Can strata council members be paid?
Council is unpaid by default. Some stratas choose to offer an honorarium, especially to a secretary or treasurer who carries a heavy load. The Act allows it, with one firm condition: owners approve first.
Last reviewed November 10, 2026, against the current Strata Property Act, Strata Property Regulation and Standard Bylaws on BC Laws.
The short answer
Yes, but only with advance approval by the owners. Under section 34 of the Strata Property Act, any remuneration paid to a council member for exercising council powers or performing council duties must be approved before payment, in one of three ways: in the budget, in the bylaws, or by a resolution passed by a 3/4 vote at a general meeting. Council cannot vote itself a payment. Reimbursing genuine out-of-pocket expenses is a different matter.
The rule in section 34
Section 34 is one sentence: any remuneration paid to a member of council for the member's exercise of council powers or performance of council duties must be approved in advance of payment (a) in the budget, (b) in the bylaws, or (c) by a resolution passed by a 3/4 vote at an annual or special general meeting.
The key words are in advance. A payment made first and approved afterward does not comply. A council motion alone is never enough.
The three ways to approve
| Method | Vote needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| A line in the annual budget | Majority, as part of the budget | A modest annual honorarium, reviewed every year |
| A bylaw | 3/4 vote, filed at the Land Title Office | A standing arrangement owners want to make permanent |
| A specific resolution | 3/4 vote | A one-time payment, such as for an unusually heavy project year |
The budget route is the simplest. Show it as its own line, "Council honoraria", not buried in administration, so owners see what they are approving.
Sample resolution (3/4 vote): BE IT RESOLVED by a 3/4 vote that the strata corporation pay an honorarium of $600 to each council member who serves the full term ending at the next annual general meeting, payable at the end of the term from the operating fund.
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Remuneration versus expenses
Remuneration is payment for serving. Reimbursement is repayment of money a member spent for the strata: printer ink, postage, a Land Title Office search, a key cut. Reimbursement is an ordinary operating expense, not remuneration, provided it is:
- a real cost, with a receipt,
- for the strata's purposes, and
- within the budget or council's spending authority.
Council should approve reimbursements by motion, with the member concerned abstaining, and record them. Mileage and meals deserve a written policy so nobody has to argue about them.
Hiring a council member for other work
Sometimes a council member is also an electrician, bookkeeper or landscaper, and offers to do paid work for the strata. That is not council remuneration under section 34, because it is not payment for council duties. It is a contract in which the member has an interest, so section 32 applies: the member must disclose the interest fully, abstain from the vote, and leave the meeting while the contract is discussed and voted on. Council should obtain competing quotations and record the process. If the conflict rules are not followed, the contract can be challenged in court unless ratified by a 3/4 vote after full disclosure (section 33). See conflict of interest.
How much is reasonable
The Act sets no figure. Honorariums in BC stratas are typically token amounts recognizing time, not wages. Things to weigh:
- Fairness. Equal amounts for all members, or more for the secretary and treasurer who do the most.
- Conditions. Paid at the end of the term, prorated for those who leave early, and tied to attendance.
- Optics. Owners are more comfortable with modest, visible amounts.
- Alternatives. Paying for help often does more than paying people: a bookkeeper, a minute-preparation service, or a strata manager for specific tasks.
Tax
Payments to council members may be taxable income to the person receiving them, and the strata may have reporting obligations to the Canada Revenue Agency depending on the amounts. This is a tax question, not a strata law question. Ask an accountant before the first payment.
Recording it
The AGM minutes should show the approval clearly, whether as a budget line or a separate resolution with its count. Council minutes should record each payment made under that approval. If the approval was by budget, it lasts for that fiscal year only and must be approved again in the next budget.
Questions councils and owners ask
Can a strata council vote to pay itself?
No. Remuneration must be approved in advance by the owners in the budget, in the bylaws, or by a 3/4 vote at a general meeting.
Is an honorarium for the strata secretary allowed?
Yes, if approved in advance in one of the three ways in section 34.
Are expense reimbursements remuneration?
No. Repaying a council member's genuine out-of-pocket costs for the strata is an operating expense.
Can a council member be hired as a contractor?
Yes, but they must disclose the interest, abstain and leave the meeting for the decision under section 32.
Is a gift card at year end remuneration?
A gift given for serving on council is a form of remuneration and should be approved in advance like any other.
Cheaper than an honorarium, and nobody has to write minutes
Many stratas pay a secretary to do the minutes. For $29 a month, StrataMinutes prepares them from rough notes, and the first month is free.
Free for 30 days, then $29 a month. Cancel anytime.
For a 30-lot strata, that is under $1 a lot each month. Have the strata pay: free council approval kit.
This page is general information for BC strata corporations, not legal advice. Your strata's own filed bylaws may differ from the Standard Bylaws. See the current text of the Strata Property Act and the Strata Property Regulation on BC Laws.
Related guides
Council Roles
Secretary Duties
Annual Budget
Conflicts
The 3/4 Vote
No Strata Secretary