Are strata minutes public? Who can get copies in BC
Strata minutes are private records of the strata corporation, but section 36 gives a defined group of people a legal right to them, on a deadline, for a capped fee. Here is who, what, and how fast.
Last reviewed November 5, 2026, against the current Strata Property Act, Strata Property Regulation and Standard Bylaws on BC Laws.
The short answer
Strata minutes are not public in BC. Under section 36 of the Strata Property Act, the strata must provide copies to owners, to tenants who have been assigned the landlord's right to inspect records, to former owners and tenants for the period they were there, and to anyone authorized in writing by one of them, such as a buyer, realtor or lawyer. Copies are due within 2 weeks and cost at most 25 cents a page; inspection is free.
Who has a right to strata minutes
| Person | What they can get | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | All section 35 records, including all council and general meeting minutes | Section 36(1)(a) |
| Tenant assigned the landlord's right to inspect records | All section 35 records | Section 36(1)(b) |
| Any other tenant | The bylaws and rules only | Section 36(2) |
| Former owner, or former tenant with assigned rights | Records relating to the period they were an owner or tenant | Section 36(1.1) |
| Person authorized in writing by any of the above (buyer, realtor, lawyer, family member) | Whatever the person who authorized them could get | Section 36(1)(c) and (1.1) |
| Members of the public | No right to strata records | Section 36 |
Minutes are records the strata must prepare under section 35(1)(a), so every right above includes them, along with financial records, contracts, correspondence and reports. There is no exception for minutes council would prefer not to share. The control on sensitive information is in how the minutes are written, not in who may read them.
Buyers and realtors
A prospective buyer has no right of their own to a strata's records. The usual route is a written authorization from the selling owner, which lets the buyer, their realtor or their lawyer request records under section 36(1)(c). That is why minutes requests arrive during almost every sale, typically for the last two years of council and general meeting minutes along with the Form B Information Certificate. A buyer does not need to have made an offer, but they do need the owner's written authorization. Reading those minutes well is a skill of its own; see how to read strata minutes before buying.
Tenants
A tenant can always get the bylaws and rules (section 36(2)), within one week. A tenant can get minutes and other records only if the landlord has assigned them the right to inspect records under section 147 or 148 and the strata has been notified, or if the owner authorizes them in writing. Tenants who simply ask for the minutes without either are not entitled to them, though nothing stops council from sharing routine minutes if the bylaws allow.
Former owners
Since section 36(1.1) was added, a former owner (or a former tenant who had assigned rights) can request records that relate to the period they owned or rented, whenever those records were created. This matters most in disputes about events that happened before a sale, such as a leak claim or a fine. A former owner cannot get minutes of meetings held about matters after they left.
The public and the internet
Members of the public, neighbours in other buildings, and people searching online for a particular strata's minutes have no right to them. Some stratas post minutes on a public website or a management company portal; that is the strata's choice, and it should be made knowing that minutes often contain owners' names and strata lot numbers. A password-protected owners' portal is the better practice. If you are searching for your own building's minutes, ask council or your strata manager directly; as an owner you are entitled to them.
Deadlines and fees
- Two weeks to provide minutes and other records after a request (section 36(3)).
- One week for the bylaws and rules.
- Inspection is free for owners, tenants and authorized persons (Regulation 4.2(2)).
- Copies cost at most 25 cents a page (Regulation 4.2(1)). The strata may refuse to hand over copies until the fee is paid. Emailed electronic copies have no page cost to pass on, and many stratas charge nothing for them.
A strata manager's administration fees are not a lawful substitute for these limits when an owner exercises a section 36 right. Owners who are refused or ignored can bring the matter to the Civil Resolution Tribunal, and our records request guide includes a request letter.
Privacy and redaction
Because so many people can obtain minutes, council should write them on the assumption that they will be read by every owner and every buyer. BC's Personal Information Protection Act applies to strata corporations, and the practical rules are simple:
- Refer to owners by strata lot number rather than name where you need to identify them at all, and leave out personal details that are not needed to understand a decision.
- Record that a bylaw complaint, arrears matter or hearing was dealt with and what was decided, without health, family or financial details.
- Keep the supporting documents (complaint letters, medical notes, legal advice) in the strata's records rather than pasted into the minutes.
Our guide to privacy in strata minutes has sample wording. Redacting personal information from copies of records can be appropriate in some cases, but it should never remove the decisions or vote results that section 35 requires.
Records request calculator
Enter the date the strata received the request.
Questions councils and owners ask
Are strata minutes public in BC?
No. They are records of the strata corporation. Owners, tenants with assigned rights, former owners for their period, and anyone authorized in writing by one of them can get copies under section 36. The general public has no right to them.
Can a tenant get a copy of strata council meeting minutes?
Only if the landlord has assigned the tenant the right to inspect records under section 147 or 148, or the owner authorizes the tenant in writing. Every tenant can get the bylaws and rules.
Is a former owner allowed to receive minutes of council meetings?
Yes, for records relating to the period they were an owner (section 36(1.1)). They cannot get minutes about matters after they sold.
Can I request strata minutes without making an offer to buy?
A buyer needs the selling owner's written authorization, not an accepted offer. With that authorization the strata must provide the records within two weeks.
How much can a strata charge for copies of minutes?
At most 25 cents a page for copies (Strata Property Regulation 4.2). Inspecting records is free for owners, tenants and authorized persons.
When selling a condo in BC, how far back do buyers ask for strata minutes?
Buyers and their lawyers usually ask for at least the last two years of council and general meeting minutes, along with the Form B, the budget, financial statements and the depreciation report. There is no fixed legal period.
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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
How to Request Strata Records (with a letter)
Privacy: What Stays Out of the Minutes
When Minutes Must Go to Owners
Records Retention
Form B Information Certificate
How to Read Strata Minutes Before Buying