Strata vs condo: what is the difference in BC?
Listings say condo, lawyers say strata, and people moving from other provinces ask where the condominium corporation is. In British Columbia they are the same idea under a different name.
Last reviewed November 10, 2026, against the current Strata Property Act, Strata Property Regulation and Standard Bylaws on BC Laws.
The short answer
In BC, "strata" is the legal term for what the rest of Canada calls a condominium. A condo is everyday language for a strata lot in an apartment-style building. But a strata can also be a townhouse, duplex, detached house on a bare land strata, or a commercial unit. In every case you own your strata lot, share ownership of the common property, and belong to a strata corporation governed by the Strata Property Act.
The words
| Term | Meaning in BC |
|---|---|
| Strata | The form of ownership under the Strata Property Act |
| Strata lot | The unit you own, as shown on the strata plan |
| Strata plan | The registered survey plan that creates the lots and the common property |
| Strata corporation | All the owners as a legal entity: "The Owners, Strata Plan [number]" |
| Strata council | The owners elected to run the corporation |
| Strata fees | Monthly contributions to common expenses |
| Condo, condominium | Informal term, usually for an apartment-style strata lot |
BC's earlier legislation was called the Condominium Act. It was replaced by the Strata Property Act, which came into force in 2000, and the word "condominium" no longer appears in the law's name. Other provinces kept it: Ontario's Condominium Act speaks of condominium corporations, boards of directors, units and common elements, and reserve funds. The concepts match BC's strata corporations, councils, strata lots, common property and contingency reserve funds.
Kinds of strata
- Apartment-style buildings, low-rise or high-rise. The typical "condo".
- Townhouses, attached homes with their own entrances.
- Duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes. Small stratas with the same legal duties. See duplex stratas.
- Bare land stratas. You own a parcel of land and the house on it, and share roads, services and amenities. See bare land stratas.
- Commercial and industrial stratas, and mixed-use buildings with shops below and homes above, often organized into sections.
- Others: hotel and resort stratas, parking and storage lots, leasehold stratas on leased land.
What makes all of them stratas is the deposit of a strata plan at the Land Title Office.
StrataMinutes can take this off your plate. Reading your strata's minutes? Upload a set for a free report card and see what a complete record should contain.
What you own
- Your strata lot, with its own title. You can sell, mortgage and, in BC, rent it.
- A share of the common property and common assets, as a tenant in common with the other owners, in proportion to your unit entitlement (section 66).
- Membership in the strata corporation, with a vote.
Where the lot ends is set by the strata plan. In an apartment-style building it is usually the midpoint of the boundary walls, floors and ceilings (section 68). See what is common property.
How a strata is run
- The owners approve the budget, elect the council, pass bylaws and approve levies at general meetings.
- The council runs day-to-day affairs and enforces the bylaws.
- A strata manager may be hired to assist.
- Bylaws and rules govern use of lots and common property. The Standard Bylaws apply unless amended.
- Strata fees fund the operating fund and the contingency reserve fund. Special levies fund large one-time costs.
- Disputes go mostly to the Civil Resolution Tribunal.
See strata corporation vs strata council.
Strata, co-op and freehold
| Strata | Co-operative | Freehold house | |
|---|---|---|---|
| You own | A strata lot and a share of common property | Shares in a corporation that owns the building, with a right to occupy a unit | The land and building |
| Title | Individual title to your lot | No individual title to the unit | Individual title |
| Governing law | Strata Property Act | Co-operative legislation and the co-op's own rules | General property law |
| Approval to buy | None from the strata | Usually board approval | None |
| Shared costs | Strata fees and levies | Monthly charges | None |
| Rules | Bylaws and rules | Occupancy agreement and rules | Municipal bylaws only |
Financing and resale differ for co-ops, which is why the distinction matters to buyers.
What strata living means in practice
You share the cost of the roof, the insurance and the grounds, and you share the decisions about them. You gain amenities and lower maintenance effort. You give up some control: bylaws limit what you can do, fees can rise, and a special levy can arrive. How well a strata is run varies widely, which is why buyers read the minutes, the depreciation report and the financial statements. See strata documents when buying.
Which law applies
Every strata in BC is governed by the Strata Property Act, the Strata Property Regulation, its own bylaws and rules, and its strata plan. Our plain-language guide to the Act explains how they fit together.
Questions councils and owners ask
Is a strata the same as a condo in BC?
A condo is one kind of strata. Strata is the legal term in BC for all forms of this ownership.
Is a townhouse a strata?
It is if it was created by a strata plan, which most townhouse complexes are.
What is a strata corporation?
The legal entity made up of all the owners of the strata lots, which manages the common property.
What is the difference between a strata and a co-op?
In a strata you hold title to your own lot. In a co-op you own shares in a corporation that owns the building.
What do other provinces call a strata?
A condominium, governed by a condominium corporation and its board.
Every strata, whatever its shape, must keep minutes
From duplexes to towers, StrataMinutes prepares council and general meeting minutes from your notes. Your 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
Strata Corporation vs Council
Bare Land Stratas
Duplex Stratas
Common Property
Strata Fees
Strata Documents When Buying