Quebec Building Code, published in the Gazette officielle du Québec on March 11, 2026. These changes are intended to provide a regulatory framework for the widespread implementation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the residential sector.
Effective date of the new regulations: March 26, 2026
Key Definitions (Section 0)
To ensure consistent interpretation, the Code provides clear definitions.
| Concept | Acronym | Definition | Simplified definition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated basic infrastructure for the supply of electric vehicle supply equipment | DBISEVSE | “[Infrastructure that] includes, but is not limited to, a conduit or cable, selected according to the supply required by the electric vehicle supply equipment, installed in anticipation of a separate branch circuit with a minimum capacity of 6.66 kW at 208 V or 7.68 kW at 240 V, calculated on the basis of a Level 2 electric vehicle supply equipment from a panelboard or by the split of the feed current for the panelboard of a dwelling unit and leading to an outlet box approved for the location and expected to receive a CSA configuration 6-50R, 15-50R, L6-50R or L14-50R receptacle, located in the garage, in the carport or near the parking space for each dwelling unit that is part of a single dwelling or apartment building.” Pages 707-708 of the Gazette officielle | This is an electrical installation prepared in advance to allow for the future installation of an electric vehicle charger. It includes:
This installation ends with:
and is located:
|
| Expected load for electric vehicle supply equipment | ELEVSE | “Expected minimum load (6.66 kW at 208 V or 7.68 kW at 240 V), calculated for Level 2 electric vehicle supply equipment.” Page 708 | |
| Electric vehicle supply equipment | EVSE | “A complete assembly consisting of cables, connectors, devices, apparatus, and fittings installed for the purpose of power transfer and information exchange between the electrical installation and the electric vehicle.” Page 708 | |
| Electric vehicle energy management system | EVEMS | “A means used to control electric vehicle supply equipment loads through the process of connecting, disconnecting, increasing, or reducing electric power to the loads and consisting of monitors, communications equipment, controllers, timers, and other applicable devices.” Page 708 | This system manages when and how electricity is supplied to charging stations. It allows for:
It may include:
|
| Load monitoring and load shedding device | LMLSD | “A type of charge controller used a) to split the feeder current ahead of a panelboard to create a new branch crcuit supplying the electric vehicle supply equipment; b) to monitor the feeder current; and c) to interrupt or re-establish the supply of the electric vehicle supply equipment when the feeder current from the panelboard has reached a predetermined threshold.” Page 708 |
Figure 1
Figure 2
New Requirements for New Construction and Existing Buildings
| For New Construction | For Existing Buildings | |
|---|---|---|
| Systematic installation of basic infrastructure (Section 86) | Single dwellings (Sec. 86-202) A DBISEVSE with sufficient capacity for the ELEVSE must be installed for each new dwelling unit equipped with a garage, a carport, or a parking space. Apartment buildings (Sec. 86-204) • Universal accessibility: Each parking space in a new building, except visitor parking spaces, must be equipped with a DBISEVSE. • Sharing: It is permitted to share a basic infrastructure to supply EVSE if this infrastructure serves multiple parking spaces assigned to the same dwelling unit. | |
| End of “case-by-case” installations (Sec. 2-014) | Adding a single charging station now triggers a long-term planning requirement for the entire building. • Mandatory planning: As soon as a first EVSE is installed, the designer must plan for the possibility that all parking spaces (except visitor spaces) can eventually be supplied. • Infrastructure compliance: This planning must be done without exceeding the capacity limits of the service box, transformers, and existing feeders. • Fairness among co-owners: The objective is to ensure that the available power is managed so that each resident can eventually connect their vehicle. | |
| Overall plan (Sec. 2-014, para. 4) | For buildings with 5 dwelling units or more, an overall plan is mandatory both at the time of initial construction and when adding one or more EVSE in existing buildings. It must demonstrate that the installation capacity will eventually be able to supply all parking spaces (except visitor spaces). This document must include: • the single-line diagram of the service entrance and meter banks; • a detailed load calculation, including the phases of full deployment of the charging infrastructure and the applicable safety parameters for the EVEMS, if required. The document must be provided to the owner and followed by all future contractors. | |
| Load optimization (Sec. 8-106) | With EVEMS (in accordance with CSA C343:25 certification or equivalent): The demand load used for the calculation is equal to the maximum load permitted by the management system, provided that the entire EVEMS is installed and operational at the time of construction. Feeder exclusion (LMLSD): It is permitted to exclude the ELEVSE from the calculation of the feeder and the dwelling unit panel if a LMLSD is installed upstream, ensuring that the total load never exceeds 80% of the feeder’s rated current. |
Summary and Design Options
To effectively comply with the new requirements without unnecessarily oversizing electrical service entrances, the approaches below are now permitted.
Infrastructure and Connections
- No branch sharing
As part of the installation of a DBISEVSE, each EVSE must be supplied by a separate branch circuit. According to Rule 86-300, it is prohibited to connect a charging station to the same circuit as another load, unless an approved EVEMS or control device (e.g., load switch or LMLSD) is used. - Panel sharing allowed
To maximize existing capacity, the installation of an EVEMS, such as a smart panel or a local controller, is permitted. These solutions make it possible to add loads without increasing the rated capacity of the service, as they control the charging power of the EVSE in real time based on the overall consumption of the infrastructure.
*A local controller is an EVEMS whose electrical safety decision-making is performed locally, at all times, even when connectivity is lost. Some types of local controllers are integrated into another EVEMS, such as a smart panel.
Fail-Safe Concept and Connectivity
To benefit from the flexibility provided in Rule 8-106, the EVEMS must be capable of performing its monitoring and control functions at all times.
- Network independence
A system that relies solely on a cloud server via Ethernet or Wi-Fi to operate would not safely meet the requirements of Rule 8-106(11) in the event of an Internet outage. - Default behavior
To comply with Rule 8-500, if communication between the current transformer and the charging station is lost, the system must automatically reduce the load to a safe minimum (or disconnect it). This level of reliability is what allows the EVSE load to be excluded from the load calculation in plans and specifications. - Certifications
The charging station and the EVEMS/local controller must be certified together as a system in accordance with CSA C343.25 or an equivalent standard.
Installation at Construction or Phased Implementation
- Construction requirement
Rule 86-204 requires that the basic infrastructure (DBISEVSE) be installed at the time of construction. However, the Appendix B note (Rule 2-014) specifies that the installation of additional charging infrastructure (such as wiring or EVSE) may be carried out on a phased basis. - Load calculation
If the flexibility provided in Rule 8-106(11) is used to reduce the size of the building’s electrical service at the design stage, the Code specifies that the EVEMS must be “installed and operational.” Since the EVEMS is a central component (e.g., a smart panel or a local controller in the electrical room), it must be installed at the time of construction. If the EVEMS requires EVSE to function, then all EVSE must be installed in order to apply this flexibility.
For buildings with 5 dwelling units or more requiring an EVEMS, it is possible to install a local controller or smart panels at the time of construction. This ensures that energy management is “in place,” regardless of the EVSE model that occupants may choose later.
This summary of the new regulations introduced in the update to Chapter V, Electricity, of the Quebec Building Code, which will take effect on March 26, 2026, is intended to inform readers of the upcoming changes and to offer an interpretation of them. It is not intended to serve as legal or professional advice.
Any questions?
Are you in the middle of a project and wondering how these new requirements will affect it? Our team would be happy to walk you through it all! Email us at sales@rve.ca.
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