Notice of Non-Payment in British Columbia
Under the Construction Prompt Payment Act, SBC 2025, c. 24
A notice of non-payment is the only way a payer can refuse, in whole or in part, to pay a proper invoice in British Columbia without losing the dispute. It must be delivered within 14 days (BC CPPA s. 11(2)(b)(i) (enacted, not in force)) and must give the specific reasons for non-payment.
One of the forms carries a mandatory undertaking to refer the dispute to adjudication within 21 days (BC CPPA s. 11(1)(b)(ii) (enacted, not in force)).
British Columbia notice of non-payment deadlines
The statutory clocks for this topic in British Columbia, with section citations.
| Clock | Value | Statute |
|---|---|---|
Notice of non-payment window Window to dispute an invoice. Miss it and the amount is generally payable in full. BC CPPA Section 11 | 14 days | BC CPPA Section 11 |
Undertaking to adjudicate When refusing to pass payment down, the payer must undertake to refer the dispute to adjudication within this window. BC CPPA Section 11 | 21 days | BC CPPA Section 11 |
The British Columbia dispute window is 14 days
The notice-of-non-payment window in British Columbia is shorter than the owner-payment window. A notice delivered after the 14-day window closes (BC CPPA s. 11(2)(b)(i) (enacted, not in force)) is generally treated as no notice at all, and the invoiced amount becomes payable in full.
The forms and the undertaking to adjudicate
British Columbia's prescribed notice forms will be finalized when its regulations issue. Until then Tiercord uses the Ontario form family as a working template and flags it as such.
When a contractor withholds payment from a subcontractor because the owner has not paid, the notice must include an undertaking to refer the dispute to adjudication within 21 days (BC CPPA s. 11(1)(b)(ii) (enacted, not in force)). Tiercord branches to the correct form automatically and enforces that undertaking where it applies.
Reasons must be specific
A valid British Columbia notice states the amount being withheld and the specific reasons for non-payment. Vague or boilerplate reasons can render the notice ineffective, so the wording matters as much as the timing.
Notice of non-payment in British Columbia: FAQ
How long do I have to dispute an invoice in British Columbia?
14 days from receipt of the proper invoice (BC CPPA s. 11(2)(b)(i) (enacted, not in force)). A late notice of non-payment generally means the full amount becomes payable.
Does a British Columbia notice of non-payment require an undertaking to adjudicate?
When a contractor passes non-payment down to a subcontractor because the owner has not paid, yes: the notice must undertake to refer the dispute to adjudication within 21 days (BC CPPA s. 11(1)(b)(ii) (enacted, not in force)).
See the full British Columbia guide
Every deadline, notice and adjudication rule in one place.