Quorum

Under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), a quorum for an annual or special general meeting is the presence of eligible voters who own at least 1/3 of the strata lots in the strata corporation, in person or by proxy. Business cannot be validly conducted at a general meeting unless this threshold is met, unless the strata's bylaws set a different quorum requirement. If a strata's bylaws are silent on quorum, the default quorum set out in the Strata Property Act applies.

Yes, under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), a strata corporation may amend its bylaws to establish a different quorum requirement for general meetings, provided the amendment is passed by a 3/4 vote at a general meeting. Any bylaw that conflicts with the Strata Property Act itself is unenforceable to the extent of the conflict. Strata owners should review their current registered bylaws to determine whether a custom quorum applies to their strata corporation.

If a quorum is not present at a general meeting within a reasonable time after the scheduled start, the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) provides a mechanism for the meeting to be adjourned and reconvened. At the reconvened meeting, the eligible voters present in person or by proxy may constitute a quorum regardless of how many strata lots they represent, unless the strata's bylaws specify otherwise. Strata corporations should consult their registered bylaws and the Strata Property Act for the precise adjourned-meeting procedure that applies to them.

Yes, under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), eligible voters attending a general meeting by proxy are counted when determining whether quorum has been achieved. A proxy must be in writing and signed by the eligible voter granting it, and must comply with the requirements of the Act and the strata's bylaws. This allows strata owners who cannot attend in person to still contribute to whether quorum is met.

Under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), an eligible voter at a general meeting is generally a person entitled to vote, which primarily means an owner of a strata lot in the strata corporation or their authorized proxy. An owner may lose voting rights in certain circumstances prescribed by the Act or the strata's bylaws, such as when strata fees or other amounts owed to the strata corporation are in arrears. Whether a tenant or other person may vote depends on specific delegation provisions under the Act and the strata's bylaws.

If quorum is not achieved at the original meeting, the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) permits the strata corporation to adjourn and reschedule the meeting, at which point any eligible voters who do attend may be sufficient to constitute quorum under the Act's adjourned-meeting provisions. This mechanism is designed to prevent strata governance from being entirely paralyzed by owner non-attendance. Strata councils should review the applicable sections of the Strata Property Act and their registered bylaws to follow the correct procedure.

The quorum concept applies separately to strata council meetings and to strata general meetings under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43). For strata council meetings, quorum is generally a majority of council members, unless the strata's bylaws set a different threshold. Strata general meeting quorum (based on the fraction of strata lots represented) is a distinct requirement from council meeting quorum.

Any resolution or vote passed at a strata general meeting at which quorum was not properly established may be invalid under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), meaning the decisions made could be challenged or set aside. It is therefore important for strata councils and meeting chairs to confirm quorum is met before proceeding with any business. Owners who believe a meeting proceeded without proper quorum may seek guidance from the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), which has jurisdiction over many strata disputes in BC.

The Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) applies the same default quorum threshold — eligible voters representing at least 1/3 of the strata lots — to both annual general meetings and special general meetings, unless the strata's bylaws provide otherwise. The type of business conducted at the meeting (e.g., a 3/4 vote resolution versus a majority vote resolution) does not change the quorum requirement itself. Strata owners should check their registered bylaws to confirm whether any different quorum rule has been adopted.

BC strata owners should refer directly to the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) and the Strata Property Regulation for the default statutory rules on quorum. They should also obtain and review their strata corporation's registered bylaws, which are filed with the Land Title Office and may be accessed through BC Land Title and Survey Authority (LTSA) records. For additional guidance on strata governance, the BC Government's strata housing resources and the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT) website provide publicly available educational information.