Strata minutes software: what BC councils should look for
Most councils looking for minutes software are really looking for a way to stop spending four hours on minutes. The right tool depends on which part of the job you want to keep.
Last reviewed November 10, 2026, against the current Strata Property Act, Strata Property Regulation and Standard Bylaws on BC Laws.
The short answer
For a BC strata, the tool matters less than the result: minutes that record every decision and vote (section 35), reach owners within two weeks (Standard Bylaw 19), and can be kept for at least six years. A template in a word processor meets the law if someone fills it in well. Management portals store documents but do not write them. A done-for-you service such as StrataMinutes takes your rough notes or a recording and returns finished minutes, which removes the writing altogether.
What a strata actually needs
Before comparing products, list what the law and common sense require of the finished document.
- Attendance, quorum, and who chaired.
- Every motion in clear words, with the result of the vote.
- Privacy-safe handling of complaints, hearings and arrears.
- A draft ready to send to owners inside two weeks.
- A file format that can be stored and reopened years from now: PDF for the record, an editable copy for corrections.
- No dependence on one volunteer's laptop or one person's account.
Anything that delivers those six things is good enough. Features beyond them are conveniences.
The four kinds of tool
| Option | What it does | What you still do |
|---|---|---|
| Word processor and a template | Gives you the headings in the right order | All of the writing, formatting and checking |
| General meeting-notes apps | Capture notes or a transcript | Turn it into motions, votes and proper strata wording |
| Strata management portals | Store documents, send notices, track tasks | Write the minutes, or pay the manager to |
| Done-for-you minutes service | Prepares finished minutes from your notes or recording | Read the draft and send it out |
A free template is a sound choice for a council with a confident writer. General note-taking apps are built for business meetings, and their summaries tend to miss what strata law cares about: the exact motion, the count, the fund. Portals are useful for the rest of council's work, but are rarely the answer to the minutes problem itself.
StrataMinutes can take this off your plate. The quickest comparison is to try it on your own meeting. Paste or upload your notes and see the finished minutes. Your first month is free.
A buyer's checklist
- Is it built for BC strata law? Look for the Strata Property Act vocabulary: strata lots, 3/4 votes, contingency reserve fund, section 135 hearings.
- Does it record vote counts? A summary that says "the motion passed" is not enough.
- Who checks the result? Someone on council must still read every draft.
- Where is your information kept, and who can see it? Read the privacy policy.
- What does it cost per meeting, including AGMs? Watch for per-user fees and long contracts.
- Can you leave? You should be able to download every document as PDF and Word and keep them yourself.
- Is there a way to try it first?
How StrataMinutes works
StrataMinutes is a minute-preparation service for BC strata corporations.
- After the meeting, paste or upload your notes, however rough, or upload a recording.
- Complete minutes are prepared in the standard order, with motions worded clearly and vote results recorded.
- You receive a PDF, a Word copy and a compliance checklist showing how the document measures up against the Act.
- One revision is included for each meeting, for corrections council wants.
Nobody attends your meeting, and what council distributes remains council's decision. You can read a finished sample to see the standard.
What it costs
Founding-member pricing is $29 a month with one council meeting included each month, or $299 a year with twelve meeting credits to use at any time. AGM or SGM minutes are $25 per meeting, audio transcription is $25 for the first hour of recording and $10 for each additional hour, and an additional standard meeting is $15. Strata managers preparing minutes for several stratas can use the Manager plan at $149 a month with ten meetings included. Every membership starts with a free month. Full details are on the pricing page.
When a template is enough, and when it is not
Stay with a template if your secretary enjoys the work, meetings are short, and minutes go out on time. Consider a service if minutes are regularly late, if the secretary role is hard to fill, if owners have complained about the record, or if a sale or dispute has shown gaps. The cost of the service is small beside the cost of one cancelled fine or one delayed sale.
Questions councils and owners ask
Is there software that writes strata minutes automatically?
There are general tools that summarise meetings, but strata minutes need specific content: exact motions, vote counts and privacy-safe wording. A service built for BC stratas prepares that for you from notes or a recording.
Do we need special software to comply with the Strata Property Act?
No. The Act cares about the content and timing of minutes, not how they are produced.
Can a self-managed strata use StrataMinutes?
Yes. Self-managed councils are the most common users, because there is no manager to prepare minutes.
Are our documents kept private?
Your notes are used to prepare your documents and for nothing else. See the privacy policy.
Can we cancel?
Yes, at any time. The first month is free and you keep every document you have downloaded.
Skip the software. Receive the minutes.
StrataMinutes is not another program to learn. Send your notes or a recording and receive complete minutes as PDF and Word, with a compliance checklist, usually within minutes.
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
Minute-Taking Service
Minutes Template
Cost Guide
Sample Minutes
Self-Managed Stratas
Recording to Minutes