FAQ
Common questions about how Canadian Codes works, accuracy and sources, billing, and privacy.
Getting started
What is Canadian Codes?
Canadian Codes is an AI research tool for Canadian building, fire, plumbing, and energy code questions. Ask a question and get a direct answer — cited straight to the source document where the publisher allows it, or clearly labelled AI guidance with an official link where it doesn't. It's built for contractors, designers, and homeowners who need a fast, sourced starting point, not a replacement for a stamped review.
What jurisdictions does it cover?
Coverage spans the national model codes (NBC, NFC, NPC, NECB) plus provincial, territorial, and — where available — municipal amendments. Set your jurisdiction in chat and Canadian Codes routes your question through the federal, provincial, and municipal layers that actually apply.
How do I ask a question?
Sign in, open a new chat, and ask in plain language — for example, "how high does a deck guard need to be in Ontario." Mention your jurisdiction if you haven't set one already, and follow-up questions keep the same conversation context.
Can I use it on a job site from my phone?
Yes — it's a responsive web app with no install required. Sign in from any phone or tablet browser and your chat history and jurisdiction setting carry over between devices.
Accuracy & sources
How accurate are the answers?
Every answer should be treated as a research starting point, not a final compliance determination. Where we hold rights to the source document, the answer is cited straight to the PDF page you can check yourself. Where the publisher restricts reuse, the answer is AI-generated guidance with an official source linked instead — never a fabricated citation. See the AI accuracy notice for the full picture.
Why do some answers show a citation and others don't?
It comes down to what the source publisher allows. Some code publishers license their text for citation and excerpt display; others don't, in which case Canadian Codes gives clearly labelled AI guidance and points you to the publisher's own site rather than inventing or reproducing a citation it doesn't have the rights to show.
What's the difference between a cited answer and "AI guidance"?
A cited answer quotes or excerpts the actual source document text, with a link to the exact page. AI guidance is the model's synthesized answer without a licensed excerpt to show — still useful as a starting point, but it should be verified against the official source before you rely on it, which is why the link is always included.
How do I report a wrong or outdated answer?
Email contact@canadiancodes.ca with the chat link or the question asked. Every report gets reviewed, and citation or retrieval issues get fixed at the source so the same mistake doesn't repeat for the next person asking.
Does Canadian Codes replace an engineer, architect, or code consultant?
No. It's a research tool, not a stamped design review, a permit approval, or legal or engineering advice. For anything where being wrong has real consequences — a permit submission, a structural question, a disputed inspection — verify with a qualified professional or your local building department.
Billing & plans
What plans are available?
Free includes 3 cited questions a month to try the full workflow. Pro ($19/mo, or $14/mo billed annually) includes 500 questions a month with follow-up context retained. Crew ($49/mo, or $39/mo billed annually) includes 1,500 questions a month for contractors researching code daily. Enterprise is custom pricing for GCs, municipalities, and firms with procurement or custom-jurisdiction needs — contact sales.
Can I cancel anytime?
Yes. Cancel renewal anytime from Plan & billing in your account — cancelling stops future renewal but doesn't retroactively refund charges already made.
Do you offer refunds?
Canadian Codes is currently a small paid beta. Refund requests made within 14 days of your first subscription charge are generally reviewed for a full or partial refund, especially on lightly used accounts — email contact@canadiancodes.ca with your account email and charge date.
Is there a free way to try it?
Yes — the Free plan includes 3 cited questions a month with the full product experience (jurisdiction routing, citations where available, saved and shareable chats), no card required to start.
Privacy & data
What happens to the questions I ask?
Your questions, the generated answers, citations, and jurisdiction are stored so your chat history works across sessions, and your question is sent to our AI providers to retrieve and generate the answer. We don't sell your personal information and we don't use your questions to train our own models — see the privacy notice for details on retention and the service providers involved.
Do you sell my data?
No. Canadian Codes does not sell your personal information. Data is shared only with the service providers needed to run the product — sign-in, payments, hosting, and the AI providers that generate answers — each limited to what their function requires.