Short answer (BC):
Your strata must create minutes for every council and general meeting that show what was decided and the result of any votes (Carried/Defeated – You don’t need to include who voted for what).
Minutes must be kept on file, provided on request within the Act’s timelines, and, under the Standard Bylaws, owners must be informed of council minutes within 2 weeks (unless your strata has amended that bylaw). SPA
The basics, in plain English
- Create minutes for every meeting.
The Act requires minutes of council and general meetings, and those minutes must include vote results (e.g., pass/fail, or counts). BC Laws - Tell owners about council minutes.
Under Standard Bylaw 19, councils must inform owners of council minutes within 2 weeks, even if the minutes haven’t been approved yet. Many stratas keep this rule; some amend it by bylaw. BC Laws - Keep minutes for at least 6 years.
Provincial guidance sets the retention period; keep them organized and retrievable. Government of British Columbia - Provide access on request.
Owners, certain tenants, or an authorized representative can inspect and get copies of minutes. The strata must respond within 2 weeks (1 week for bylaws/rules). Reasonable copy fees may apply. BC Laws - Record decisions, not everything.
Minutes should be accurate, objective, and limited to what was done/decided (not who said what). Follow privacy-aware practices when wording entries. oipc.bc.ca
Helpful internal guides (StrataMinutes)
Vote counts in minutes (5–2 or just pass/fail?)
How to write BC-ready minutes (layout, phrasing, results)
Wondering something else? see our dedicated FAQ
Why this is the rule (BC sources)
OIPC (Privacy Commissioner) — Minutes & privacy: orders/guidance confirm minutes should be factual, minimal personal information, and privacy-aware. oipc.bc.ca
BC Strata Property Act — Records & access: s.35 (must prepare minutes with vote results) and s.36 (who can access; response timelines). BC Laws
Standard Bylaws — Council to inform owners: Standard Bylaw 19 (inform owners of council minutes within 2 weeks, unless amended). BC Laws
Province of BC guidance — Retention & record-keeping: minutes kept 6 years and other retention rules. Government of British Columbia
We’re still here to help if you need us
Prefer not to wrestle with formatting, vote results, and retention rules every month? Lock in compliant minutes and save staff time. Upload your documents and StrataMinutes.ca returns clean, BC-ready minutes with everything covered!
Last updated: 2025-10-03
Written by: J. Astor