Who can be on a strata council in BC?

Last reviewed November 10, 2026, against the current Strata Property Act, Strata Property Regulation and Standard Bylaws on BC Laws.

The three eligible groups

1. Owners. Anyone registered on title to a strata lot. There is no residency requirement in the Act: an owner who rents out their unit and lives elsewhere may serve.
2. Individuals representing corporate owners. Where a company owns a lot, a person it names may sit on council. Only one representative of the corporation may be a council member at a time for that lot (section 29).
3. Tenants with an assignment. A landlord may assign to a tenant some or all of the landlord's powers and duties under the Act, including the right to stand for council (section 147). The assignment takes effect only when the landlord gives the strata written notice naming the tenant, the powers assigned and the period. A tenant under a lease of three years or more is assigned the landlord's powers automatically, once the tenant has given the strata written notice (section 148).

Spouses, family members and others

A spouse, partner or adult child who lives in the unit but is not on title is not eligible under section 28(1). Two ways around that:

• Add them to title, which is a legal and financial decision for the family.
• Pass a bylaw. Section 28(2) lets a strata corporation, by a bylaw passed at a general meeting held after the first AGM, allow classes of persons other than owners, corporate representatives and assigned tenants to be council members. Common classes are spouses of owners and family members who live in the strata lot.

A proxy or power of attorney for voting at general meetings does not make someone eligible for council.

One council member per strata lot

If a strata lot is owned by more than one person, only one owner of that lot may be a council member at any one time, unless all the owners are on the council (section 29). A married couple who co-own one unit cannot both serve. If they own two units, each could serve for a different lot.

Where all owners are on council, which is the rule under Standard Bylaw 9 for stratas with fewer than four lots or four owners, each strata lot has one vote at council meetings.

Arrears

Section 28(3) allows a bylaw providing that no person may stand for council, or continue to be on council, with respect to a strata lot if the strata corporation is entitled to register a lien against that lot under section 116(1). The Standard Bylaws do not include this. Where a strata has the bylaw, the test is the same as for voting: the debt must be of a kind that can be liened (strata fees, special levies and the like, not fines), and the strata should have given the two weeks' written demand required by section 112. See voting while in arrears.

Things that do not disqualify

Unless your own bylaws say otherwise, none of these bars a person from council:

• being a new owner,
• not living in the building,
• being related to another council member who owns a different lot,
• being in a dispute with the strata, or having unpaid fines,
• having served for many years, since there are no term limits in the Act or Standard Bylaws, or
• working in a trade the strata uses, though that person must follow the conflict of interest rules in section 32.

An owner who is suing the strata may sit on council but has no right to information about the suit and must stay out of those discussions (section 169). See conflict of interest.

Council size and filling seats

Under Standard Bylaw 9, council has three to seven members. If too few eligible people stand, the strata is short of a council. During the year, the remaining members may appoint a replacement for a member who resigns or is unwilling or unable to act for two months or more, from any person eligible to sit on council (Standard Bylaw 12). See council elections.

Checking and recording eligibility

Before the AGM, the secretary or manager should have the current owner list from the strata's records, any assignment notices from landlords, and any eligibility bylaws. If a nominee's eligibility is questioned at the meeting, the chair should rule on it with reference to section 28 and the bylaws, and the ruling should be recorded.

Questions councils and owners ask

Can a tenant be on a strata council in BC?

Only if the landlord has assigned the right to stand for council and given the strata written notice, or the tenant holds a lease of three years or more and has given notice, or a bylaw allows it.

Can a husband and wife both be on council?

Not for the same strata lot, unless all owners are on council. Only one owner per lot may be a council member at a time.

Can a non-owner spouse be on council?

Only if the strata has a bylaw under section 28(2) allowing that class of person.

Can an owner in arrears be on council?

Yes, unless the strata has a bylaw under section 28(3) and is entitled to register a lien against the lot.

Does a council member have to live in the building?

No. The Act has no residency requirement.

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 Elections
Council Roles
Voting While in Arrears
Tenant Rights
Removing Members
Conflicts