The short answer
A Form B: Information Certificate is the strata corporation’s official disclosure about a strata lot and the building, including money owed, approved special levies, the contingency reserve fund, unfiled bylaw changes, legal proceedings, parking, storage and an insurance summary. An owner, a purchaser or someone they authorize can request it, and the strata must provide it within 7 days for no more than $35 plus up to 25 cents per page. Its contents are binding on the strata and the requestor.
Check current rules: The Province updates Form B periodically; since 2023 it must include insurance and electrical planning report information. Always use the current version.
In plain English
Think of the Form B as the strata corporation answering a standard list of questions about one unit, in writing, on a provincially prescribed form. It is usually requested by a buyer, or by the seller’s agent for a buyer, during the period when strata documents are being reviewed.
It covers the unit and the building. On the unit side it shows any amount the owner owes the strata, any agreements where the owner took responsibility for alteration expenses, any special levy instalments still to be paid and their due dates, and the parking stalls and storage lockers allocated to the lot.
On the building side it shows the contingency reserve fund balance after approved spending, any expected budget overrun for the current year, bylaw amendments and resolutions not yet filed at the Land Title Office, notices of upcoming votes that need a 3/4, 80% or unanimous vote, court or tribunal proceedings, outstanding notices or work orders, and a summary of the strata’s insurance coverage.
Several documents must be attached, including the strata’s rules, the current budget, the most recent depreciation report and any electrical planning reports, plus copies of the alteration agreements, pending resolutions, proceedings and work orders the form mentions.
Two details matter for timing and cost.
The strata has 7 days to provide the form after a request, and the maximum charge is $35 plus up to 25 cents per page for copies.
The Province notes some stratas or managers charge a rush fee when a request gives less than 7 days notice.
Because what the strata discloses on the Form B is binding on the strata corporation and the requestor, it is one of the most reliable documents in a strata purchase.
It is still a snapshot, so read it alongside the minutes, financial statements and bylaws rather than on its own.
How it works
Request it early
Ask for the Form B as soon as an offer is accepted, or before you write one if the seller allows.
The strata has up to 7 days, which can be most of a subject period.
Check money owed and levies first
Look for amounts the owner owes and any approved special levy instalments, then confirm with your lawyer or notary how the contract deals with them.
Compare the reserve fund with the depreciation report
Read the contingency reserve fund balance against the attached depreciation report and budget so you can see whether planned work is funded.
Read every pending vote and unfiled bylaw
Upcoming 3/4 votes and unfiled bylaw amendments can change costs and rules soon after you move in.
Confirm parking, storage and insurance
Match the allocated stall and locker numbers with the listing, and read the insurance summary, including deductibles, with your own insurer.
Ask about anything unclear before removing subjects
Use your agent to put written questions to the strata or its manager, and have your lawyer or notary review anything that affects title or cost.
Example
Assume the strata provides a Form B with 120 pages of copied attachments. The page count is an assumption; the fee formula is the provincial maximum.
| Maximum base charge | $35.00 |
|---|---|
| Copies: 120 pages × $0.25 | $30.00 |
| Maximum total | $65.00 |
A rush fee may be added if the request gives less than 7 days notice. Ask who pays under your contract.
Who it applies to, and the exceptions
Usually applies to
- Buyers of condos, townhouses and other strata lots, including bare land strata.
- Sellers, whose agents often request the Form B to share with buyers.
- Owners of leasehold strata lots and others defined as owners or purchasers under the Strata Property Act.
Exceptions and limits
- If the strata has sections, request a Form B from both the strata corporation and the relevant section.
- Since November 24, 2022 the form no longer reports the number of rented strata lots.
- The Form B does not replace the full minutes, financial statements and bylaws, which are separate documents.
Common mistakes
- Relying on an old Form B. Use a current certificate, on the current version of the form.
- Reading the monthly strata fees but not the approved special levy and its payment dates.
- Skipping the depreciation report because the reserve fund balance looks large.
- Not checking that the parking stall and storage locker numbers match what you were shown.
- Ignoring the insurance summary until after completion.
Questions people also ask
Who can request a Form B?
An owner, a purchaser, or a person authorized by the owner or purchaser.
Under the Strata Property Act a purchaser is someone who has agreed to buy a strata lot that has not yet been conveyed, and the agreement does not need to be unconditional.
How long does the strata have to provide it?
Seven days from the request.
How much can a strata charge for a Form B?
A maximum of $35 plus up to 25 cents per page for copying. A rush fee is sometimes charged when less than 7 days notice is given.
What documents come with a Form B?
Required attachments include the rules, the current budget, the most recent depreciation report and any electrical planning reports, plus copies of items the form refers to such as pending resolutions, alteration agreements, proceedings and outstanding work orders.
Is the information on a Form B reliable?
The Province states the information disclosed is binding on the strata corporation and the requestor, which makes it one of the more dependable documents in a strata purchase.
Does the Form B show how many units are rented?
No. That requirement was removed as of November 24, 2022, when strata rental-restriction bylaws ended.
Official sources
Facts on this page come from the official sources below, reviewed October 6, 2026. Rules, amounts and dates change; confirm the current version and your own eligibility before acting. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.
- Form B: Information CertificateProvince of British Columbia
- Changes to strata legislationProvince of British Columbia
- Strata bylaws and rules explainedProvince of British Columbia