How to Change Strata Bylaws in BC (the 3/4 Vote Process)

To change a strata bylaw in BC, owners must approve the amendment by a 3/4 vote at an annual or special general meeting, and then the strata must file a Form I (Amendment to Bylaws) at the Land Title Office within 60 days. Until it's filed, the change has no legal effect.

First: are you changing a bylaw or a rule?

They're not the same, and the process is different:

• Bylaws govern owners, tenants, and occupants and cover the whole strata (including inside strata lots, within limits). Changing one needs an owner vote and a Land Title Office filing.
• Rules only govern the use of common property and common assets. Council can make a rule on its own; it takes effect immediately but must be ratified by a majority vote at the next general meeting, and it is not filed at the Land Title Office.

If what you want to control is inside people's units or affects their rights as owners, it almost certainly has to be a bylaw. The rest of this guide is about bylaws.

Step 1: draft the amendment

Write the exact wording you want owners to vote on. You can:

• add a new bylaw,
• amend existing wording, or
• repeal a bylaw entirely.

Two tips that save grief later:

1. 1.Draft it as final text. Owners vote on specific words, and those exact words get filed. "Council will figure out the details" isn't votable.
2. 2.Check it's actually enforceable. The Land Title Office won't vet your bylaw's legality, so a bylaw that conflicts with the Act or the Human Rights Code will fail even after a clean vote. See unenforceable strata bylaws before you draft.

Step 2: put the resolution on a general meeting notice

Bylaw amendments are decided by owners at a general meeting — either the AGM or a special general meeting (SGM). The full text of the proposed amendment must be included in the meeting notice, so owners can read exactly what they're voting on before they arrive.

Give proper notice (generally at least two weeks for the meeting) and make sure you'll have quorum. Our AGM prep guide covers notice periods, quorum, and timelines in detail.

Step 3: pass it by a 3/4 vote

At the meeting, the amendment must pass by a 3/4 vote:

• That's 75% of the votes cast by eligible voters present in person or by proxy.
• Abstentions don't count as votes either way — only yes and no votes are counted.
• Each strata lot generally gets one vote (subject to your schedule of voting rights).

If your strata has non-residential strata lots or is divided into sections, additional 3/4 votes of each class or section may be required — a mixed-use building often needs the residential and commercial owners to each pass it. Check your structure.

Step 4: file Form I at the Land Title Office — within 60 days

This is the step councils forget, and it's fatal to skip. After a successful vote you must:

• File an Amendment to Bylaws (Form I) at the Land Title Office,
• within 60 days of the resolution passing.

Until the Form I is filed, the amendment has no effect — you can't enforce it. Miss the 60-day window and you may have to run the vote again. Once filed, the amended bylaw becomes part of the strata's registered bylaws and binds everyone.

Template: proposed bylaw amendment resolution

Use this wording in your AGM/SGM notice and on the voting card. Keep only the option (add / amend / repeal) you're using.

``` PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENT — 3/4 VOTE RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED by a 3/4 vote of The Owners, Strata Plan [No.] that the bylaws of the Strata Corporation be amended as follows:

[ADD] a new Bylaw [__]: "[full text of the new bylaw]"

[AMEND] Bylaw [__] by deleting the words "[existing wording]" and substituting "[new wording]".

[REPEAL] Bylaw [__] in its entirety.

This amendment takes effect only when an Amendment to Bylaws (Form I) setting out this amendment is filed in the Land Title Office in accordance with section 128 of the Strata Property Act. ```

Common mistakes to avoid

• Voting on a summary instead of the exact text. Owners must see and approve the actual wording.
• Treating a majority vote as enough. Bylaw changes need 3/4, not 50% plus one.
• Forgetting to file — or filing late. No Form I, no enforceable bylaw; over 60 days, start again.
• Passing an unenforceable bylaw. A clean vote can't rescue a bylaw that conflicts with the law.
• Confusing rules and bylaws. A council "rule" can't do a bylaw's job.

Frequently asked questions

How many owners do I need to change a bylaw in BC? A 3/4 vote — 75% of the votes cast at a general meeting by eligible voters present in person or by proxy. You also need quorum for the meeting to be valid.

Can the strata council change bylaws by itself? No. Council can propose amendments and make rules, but only the owners can change bylaws, by 3/4 vote at a general meeting.

How long until a new bylaw is in effect? It has no effect until the Form I is filed at the Land Title Office, which must happen within 60 days of the vote. Practically, budget a few weeks between the meeting and filing.

Do we file rules at the Land Title Office too? No. Only bylaw amendments (Form I) are filed. Rules take effect when made and are ratified by owners at the next general meeting.

Related reading

• Unenforceable Strata Bylaws in BC: Which Rules Actually Hold Up
• Strata Bylaw Enforcement & Fines in BC: How to Do It Right
• The BC Strata AGM Prep Guide: Notice, Quorum & Timeline
• Strata Council Roles & Responsibilities in BC

Amending bylaws — drafting, noticing, running the vote, and filing on time — is exactly the kind of thing Onehive's strata management team handles for councils. Onehive manages strata & rental communities under 150 units across BC — request a proposal.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Your strata's own bylaws and circumstances are unique — confirm the specifics with a strata lawyer or licensed strata manager before acting.