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Strata law in British Columbia in 2026 is being rewritten in motion. The Strata Property Act remains the spine, but the past two years have brought new depreciation report rules, the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, expanded Civil Resolution Tribunal jurisdiction, and active calls for a full legislative review. Councils are expected to keep up.
This guide is a working compass, current as of May 2026. We've translated the legislation councils most often ask about into plain language, with deadlines and dollar figures where they exist.
1. The BC Strata Property Act
The Strata Property Act (SPA) is the foundational statute. It governs how strata corporations are created, how they operate, and how they wind up. Every strata in BC is bound by it, regardless of bylaws.
The Act has 304 sections plus standard bylaws and regulations. The five parts a council interacts with most: Part 1 (sections 1–9, what a strata is), Part 4 (sections 23–55, the corporation, council, and meetings), Part 5 (sections 56–90, financial matters and depreciation reports), Part 7 (sections 119–134, bylaws and rules), and Part 10 (sections 169–173, dispute resolution).
Section 31 deserves a special mention: it sets the standard of care for council members and is what makes governance non-trivial.
Read the plain-language Strata Property Act guide →
2. Bill 35: Short-term rentals and beyond
Bill 35 is the common shorthand for two pieces of provincial legislation passed in October 2023: the Short-Term Rental Accommodations Act, which restricts most short-term rentals to a host's principal residence in communities over 10,000 people, and amendments to the Strata Property Act dealing with rental restrictions and short-term rentals.
Three things a council needs to know:
- The provincial registry has been mandatory since May 1, 2025. All hosts and platforms operating in BC must be registered.
- Stratas can still pass and enforce their own short-term rental bylaws. Fines of up to $1,000 per day are within the corporation's power.
- The provincial enforcement creates a parallel pathway. A non-compliant rental can be reported to the Province and the strata's bylaw enforcement process. The two aren't mutually exclusive.
Read the full Bill 35 impact guide →
3. How to update your strata bylaws
Many councils inherit bylaws from a previous era and want to modernise them. The process is well-defined:
- Draft the amendment. A strata lawyer or experienced manager can save time here.
- Notice. Include the proposed amendment, in full, in the notice for the next general meeting (AGM or SGM). The notice period is typically 14 days.
- Vote. Bylaw amendments require a three-quarter vote of eligible voters at the meeting.
- File. The amended bylaws must be filed at the Land Title Office within 60 days. They take effect from the filing date.
Read the step-by-step guide to updating bylaws →
4. The new depreciation report regime
This is the legislative change with the most immediate financial impact. As of July 1, 2024:
- Strata corporations with five or more lots must have a depreciation report.
- Reports must be renewed on a five-year cycle.
- The previous ability to defer the requirement by three-quarter vote is gone.
The compliance deadlines depend on geography:
- July 1, 2026: Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, most of the Capital Regional District
- July 1, 2027: rest of BC
Read the 2026 depreciation report compliance guide →
5. The strata insurance landscape
The 2026 BC strata insurance market has finally begun to soften. After years of escalating premiums (2018–2022) and ballooning deductibles, 2026 brings the first widespread relief: multiple insurers are competing for business, premium reductions of 5–15% are reported on well-maintained low-claims buildings, and more flexible deductible structures are emerging.
The pain points haven't fully reversed. Deductibles for water damage above $50,000 are still common in over 60% of stratas, and buildings with claims history or aged plumbing remain priced harshly.
Read the full strata insurance guide →
6. Short-term rentals: the new rules
Bill 35's short-term rental rules are the most visible legislative change in BC strata life in years. The high points:
- Principal residence requirement. In communities over 10,000 people, short-term rentals are restricted to the host's principal residence.
- Provincial registry. All hosts and platforms must register. Platforms must validate registration numbers.
- Strata override preserved. Stratas can still pass bylaws banning or restricting short-term rentals entirely, regardless of the provincial rules.
For councils, the practical change is leverage. Three or four years ago, enforcement was the strata's burden alone. Today, an unregistered host on Airbnb is in violation of provincial law as well as the strata's bylaw, and either pathway can drive enforcement.