Governance
Understanding Strata Councils in Canada
How strata corporations and condo corporations are governed, what council members do, and how bylaws are created and enforced under provincial legislation.
Ownership Guide — Canada
Navigating Condominium and Townhouse Ownership
From strata councils and reserve funds to purchasing agreements and provincial bylaws — a factual reference for current and prospective condo owners across Canada.
Strata Governance
Understand how strata corporations and condominium corporations operate, elect councils, and enforce bylaws across Canadian provinces.
Fees & Reserves
A breakdown of monthly maintenance fees, how reserve funds are structured, and what a depreciation report reveals about a building's financial health.
Purchasing Process
What to review in a status certificate or Form B before completing a purchase, and the key steps from offer to closing.
Articles
Ownership Topics
Detailed reference articles on the legal, financial, and practical aspects of condo and townhouse ownership in Canada.
Finances
Maintenance Fees and Reserve Funds Explained
What monthly maintenance fees cover, how reserve funds are built and used, what special levies mean for owners, and key questions to ask before buying.
Purchasing
A Guide to Buying a Condo or Townhouse in Canada
The purchasing process from offer to closing, including how to read a status certificate, what a Form B discloses, and financing considerations for strata properties.
Provincial Variations
Legislation Across Canada
Condo ownership law varies by province. Each jurisdiction has its own act governing strata corporations, disclosure requirements, and owner rights.
British Columbia
Governed by the Strata Property Act (SPA). Strata corporations must maintain a depreciation report and a contingency reserve fund. The act covers everything from AGM procedures to bylaw enforcement and dispute resolution through Civil Resolution Tribunal.
Ontario
Governed by the Condominium Act, 1998. Condominium corporations issue a status certificate upon request. The Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO) administers a tribunal for disputes and oversees a mandatory director training program.
Alberta
Governed by the Condominium Property Act. Sellers are required to provide an estoppel certificate disclosing the financial standing of the condominium corporation. Alberta's act was substantially revised in 2019 to modernize governance requirements.
Quebec
Co-ownership (copropriété) is governed by the Civil Code of Québec. Significant reforms under Bill 16 (2020) introduced mandatory reserve fund studies and syndicate obligations around maintenance planning and insurance.
Manitoba
Governed by The Condominium Act. Corporations must hold annual general meetings and maintain reserve funds. Manitoba's legislation requires corporations to disclose financial statements to prospective purchasers on request.
Nova Scotia
Governed by the Condominium Act (RSNS 1989). Each condominium corporation operates under a declaration and bylaws. Nova Scotia's legislation specifies procedures for common expense collections, liens, and unit owner disputes.
Key Concepts
Terms Every Owner Should Know
Common Property
Areas owned collectively by all unit owners — including hallways, lobbies, parking structures, and mechanical rooms. Maintenance of common property is funded through monthly fees and is the responsibility of the strata or condo corporation.
Special Levy
A one-time charge levied against all unit owners when the reserve fund is insufficient to cover a major repair or replacement. Requires a vote at a general meeting in most provinces, except in urgent circumstances.
Depreciation Report
A long-term study of a building's physical components and their projected repair or replacement costs. Required in British Columbia and increasingly common elsewhere. Used to assess whether reserve fund contributions are adequate.
Status Certificate / Form B
A document issued by the condominium corporation (Ontario: status certificate; BC: Form B; Alberta: estoppel certificate) disclosing financial standing, pending litigation, special assessments, and bylaw status. Essential due diligence for any purchaser.