You’ve found the perfect condo. Great light, good layout, right price. Then you read the bylaws and discover your dog is one kilo over the limit. Or that you can’t put down hardwood floors. Bylaws decide how you’ll actually live in a strata, and BC changed some of the big ones recently. Here’s what they can and can’t do.
What Can Strata Bylaws Restrict in BC?
Strata bylaws can set rules about how owners, tenants and visitors use their units and the common property. They can cover things like:
- Pets: number, size and type
- Short-term rentals like Airbnb
- Age, but only a 55+ restriction
- Renovations, flooring and work hours
- Smoking and vaping, including inside units and on balconies
- Noise, garbage, moving, parking and storage
They can’t:
- Ban or limit long-term rentals (since November 24, 2022)
- Set any age restriction other than 55 and over
- Override provincial laws, like human rights protections or the Residential Tenancy Act
- Fine you more than the legal maximums
Bylaws vs Rules vs Standard Bylaws
These three get mixed up all the time.
| What it is | How it’s made | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Bylaws | The default bylaws in the Strata Property Act | Apply automatically unless the strata replaces them |
| Bylaws | The strata’s own bylaws | 3/4 vote at a general meeting, then filed at the Land Title Office |
| Rules | Day-to-day rules about common property, like gym hours | Set by council, must be approved at the next AGM |
When you’re buying, ask for the full, consolidated bylaws and all amendments filed at the Land Title Office. A bylaw that isn’t filed isn’t in force.
Rental Bylaws Since 2022: Long-Term Rentals Can’t Be Banned
This was the biggest change in years. As of November 24, 2022, BC stratas can no longer enforce bylaws that ban or limit long-term rentals. Old rental caps, rental waiting lists and “no rentals” bylaws simply stopped working.
What that means for you:
- Investors can buy in almost any strata and rent the unit out long term.
- Owners can rent out their unit if their plans change, without asking council for an exemption.
- Buyers who wanted an owner-occupied building no longer have that guarantee.
Stratas can still require tenants to follow the bylaws. Landlords must give each tenant the bylaws and rules, along with a signed Form K (Notice of Tenant’s Responsibilities).
Short-Term Rentals: What Stratas Can Still Prohibit
The 2022 change was about long-term rentals. Stratas can still ban or restrict short-term rentals, like Airbnb or VRBO, through their bylaws. Many North Shore buildings do, typically banning stays under 30 or 90 days.
On top of strata bylaws, BC’s short-term rental rules now limit most short-term rentals to a host’s principal residence in communities like the City and District of North Vancouver. So even if your strata allows it, the province and your municipality may not.
If short-term rental income is part of your plan, read our guide to North Vancouver short-term rental rules first.
Age Restrictions: The 55+ Exception
Since November 2022, the only age restriction a strata can have is 55 and over. Older bylaws that set “19+” or “adults only” rules are no longer enforceable.
Things to know about 55+ buildings:
- They often appeal to downsizers who want a quieter building.
- The buyer pool is smaller, which can affect resale.
- Caregivers and some family members may be allowed to live with a 55+ resident.
- A new 55+ bylaw generally doesn’t force out people who already live there.
If you’re downsizing, our guide to downsizing in North and West Vancouver compares condo and townhouse options.
Pet Bylaws: Size and Number Limits
If the strata hasn’t passed its own pet bylaw, the Standard Bylaws allow:
- one dog or one cat,
- a reasonable number of fish or other small aquarium animals,
- a reasonable number of small caged mammals, and
- up to two caged birds.
Many stratas pass their own pet bylaws. Common ones include limits like “two pets,” weight limits for dogs (for example, 15 kg or 25 lbs), or breed restrictions. Some ban pets entirely.
Two important protections:
- Grandfathering: if a strata passes a new bylaw banning a pet, it doesn’t apply to a pet that was already living there when the bylaw passed.
- Guide and service dogs are protected by provincial law and can’t be banned by a strata.
If you have a pet, ask for the bylaws before you write an offer, not after.
Renovation, Smoking, Noise and Parking Bylaws Buyers Overlook
These are the bylaws that surprise people after they move in:
- Renovations: most stratas require written approval for changes to walls, plumbing, electrical or flooring. Many require sound-reducing underlay for hard floors, and some ban hardwood altogether.
- Work hours: limits on when trades can work, often weekdays only.
- Smoking and vaping: many buildings now ban it inside units and on balconies, including cannabis.
- Noise: quiet hours, usually in the evening and overnight.
- Moving: booking the elevator, using pads, and a move-in fee (capped at $100).
- Parking and storage: whether your stall and locker are assigned to your unit or just allocated by council. This matters for resale. Check the strata plan.
- Balconies: limits on barbecues, hot tubs, storage and what you hang over the railing.
- Window coverings and exterior appearance: some require white or neutral blinds.
How Bylaws Are Changed and Enforced
Changing bylaws: A new bylaw or amendment needs a 3/4 vote at a general meeting, and only takes effect once it’s filed at the Land Title Office. That means the bylaws can change after you buy, so check recent minutes for proposals.
Enforcing bylaws: Before fining you, the strata must give you the details of the complaint in writing and a chance to respond, including a hearing if you ask for one. Maximum fines are:
- $200 per bylaw contravention
- $50 per rule contravention
- For an ongoing problem, a new fine can be charged as often as every seven days
Disputes: most strata disputes go to the Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT), an online tribunal that’s faster and cheaper than court.
How to Check the Bylaws Before You Remove Subjects
When you buy a condo or townhouse, your strata documents subject is the time to check everything. Here’s what to look at:
- Get the consolidated bylaws and all filed amendments. Make sure nothing important is missing.
- Check the pet bylaws against your pet’s type, size and number.
- Check rental and short-term rental bylaws if you’re an investor.
- Check renovation rules if you plan to change floors, kitchens or bathrooms.
- Read two years of minutes for upcoming bylaw changes, disputes or fines.
- Look at the Form B for any bylaw fines or amounts owing on the unit.
- Confirm parking and storage are assigned to the unit you’re buying.
Our guide to reviewing strata documents before buying in BC walks through the full package, and the North Vancouver condo buyer checklist covers everything else to check before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Strata Bylaws in BC
Are existing pets grandfathered under new bylaws?
Yes. A new bylaw that bans a pet doesn’t apply to a pet already living in the strata when the bylaw passed. Once that pet is gone, the new bylaw applies.
Do strata bylaws apply to tenants?
Yes. Tenants and visitors must follow the bylaws and rules, and landlords must give tenants a copy along with a signed Form K.
Can a strata charge a move-in fee?
Yes, but it’s capped at $100 under the regulations.
Can I install an EV charger or heat pump under strata bylaws?
For EV chargers, BC rules now let you apply to council, and the strata can’t unreasonably refuse a proper request. Many EV decisions need only a majority vote. Heat pumps and other changes depend on your bylaws and usually need written approval.
Can a strata limit the number of occupants in a unit?
Some stratas have occupancy bylaws, often tied to the number of bedrooms. They must be reasonable and can’t discriminate against families with children.
Buying a Condo or Townhouse? Get a Bylaw Review Before You Commit
Bylaws are easy to skim and expensive to ignore. A pet limit, a flooring rule or a short-term rental ban can change whether a home works for you at all.
Navid Hakimi reviews bylaws, minutes and Form Bs with buyers during their subject period, so you know exactly what you’re agreeing to before you remove subjects. Contact Navid to talk about the building you’re considering, or search current listings on our MLS search page.
Current as of October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Bylaws differ between stratas, so always read the bylaws filed for the specific building.
