Strata Council Code of Conduct in BC (+ Free Template)

A strata council code of conduct is a short written document setting out how council members will behave: acting in good faith, keeping matters confidential, declaring conflicts of interest, and treating people with respect. BC's Strata Property Act doesn't require one, but adopting a code is one of the cheapest, most effective governance upgrades a council can make — and you can copy the template below.

Do you legally need one?

No. The Act sets baseline duties for council members but doesn't mandate a formal code of conduct. That said, the best-run stratas almost always have one. A code turns vague expectations ("be professional") into clear, agreed-upon standards you can point to when someone crosses a line. It's especially valuable when a council has a difficult member, or when new volunteers join and don't yet know the rules of the road.

What the law already requires

A good code builds on duties that already exist in the Strata Property Act, so it helps to know them:

• Act honestly and in good faith (s. 31). Council members must act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the strata corporation, and exercise the care, diligence, and skill of a reasonably prudent person.
• Disclose conflicts of interest (s. 32). A member with a direct or indirect interest in a proposed contract or transaction must disclose it, leave the room for the discussion and vote, and not participate.
• Accountability for conflicts (s. 33). A member who profits from an undisclosed conflict can be held personally accountable to the strata.
• Fair enforcement (s. 135). Before fining or penalizing an owner or tenant, council must give notice of the complaint and a reasonable opportunity to respond, including a hearing if requested.

A code of conduct restates these in plain language and adds the everyday expectations the Act doesn't spell out.

What a good code covers

Aim for one page or two. The essentials:

• Duties. Act in the strata's best interests, come prepared, learn the bylaws.
• Decisions as a body. No lone-wolf members giving orders to the manager or contractors.
• Conflicts of interest. Disclose, step out, don't self-deal.
• Confidentiality. Keep enforcement files, legal advice, insurance claims, and personal information private.
• Respect. No bullying, harassment, discrimination, or retaliation; enforce bylaws consistently.
• Communication. Council speaks with one voice; respond to owners within the Act's timelines.
• Consequences. What happens when a member breaches the code.

How to adopt it

A code of conduct is a council-level policy, so council can adopt it by an ordinary majority vote at a properly called council meeting — you generally don't need a 3/4 vote of the owners the way you would to change a bylaw. Record the adoption in the minutes, have every current member sign it, and fold signing into the onboarding for each new council after every AGM. Keep it with your governance documents so it's easy to find.

One limit worth flagging: a code of conduct cannot override the Act or your bylaws, and council cannot use it to remove a member from council. Only the owners can remove a council member, by majority vote at a general meeting.

Free template

Copy the block below, fill in the blanks, and adapt it to your building. It's a starting point, not legal advice — have a strata lawyer review it if your situation is sensitive.

``` STRATA COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT Strata Plan No. __________ / "________________________" Adopted by council resolution on: ____________________

1. PURPOSE This code sets out the standards expected of every member of the strata council. It supports — and does not replace — the Strata Property Act, the regulations, and our bylaws and rules. If this code conflicts with the Act or our bylaws, the Act and bylaws prevail.

2. OUR DUTIES Each council member will: - Act honestly and in good faith, in the best interests of the strata corporation as a whole (Strata Property Act, s. 31). - Exercise the care, diligence, and skill of a reasonably prudent person. - Become familiar with the Act, the regulations, and our bylaws and rules. - Come to meetings prepared, having read the materials sent in advance.

3. DECISIONS ARE MADE BY COUNCIL AS A BODY - No individual member may act or speak for the strata unless council has delegated that authority in writing. - We support decisions properly made by majority vote, even ones we opposed. - We do not give direction to the strata manager, employees, or contractors on our own; direction comes from council.

4. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - A member with any direct or indirect interest in a proposed contract, transaction, or decision will disclose it fully and promptly (s. 32). - That member will leave the room for the discussion and vote and will not try to influence it. - We do not use our position for personal gain, or to benefit family, friends, or our own businesses.

5. CONFIDENTIALITY - We keep confidential all matters that are properly confidential, including bylaw-enforcement files, legal advice, insurance claims, personnel and contractor matters, and personal information about owners and tenants. - We do not disclose the substance of closed (in-camera) discussions.

6. RESPECT AND FAIR TREATMENT - We treat owners, tenants, fellow members, the manager, and staff with courtesy and respect. - We do not harass, bully, intimidate, discriminate against, or retaliate. - We enforce bylaws and rules consistently and fairly, without singling people out. - We give owners a fair chance to be heard before making decisions that affect them, including enforcement decisions (s. 135).

7. COMMUNICATION - Official communication to owners comes from council or the manager, not from individuals claiming to speak for the strata. - We respond to owner correspondence and hearing requests within the timelines set by the Act.

8. USE OF STRATA RESOURCES - We use strata funds, records, and property only for strata purposes, and we help keep accurate records.

9. BREACHES OF THIS CODE - A member who may have breached this code will be given a chance to respond. - By majority vote, council may take steps such as a private reminder, a written caution, removal from an officer role (e.g., treasurer), or removal of delegated signing authority. - Council cannot remove a member from council. Only the owners can do that, by majority vote at a general meeting.

10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I have read and agree to follow this Code of Conduct.

Name: __________________ Signature: __________________ Date: __________ ```

Frequently asked questions

Is a strata council code of conduct legally binding? A code adopted by council is a governance policy, not a bylaw, so it doesn't carry bylaw fines. It's binding as an internal standard council agrees to follow, and it's strong evidence of expectations if a dispute reaches the CRT.

Can council fine a member for breaking the code? No. Bylaw fines apply to bylaw and rule contraventions, not to a council policy. Consequences for a code breach are internal — reminders, removal from an officer position, or, ultimately, the owners voting a member off council.

Do we need a 3/4 vote to adopt a code of conduct? Usually not. Because it's a council policy rather than a bylaw amendment, council can adopt it by majority vote and record it in the minutes. Turning it into an enforceable bylaw would require a 3/4 vote of the owners.

Related reading

• Strata Council Roles & Responsibilities in BC
• Dealing With a Difficult or Bullying Strata Council in BC
• Strata Bylaw Enforcement & Fines in BC: How to Do It Right
• Your Rights as a Strata Owner in BC

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This template and article are general information about the BC Strata Property Act framework, not legal advice. Adapt the template to your own bylaws and have a strata lawyer review it if needed.