Canadian Electrical Code
First published in 1927, the Canadian Electrical Code is a safety standard for all electrical work and electrical equipment operating at all voltages in electrical installations for buildings, structures, and premises in Canada. It is published by the CSA Group (formerly the Canadian Standards Association), a private organization that exists to develop national safety standards for a wide range of electrical equipment, industrial machinery, and construction materials.
Despite the use of the term “Canadian”, the CEC is not a single national law; rather it is a group of laws locally-adopted by individual provinces, territories, and municipalities in an effort to standardize their enforcement of safe electrical practices. In some cases, the CEC is amended or altered as part of the adopting legislation.
Most of the product-specific standards relevant to electric signs are located in Section 34 “Signs and Outline Lighting”. These standards are updated every three years. The current edition of the CEC was released in January 2021; the 26th edition will be released in 2024.
WHAT VERSION OF THE CODE APPLIES?
Because the CEC must be adopted by provincial authorities or local councils, the version of the CEC in force in each jurisdiction may differ. As of February 2023, the current versions of the CEC are:
| Province/territory | Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) | Adopted Code edition | Effective Date |
| Alberta | Alberta Municipal Affairs | 2021 CE Code | February 1st, 2022 |
| British Columbia | Technical Safety BC | 2021 CE Code | October 1, 2022 |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Hydro | 2018 CE Code | October 1, 2018 |
| City of Winnipeg | 2021 CE Code | July 1, 2022 | |
| New Brunswick | Prov. of NB. Dep of Public Safety | 2021 CE Code | September 2022 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Province of Newfoundland and Labrador | 2021 CE Code | July 1, 2021 |
| City of St. John’s | 2021 CE Code | ||
| Northwest Territories | Northwest Territories Public Works and Services | 2018 CE Code | July 1, 2021 |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Labour and Advanced Education | 2021 CE Code | May 1, 2021 |
| Nunavut | Nunavut Community and Government Services | 2018 CE Code | August 2019 |
| Ontario | Electrical Safety Authority | 2021 CE Code | May 5, 2022 |
| Prince Edward Island | Prince Edward Island Inspection Services | 2021 CE Code | June 12, 2021 |
| Québec | Régie du Bâtiment du Québec | 2018 CE Code | October 1, 2018 |
| Saskatchewan | SaskPower | 2021 CE Code | Nov 1, 2021 |
| Yukon | Yukon Department of Community Services | 2021 CE Code | April 1, 2022 |