Everything board members, property managers, and co-owners need to know about condominium legislation across Canada — updated for 2026.
Canadian condominium law is entirely provincial. There is no single federal condo act — each province and territory has its own legislation governing how condominiums are created, managed, financed, and disputed. This means the rules for reserve funds, board obligations, insurance, and dispute resolution can differ dramatically depending on where a building stands.
This guide provides a comprehensive, province-by-province breakdown of every major condominium law in Canada, including the significant legislative changes that took effect in 2025 and 2026.
⚖️ Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For authoritative guidance specific to your co-ownership, consult a lawyer specializing in condominium law in your province.
Quick Reference: Province-by-Province Comparison
| Province | Governing Act | Reserve Fund Study Cycle | Dispute Tribunal | Key 2025–2026 Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec | Civil Code of Quebec (arts. 1038–1109) | 5-year (new under Bill 16) | Superior Court | Bill 16 regulation in force Aug 2025; deadline Aug 2028 |
| Ontario | Condominium Act, 1998 | 3-year alternating classes | CAT (online) | Bill 72 extended some amendments; reserve fund provisions expired Dec 2025 |
| British Columbia | Strata Property Act, 1998 | 5-year (depreciation reports) | CRT (online) | End of depreciation report deferrals; deadlines Jul 2026/2027 |
| Alberta | Condominium Property Act, RSA 2000 | 5-year / 30-year horizon | CDRT (launched Apr 2026) | Major amendments Feb 2026; new dispute tribunal; "sufficient" funding |
| Manitoba | The Condominium Act, CCSM c. C170 | 5-year | None (courts) | No major changes |
| Saskatchewan | Condominium Property Act, 1993 | 5-year | None (courts) | No major changes |
| Nova Scotia | Condominium Act, RSNS 1989 c. 85 | Board discretion (enhanced 2023) | None (courts) | 2023 amendments in effect; stable |
| New Brunswick | Condominium Property Act, SNB 2009 | Periodic (>10 units) | None (courts) | No major changes |
| PEI | Condominium Act, RSPEI 1988 C-16 | No statutory requirement | None (courts) | No changes |
| Newfoundland | Condominium Act, 2009, SNL c. C-29.1 | 10-year | None (courts) | Modernization consultations ongoing |
Quebec — The Most Significant Reforms in Canada
Quebec's condominium framework is unique in Canada — it is governed by the Civil Code of Quebec (CCQ), not a standalone Condominium Act. The recent passage of Bill 16 represents the most significant reform to Quebec condo law in decades.
Bill 16 (Loi visant principalement l'encadrement des inspections en bâtiment et de la copropriété divise)
- Adopted: January 30, 2020
- Implementing regulation published: July 30, 2025
- Regulation in force: August 14, 2025
Syndicate Attestation (ASEC)
Status: In effect since August 14, 2025
Upon the sale of any condo unit, the syndicate must provide a certificate on the state of the co-ownership within 15 days of the request. The attestation must include:
- Reserve/contingency fund balance
- Self-insurance fund status
- Budget and surplus/deficit
- Planned major work
- Ongoing litigation
- Insurance details
- Recent modifications to the declaration of co-ownership
Maintenance Logbook (Carnet d'entretien) — Art. 1070.2 CCQ
Compliance deadline: August 14, 2028
A comprehensive record covering a 25-year horizon of major repairs for common portions. Must include:
- Inventory of common portions
- Work history and maintenance contracts
- Warranties
- 25-year repair/replacement plan
Must be prepared by an independent authorized professional (engineer, architect, professional technologist, or chartered appraiser). Full professional review required every 5 years (or 10 years for small buildings — fewer than 5 stories, fewer than 50 units, built before 2000).
Contingency Fund Study (Étude du fonds de prévoyance) — Art. 1071 CCQ
Compliance deadline: August 14, 2028
Professional analysis projecting the costs of major repairs and replacement over a minimum 25-year horizon. Annual contributions must now be based on the study's recommendations — the old "5% of common expenses" guideline has been replaced. Renewal required every 5 years.
Buyer Deposit Protection (New Construction)
In effect since August 14, 2025. Deposits paid by buyers of new condo units must be held in trust (fidéicommis) by a qualified professional (notary, lawyer, CPA, or authorized administrator). Developers can no longer use these deposits directly.
📅 Quebec Compliance Deadlines
- August 14, 2025 — Syndicate Attestation (ASEC) required on any sale
- August 14, 2025 — Buyer deposit trust requirement (new builds)
- August 14, 2028 — Maintenance Logbook must be completed
- August 14, 2028 — Contingency Fund Study must be completed
- Ongoing — Logbook professional review every 5 years (10 for small bldgs)
- Ongoing — Fund Study renewal every 5 years
Note: Studies completed between 2023 and August 14, 2025 may be recognized as valid if they meet the new regulatory standards.
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Bill 141 — Insurance Reforms
Bill 141 reformed condo insurance obligations:
For syndicates:
- Building reconstruction value must be appraised every 5 years by a member of the Ordre des évaluateurs agréés du Québec
- Syndicates must maintain a dedicated self-insurance fund (separate from contingency and operating funds) to cover deductibles
- Syndicate property insurance must cover fire, water damage, theft, vandalism, and civil liability
For individual co-owners — mandatory civil liability insurance:
- $1,000,000 minimum for buildings with fewer than 13 units
- $2,000,000 minimum for buildings with 13+ units
Bill 31 — Housing Amendments (2024)
Adopted February 21, 2024. While primarily focused on rental housing, Bill 31 made important technical amendments to condo law:
- Amended articles 1070.2 and 1071 CCQ to give government regulatory flexibility to modulate obligations by building characteristics (size, type, year of construction)
- Enabled the August 2025 regulation to include provisions for "small buildings" with 10-year review cycles instead of 5
Bill 20 — Under Consideration (2026)
Status as of June 2026: Under parliamentary consultations — NOT yet adopted.
- Tabled: February 11, 2026
- Proposes amendments that would allow the government to exempt certain co-ownerships from the maintenance logbook and contingency fund study requirements
- The RGCQ (Regroupement des gestionnaires et copropriétaires du Québec) has vigorously opposed these exemption provisions, calling it a "step backward" that would undermine transparency and buyer protection
Consequences of Non-Compliance in Quebec
Bill 16 does not create specific administrative fines. However, non-compliance carries significant risks:
- Civil liability — co-owners can sue the syndicate for damages
- Court injunctions — courts can order compliance
- Transaction disruption — failure to provide the ASEC can delay or collapse property sales
- Financing/insurance impact — financial institutions may refuse mortgages; insurers may raise premiums or refuse coverage
- Loss of asset value
Ontario — Canada's Largest Condo Market
Governing Legislation
- Condominium Act, 1998, S.O. 1998, c. 19
- Ontario Regulation 48/01 (General Regulation)
Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO)
All Ontario condo corporations must be registered with the CAO and pay an annual assessment fee. The CAO operates the Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT), Canada's first online dispute resolution tribunal for condominiums.
CAT jurisdiction (as of mid-2026):
- Condo records access, adequacy, and fees
- Nuisances — noise, odour, light, vibrations, smoke, and vapour
- Governing documents — disputes involving pets, vehicles, parking, and storage
- Compliance with governing documents and settlement agreements
- Indemnification/chargebacks related to the above categories
Proposed expansion: The CAO is preparing to add owners' meetings disputes (requisitioning, notices, quorum, voting procedures) to the CAT's jurisdiction.
Reserve Fund Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Initial comprehensive study | Within 1 year of registration (Class 1) |
| Update frequency | Every 3 years (alternating with/without site inspections) |
| Funding plan deadline | Within 120 days of receiving a study |
| Owner notification | Form 15 (Notice of Future Funding) within 15 days of proposing a plan |
2025–2026 Updates
- Bill 72 (Buy Ontario Act, 2025): Extended the life of certain proposed amendments (shared facilities agreements, status certificates), but did NOT extend proposed changes related to reserve fund adequacy definitions, procurement, or budgeting — those provisions expired December 31, 2025
- No new legislative amendments have fundamentally changed reserve fund rules
- The Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI) continues to advocate for clarity on reserve fund adequacy
British Columbia — End of Depreciation Report Deferrals
Governing Legislation
- Strata Property Act, S.B.C. 1998, c. 43
- Strata Property Regulation, B.C. Reg. 43/2000
Key Council Obligations
| SPA Section | Obligation |
|---|---|
| Section 3 | Managing, maintaining, and repairing common property |
| Section 4 | Functions performed by the council |
| Section 31 | Standard of care — act honestly, in good faith, with reasonable skill |
| Section 32 | Disclosure of conflicts of interest |
| Section 35 | Record-keeping requirements |
Depreciation Reports — Major Changes
The most significant BC condo change in 2025–2026 is the end of depreciation report deferrals:
- Previously: Strata corporations could defer obtaining a depreciation report by passing an annual ¾ vote
- Now: Deferrals are no longer permitted for corporations with 5+ lots
- Cycle: Depreciation reports must be obtained on a 5-year cycle
Qualified professionals (effective July 1, 2025): Professional engineers, licensee engineers, architects, architectural technologists, applied science technologists, certified appraisers (AACI or CRA), certified reserve planners (CRP), and quantity surveyors.
📅 BC Compliance Deadlines
- July 1, 2026 — Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Capital Regional District
- July 1, 2027 — All other areas of BC
Civil Resolution Tribunal (CRT)
The CRT handles strata property disputes including interpretation of the Strata Property Act, its regulations, and strata bylaws. Non-compliance with depreciation report requirements can be brought before the CRT.
Alberta — New Dispute Tribunal & Major Reforms
Alberta enacted the most comprehensive condo law overhaul outside Quebec, with amendments coming into force in early 2026.
Governing Legislation
- Condominium Property Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. C-22
- Condominium Property Regulation, Alta. Reg. 168/2000
Condominium Dispute Resolution Tribunal (CDRT)
Launched April 1, 2026 — Alberta's first independent, quasi-judicial body for condo disputes.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Process | Guided negotiation → mediation → adjudication |
| Decisions | Legally binding, enforceable as court orders |
| Jurisdiction | Monetary sanctions (fines), records access, meetings (AGMs/SGMs) |
| Filing deadline | 1 year from knowledge of dispute |
| Eligible disputes | Those arising on or after April 1, 2025 |
| Tribunal fee | $9/unit/year (first payment due Dec 31, 2026) |
📅 Alberta Key Date
- December 31, 2026 — First CDRT annual fee payment due ($9/unit)
Other Key 2026 Changes
- "Sufficient" reserve funding — now a legal standard requiring boards to rely on professional reserve fund recommendations
- Mandatory technical analysis for new builds — required within 4 years of occupancy to identify construction deficiencies before warranties expire
- Enhanced chargebacks — 90-day notice required for proposed chargebacks, with at least 10 days for owner response
- Voting change — default method is now "owner vote" (one vote per owner) unless bylaws specify otherwise
- Insurance — corporations must maintain sufficient insurance to cover both reserve fund and operating account balances
Reserve Fund Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Study cycle | Every 5 years |
| Planning horizon | Minimum 30 years |
| Initial study | Within 2 years of registration |
| Financial segregation | Reserve funds must be in separate accounts from operating funds |
Manitoba
Governing Act
The Condominium Act, C.C.S.M. c. C170
Key Requirements
- Reserve fund: Mandatory for all corporations for major repairs and replacement
- Studies: Required every 5 years
- Contributions: No statutory minimum — boards must consider professional recommendations
- Record-keeping: Current study plus two prior studies must be maintained and disclosed
2025–2026 Status: No major legislative overhaul. Ongoing discussions regarding director term limits, energy efficiency retrofits, and standardized financial reporting.
Saskatchewan
Governing Act
The Condominium Property Act, 1993, S.S. 1993, c. C-26.1
Key Sections
| Section | Subject |
|---|---|
| Section 55 | Common expense fund and reserve fund establishment |
| Section 58.1 | Reserve fund study requirement |
| Section 61 | Holding and use of reserve funds |
- Reserve fund: Mandatory, held in trust, separate from common expense fund
- Studies: Every 5 years by qualified professionals
- Purpose: Unforeseen common expenses, major repairs/replacements
2025–2026 Status: No major legislative changes. Stable framework.
Nova Scotia
Governing Act
Condominium Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 85
Recent Amendments (Proclaimed May 23, 2023)
- Improved developer-to-owner board transition rules
- Clarified voting percentage requirements
- Set timelines for first general meetings
- Prohibited developers from purchasing additional units until first elected board is in place
- Authorized more frequent reserve fund studies
- Modernized voting (email ballots now permitted)
- Required disclosure of rental agreements to condo board
- Required "bare land" condos to be clearly advertised as condominiums
2025–2026 Status: No additional amendments to the Condominium Act. Framework is stable with the 2023 modernization in effect.
New Brunswick
Governing Act
Condominium Property Act, SNB 2009, c. C-16.05
Reserve Fund Requirements
| Building Size | Requirement |
|---|---|
| ≤10 units | Reserve fund must equal 100% of annual operating budget (unless bylaws specify higher) |
| >10 units | Must obtain and maintain a reserve fund study |
- Studies must be submitted to the Director of Condominiums
- Reserve funds cannot be used for daily operations
2025–2026 Status: No major condo-specific changes.
Prince Edward Island
Governing Act
Condominium Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. C-16
PEI has no provincial legislative requirement mandating reserve funds for all condo corporations. Financial structure and reserve funds are governed by individual corporation declarations and bylaws.
2025–2026 Status: No changes. Policy attention focused on rent control and property tax assessments under separate legislation.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Governing Act
Condominium Act, 2009, SNL 2009, c. C-29.1
Reserve Fund Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Mandatory reserve fund | Yes — for major repairs and replacement of common elements |
| Study cycle | Every 10 years (longest in Canada) |
| Small buildings (<10 units) | Reserve fund must equal 100% of annual operating budget |
2025–2026 Status: Government has engaged in periodic consultations to modernize the Act. The CCI Newfoundland chapter continues to support through the Condominium Information Program (NL-CIP).
Federal Legislation Affecting Condominiums
National Building Code of Canada 2025
Published December 2025 by the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes (CBHCC). This is a model code only — it does not become law until adopted by individual provinces.
Key changes affecting condominiums:
- Expanded accessibility objective — now applies to all types of dwelling units
- New Subsection 3.8.4 — Adaptable Dwelling Units: Reinforced walls for future grab bars, accessible heights for controls, specific doorway and path-of-travel dimensions, low-cost features to facilitate future modifications
Where provinces adopt NBC 2025 provisions, developers of large residential buildings (including condominiums) will face new design requirements for suites, common spaces, and corridors. BC has already begun implementing its own adaptable-dwelling requirements in parallel.
Accessible Canada Act (S.C. 2019, c. 10)
Goal: Barrier-free Canada by 2040. However, this act applies to federally regulated entities only (federal government, Crown corporations, banks, telecom). It does not generally apply to private residential condominiums — condos are governed by provincial legislation and provincial human rights codes.
Key Takeaways for 2026
- Quebec's August 2028 deadline is approaching fast. Syndicates should begin procuring maintenance logbooks and contingency fund studies now — demand for qualified professionals is high.
- BC strata corporations in Metro Vancouver must have depreciation reports by July 1, 2026. The deferral option is gone.
- Alberta's new CDRT is accepting cases. Boards should review their bylaw enforcement and meeting procedures to ensure compliance with the new framework.
- Ontario's reserve fund adequacy provisions expired. Boards continue to rely on professional assessments rather than a statutory definition of "adequate funding."
- Maritime provinces remain stable but board members should monitor ongoing modernization consultations, particularly in Newfoundland.
- The National Building Code 2025 will ripple through provincial adoption over the coming years, introducing new accessibility requirements for condo developments.
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Methodology
Research conducted June 2026. Sources include official provincial legislation databases (CanLII, provincial law societies), government gazettes, the Canadian Condominium Institute (CCI), the RGCQ, the Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO), and the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal. This guide will be updated as new legislation is adopted or proclaimed. If you notice an error or an update we've missed, contact us and we'll correct it promptly.
This guide is maintained by the Babel team. © 2026 Babel Management Inc. All rights reserved.