Standard Bylaws

Standard Bylaws are the default bylaws set out in the Schedule to the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) that automatically apply to every strata corporation upon registration unless they are amended or replaced by a resolution that is subsequently registered at the Land Title Office. They cover fundamental matters such as use of strata lots, common property, parking, pets, rentals, and the conduct of meetings. Strata corporations that have never filed amended bylaws will be governed entirely by these Standard Bylaws.

Under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), a strata corporation may amend or repeal any Standard Bylaw by passing a three-quarter vote resolution at a general meeting, unless the Act requires a different threshold for a specific bylaw. Once passed, the amendment or replacement bylaw must be filed and registered at the Land Title Office to become legally effective. Until registration occurs, the existing bylaw — whether Standard or previously amended — continues to apply.

Yes. Under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), the Standard Bylaws set out in the Schedule to the Act apply to a strata corporation from the time it comes into existence unless and until they are validly amended and the amendments are registered at the Land Title Office. A developer filing a strata plan does not need to separately register the Standard Bylaws, as they apply by operation of statute.

A buyer or licensee can obtain a strata corporation's registered bylaws — including any amendments to the Standard Bylaws — through the Land Title Office, where all registered bylaw filings are publicly searchable. Additionally, a strata corporation is required under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) to provide a Form B (Information Certificate) upon request, which includes or references the current bylaws and rules in force. A buyer's licensee should review Form B as part of standard due diligence.

The Standard Bylaws in the Schedule to the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) do not themselves prohibit rentals; however, it is important to note that under the Act, strata corporations cannot pass bylaws that restrict or prohibit rental of a strata lot, as amendments made to the Act have significantly limited the ability of strata corporations to impose rental restrictions. Buyers should review both the registered bylaws at the Land Title Office and the Form B Information Certificate to understand any rental-related provisions that may apply to a specific strata.

The Standard Bylaws under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) contain provisions relating to pets, and a strata corporation may amend those provisions — for example, to restrict the number, size, or type of pets — by passing a three-quarter vote resolution and registering the amendment at the Land Title Office. However, the Strata Property Act also limits how restrictive pet bylaws may be; for example, strata corporations cannot pass bylaws that prohibit owners from keeping a pet outright in all circumstances, and any bylaw must comply with the requirements of the Act. Prospective buyers with pets should review the strata's current registered bylaws carefully.

The Standard Bylaws in the Schedule to the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) apply broadly to strata corporations, but the Act and its Regulation contain specific provisions that recognize differences between conventional stratas and bare land stratas. Bare land strata corporations may have different practical needs and are permitted to adopt bylaws suited to their unique structure, but the Standard Bylaws still serve as the starting default unless amendments are registered. Buyers of bare land strata lots should confirm which bylaws are currently registered at the Land Title Office for that specific strata plan.

Under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), a bylaw amendment does not take effect until it is filed and registered at the Land Title Office; an unregistered amendment has no legal force, even if it was validly passed by the required three-quarter vote at a general meeting. This means the previous Standard Bylaw or previously registered amended bylaw continues to govern the strata corporation until registration is completed. Strata councils and their property managers should ensure timely filing to avoid governance uncertainty.

The Form B Information Certificate, required under the Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43), must disclose the bylaws — including the Standard Bylaws if unamended, or any registered amended bylaws — currently in force for the strata corporation. A licensee acting for a buyer should review the Form B carefully to identify whether the strata operates under the Standard Bylaws, a mix of Standard and amended bylaws, or entirely custom-registered bylaws. This review is an important part of a buyer's due diligence under BCFSA guidance and RESA obligations.

Yes. The Strata Property Act (SBC 1998, c. 43) gives owners and tenants the right to expect that bylaws — including the Standard Bylaws — are enforced consistently by the strata corporation. If a strata corporation fails to enforce its bylaws, an owner may file a complaint with the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), which has jurisdiction over most strata-related disputes in BC, or in some cases pursue remedies through the BC Supreme Court. The Act requires the strata corporation to enforce its bylaws fairly and without discrimination.