REALTOR®

In British Columbia, a licensed real estate agent is any individual licensed by the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) under the Real Estate Services Act (RESA) to trade in, manage, or deal in mortgages on real estate. A REALTOR® is specifically a licensee who also holds membership in the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) through a participating provincial association and local real estate board, and is thereby bound by CREA's REALTOR® Code of ethics — a layer of obligation that exists separately from BCFSA's regulatory requirements under RESA.

Yes. REALTOR® is a registered trademark owned by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), and its use is restricted to CREA members in good standing. A licensed real estate professional in BC who is not a CREA member through a participating board may not legally use the term REALTOR® or the associated marks, and unauthorized use could expose that individual to trademark infringement claims under federal Canadian trademark law.

Regulatory oversight of professional conduct and licensing in BC rests with the BC Financial Services Authority (BCFSA) under the Real Estate Services Act (RESA) — not CREA. CREA's REALTOR® Code sets additional ethical standards that apply to CREA members, but it is BCFSA that has statutory authority to investigate complaints, impose sanctions, suspend licences, and enforce RESA's Rules against any real estate licensee in the province.

Yes, but only under the limited dual agency rules that BCFSA permits in narrow circumstances, as governed by the Real Estate Services Act (RESA) and its Rules. A REALTOR® acting in a dual agency capacity must provide full written disclosure to both parties and obtain their informed consent before proceeding, in accordance with BCFSA's agency disclosure requirements. Consumers should review BCFSA's current guidance on limited dual agency to understand the restrictions that apply.

In addition to the conduct standards required by BCFSA under RESA, a REALTOR® in BC is bound by CREA's REALTOR® Code, which imposes duties of honesty, integrity, and cooperation with other REALTORS®, among other obligations. Breaches of the REALTOR® Code can be addressed through CREA's or the local real estate board's disciplinary processes, which operate independently of — and in addition to — any regulatory action that BCFSA may take under RESA.

In BC, a licensed real estate professional typically obtains CREA membership by joining a local real estate board (such as the Greater Vancouver REALTORS® or the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board) that is a member of the BC Real Estate Association (BCREA), which in turn is a provincial member association of CREA. Membership is contingent on maintaining an active real estate licence issued by BCFSA under the Real Estate Services Act (RESA), paying the applicable membership dues, and agreeing to abide by the REALTOR® Code.

Yes. Under the Real Estate Services Act (RESA) and its Rules, all BC real estate licensees — including REALTORS® — who receive money on behalf of a client (such as a deposit on a purchase) are required to deposit those funds into a designated trust account that meets BCFSA's requirements. This obligation applies by virtue of the licensee's status under RESA and is enforced by BCFSA, independently of CREA membership.

Yes, REALTORS® in BC routinely collect personal information from clients, but they must do so in compliance with BC's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), which governs how private-sector organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information. Under PIPA, a REALTOR® must generally identify the purpose for collecting information, obtain consent where required, and protect that information with reasonable safeguards. If a REALTOR® sends unsolicited commercial electronic messages (such as marketing emails), Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) also applies and requires express or implied consent.

When a REALTOR® is assisting with the sale of a strata lot in BC, they are commonly involved in helping the seller obtain documents such as the Form B (Information Certificate), Form F (Certificate of Payment), and the depreciation report, all of which are governed by the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) and its Regulation. These documents provide buyers with critical information about the strata corporation's bylaws, finances, contingency reserve fund, and any outstanding strata fees or levies. It is the strata corporation's obligation to produce these documents, but a REALTOR® can facilitate the request on the client's behalf.

Yes. When a REALTOR® assists a client with property located within BC's Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), they should be aware that such land is subject to restrictions on subdivision, non-farm use, and non-adhering residential use under the Agricultural Land Commission Act (SBC 2002, c. 36), administered by the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). A REALTOR® is not qualified to provide legal or regulatory advice on ALR restrictions, and clients should consult the ALC directly and obtain independent legal advice to understand what uses and subdivisions are permitted for a specific parcel.