Construction Adjudication in British Columbia
Under the Construction Prompt Payment Act, SBC 2025, c. 24
Adjudication gives British Columbia construction parties a fast, interim-binding decision on a payment dispute, administered by the nominating authority to be designated when the regulations issue. The determination must be complied with immediately, even if a party later challenges it in court or arbitration.
Because the timetable is short and the determination is enforceable, the strength of the documentary record usually decides the outcome.
British Columbia adjudication deadlines
The statutory clocks for this topic in British Columbia, with section citations.
| Clock | Value | Statute |
|---|---|---|
Adjudication referral window Time after the contract is complete to refer a dispute to adjudication. Refer later and the referral is a nullity. BC CPPA Section 19 | 90 days after completion | BC CPPA Section 19 |
Adjudicator determination Days for the adjudicator to issue a binding determination after receiving the claimant's documents. BC CPPA Section 30 | 30 days | BC CPPA Section 30 |
Comply with determination Days to pay an amount ordered by an adjudicator. BC CPPA Section 34 (enacted, not in force) | 15 days | BC CPPA Section 34 (enacted, not in force) |
How a dispute is referred in British Columbia
A claimant gives notice of adjudication and an adjudicator is appointed by the authority British Columbia will designate when its regulations issue. Until then Tiercord tracks the procedure on the Ontario model and flags it as a working assumption.
By when a dispute has to be referred in British Columbia
British Columbia allows 90 days after the contract is complete to refer a dispute to adjudication (BC CPPA s. 19(2) (enacted, not in force)). A referral delivered after that window is a nullity: the adjudicator has no jurisdiction, whatever the merits of the payment claim.
The adjudicator's timetable
Once the adjudicator has the claimant's materials, the determination is due within 30 days (BC CPPA s. 30(1)(b) (enacted, not in force)). The period can sometimes be extended by consent, but the default is deliberately fast so cash keeps moving on the project.
Comply within 15 days
An amount ordered by an adjudicator must be paid within 15 days (BC CPPA s. 34 (enacted, not in force)). Failing to pay can entitle the other side to suspend work and pursue enforcement. A party that disagrees can still litigate or arbitrate, but must pay the determined amount in the meantime. When a dispute escalates, Tiercord assembles every related artifact into a chronological brief with hash metadata.
Adjudication in British Columbia: FAQ
Who administers construction adjudication in British Columbia?
British Columbia has not yet designated its nominating authority; it will be named when the regulations are published. Tiercord tracks the procedure on the Ontario model until then.
By when must a dispute be referred to adjudication in British Columbia?
90 days after the contract is complete (BC CPPA s. 19(2) (enacted, not in force)). After that the referral is a nullity.
How long is there to comply with an adjudicator's determination in British Columbia?
15 days (BC CPPA s. 34 (enacted, not in force)) after the determination is issued. The determination is interim-binding, so it must be paid even if the underlying dispute later goes to court.
See the full British Columbia guide
Every deadline, notice and adjudication rule in one place.