If you own a condo in British Columbia or serve on a strata council, “2026 Strata Property Act updates” is really about something more practical than a single new amendment package: knowing which recent legal changes now require action in 2026. As of March 2026, the Strata Property Act is current to March 10, 2026, and the Province’s latest strata legislation summary highlights that the biggest operational issues for many strata corporations this year are electrical planning report deadlines, strengthened depreciation report rules, EV-charging decision timelines, Form B disclosure obligations, and the ongoing effects of rental, age-restriction, insurance, and short-term-rental reforms.

What condo owners and councils need to know in 2026

The first thing to understand is that 2026 is less about a dramatic brand-new Strata Property Act overhaul and more about compliance with changes already passed and now coming due. That matters because many councils assume they can “wait for the next update,” when in fact the important deadlines are already on the calendar.

1. Electrical planning reports are a major 2026 deadline

For many strata corporations with five or more strata lots, the biggest 2026 requirement is the electrical planning report, often called an EPR. The Province says strata corporations with five or more lots must obtain an EPR by December 31, 2026 if they are located in Metro Vancouver (excluding certain boat- or air-access islands), the Fraser Valley Regional District, or the Capital Regional District (again excluding certain islands). Other B.C. strata corporations generally have until December 31, 2028. New strata corporations have five years from deposit of the strata plan, and phased strata corporations have special timelines in the regulation.

Why this matters: an EPR is not just an EV-charging document. It is meant to help the strata understand current electrical capacity, current and future demand, and recommendations to manage load, including EV charging and heat pumps. In plain English, it helps councils avoid approving upgrades blindly or discovering too late that the building’s electrical system is already near its limit.

What councils should do now

• Confirm whether your strata has five or more lots and whether your location puts you on the December 31, 2026 deadline.
• Book a qualified provider early instead of waiting for fall 2026.
• Start owner consultation about future electricity demand, including EV charging, heat pumps, and common-area upgrades.
• Make sure the report and related decisions are properly recorded in council and general meeting minutes.

If your council is discussing technical reports, owner requests, and voting records more often than usual, accurate documentation becomes a risk-management tool, not just an administrative chore. That is one reason some strata corporations explore professional minute-taking support through a StrataMinutes membership at strataminutes.ca. Clear records can make follow-up decisions and owner communication much easier.

2. EV charging requests now come with a response timeline

The EV-related rules are another update councils cannot afford to ignore in 2026. The Province states that the regulation created a process for an owner to request installation of EV charging, and the strata corporation must consider and respond within three months. Earlier changes also made some EV-charging decisions approvable by majority vote instead of a three-quarter vote.

That changes the conversation for councils. An owner’s request is no longer something that should sit in email limbo for half a year. Councils need a workable intake process, a calendar for review, and written reasons for approval, conditions, or refusal where permitted. Owners, meanwhile, should expect a structured process rather than a casual hallway discussion.

3. Depreciation reports are no longer optional for most larger stratas

The Province strengthened depreciation report requirements effective July 1, 2024. All strata corporations with five or more lots are required to obtain depreciation reports on a five-year cycle, and strata corporations can no longer defer obtaining one by passing an annual three-quarter vote. Effective July 1, 2025, depreciation reports must be obtained from designated qualified professionals, and in October 2025 the list of eligible professionals was expanded further.

This is a serious shift for budgeting and long-term planning. For years, some strata corporations effectively kicked major repair planning down the road. That is no longer the legal landscape for most buildings. In 2026, councils should know when their next depreciation report is due, confirm the provider is properly qualified, and treat the report as an active planning tool rather than a binder that sits on a shelf.

Why owners should care

A current depreciation report can influence special levy planning, contingency reserve fund strategy, repair sequencing, and owner expectations. It also affects resale disclosure because buyers want evidence that the building is not drifting toward preventable capital surprises.

4. Form B disclosure remains a key compliance issue

Since April 1, 2023, the Form B Information Certificate has had to include a summary of the strata corporation’s insurance coverage. That sounds simple, but in practice it means councils and managers must keep disclosure current and consistent. Inaccurate or outdated Form B information can create confusion during sales and add pressure during already time-sensitive closings.

In 2026, councils should review who is responsible for preparing Form B responses, how insurance summaries are updated, and whether supporting records can be retrieved quickly. Meeting minutes also matter here because buyers and owners often want to know not just the formal certificate details, but the context around claims, deductibles, renewals, and recent council discussions.

5. Insurance remains mandatory for every strata corporation

The Province’s insurance guidance is straightforward: all strata corporations, regardless of type or size, must obtain and maintain property and liability insurance as required by the Strata Property Act. That includes more than just high-rise condos; the requirement also extends to bare land strata corporations and strata-titled duplexes.

For owners and councils, the practical 2026 takeaway is this: do not assume your strata’s structure makes insurance obligations lighter. Councils should review coverage annually, understand deductibles, and make sure owners receive accurate information through required disclosure channels.

6. Rental and age-restriction rules are still reshaping bylaws

Some of the most talked-about strata changes in recent years continue to affect owners in 2026. The Province says strata rental-restriction bylaws are no longer allowed, and age-restriction bylaws may only be 55+ or older, with additional exemptions for some residents, caregivers, children, adult children, and younger spouses or partners in certain circumstances.

That means councils should avoid relying on old bylaw assumptions, old templates, or outdated owner commentary. Bylaw enforcement must reflect current law, not a building’s historical preferences. Owners who are unsure whether a bylaw is still enforceable should check the current wording against the provincial framework before escalating a dispute.

7. Short-term rental rules still matter even when they are not “strata law”

Strictly speaking, provincial short-term rental rules are not the same thing as the Strata Property Act. But for condo owners and councils, they still matter because they affect how units can be used, what hosts must do, and how strata bylaws interact with provincial housing rules. The Province states that the new short-term rental rules took effect May 1, 2024, with principal-residence requirements in many communities and significant penalties for non-compliance.

For councils, the lesson is to separate three questions: what provincial law allows, what local government rules require, and what the strata’s bylaws say. Those are related, but they are not identical. Mixing them up is how councils create avoidable conflict with owners.

How strata councils can stay ahead in 2026

1. Create a legal compliance calendar. Include depreciation report dates, electrical planning report deadlines, annual insurance review timing, AGM preparation, and Form B processes.
2. Assign ownership for each issue. One reason deadlines slip is that everyone assumes someone else is handling them.
3. Improve meeting records. When councils discuss EPRs, EV requests, insurance renewal, bylaw interpretation, or capital planning, the minutes should capture decisions clearly and neutrally.
4. Review outdated bylaws and templates. Many strata corporations are still carrying wording or procedures shaped by rules that have changed.
5. Communicate earlier with owners. Owners are less likely to resist planning work when they understand the legal deadline and the cost of delay.

Conclusion

The most important 2026 Strata Property Act update for B.C. condo owners and strata councils is not a surprise amendment dropped overnight. It is the need to act on reforms already in force: electrical planning reports, EV request timelines, stronger depreciation report rules, Form B disclosure obligations, mandatory insurance, and the continuing effect of rental and age-restriction changes. Stratas that treat 2026 as a compliance year instead of a wait-and-see year will be in a much better position to budget, communicate, and avoid disputes.

And because almost every one of these issues eventually runs through meetings, resolutions, correspondence, and records, good minutes matter more than ever. If your strata council wants more consistent, professional documentation, it may be worth exploring StrataMinutes membership at strataminutes.ca for dedicated strata minute-taking support.