The short answer
A BC strata cannot ban or limit long-term residential rentals, because every strata rental-restriction bylaw became invalid on November 24, 2022. A strata can still limit or ban short-term rentals, with fines of up to $1,000 a day, and the only age restriction allowed is 55 and over. Even 55+ bylaws must allow provincially required exemptions for legacy residents, caregivers and certain family members.
Check current rules: These rules come from 2022 and 2023 amendments to the Strata Property Act and Regulation; check the Province’s strata pages for later changes.
In plain English
Before late 2022, many BC strata buildings had bylaws that capped or banned rentals.
The Province changed the law: as of November 24, 2022, no strata corporation or section may have a residential rental-restriction bylaw, and all existing ones are invalid. Stratas did not need to amend anything, because the legislation itself changed.
That rule is about ordinary residential tenancies.
Short-term rentals are treated differently. A strata, or a section, can still have or create a bylaw that limits or bans short-term rentals, and since November 30, 2018 the regulations have allowed fines of up to $1,000 a day for breaking a short-term rental bylaw.
Creating such a bylaw takes a 3/4 vote of owners.
Age limits changed on the same date.
A strata can now only restrict residents to age 55 and older. Bylaws that set other ages, such as 19+, 25+ or 40+, are no longer allowed.
A 55+ bylaw applies to who lives in a unit, not who owns it, so a younger person can own a strata lot in a 55+ building but may not be able to live there.
The Province requires exemptions to 55+ bylaws.
Legacy residents who were lawfully living in a unit when the bylaw passed can stay. Live-in caregivers for a resident who depends on them are exempt.
A qualifying resident can also have a younger spouse or partner, children under 19 they care for, and adult children they cared for before age 19 live with them.
For landlords, renting in a strata still comes with duties.
The landlord must give the tenant the current bylaws and rules and a Form K: Notice of Tenant’s Responsibilities, and give the strata a copy of the signed Form K within two weeks of renting.
Strata bylaws such as pet or smoking rules still apply to tenants, and a strata can fine owners and tenants who break them.
How it works
Read the filed bylaws, not a summary
Ask for the current bylaws and any amendments filed at the Land Title Office, along with recent minutes that show proposed changes.
Separate long-term from short-term rentals
A long-term rental cap in an older bylaw is no longer valid. A short-term rental ban may be valid and enforceable.
Check for a 55+ bylaw if you plan to live there
If anyone in your household is under 55, confirm with your lawyer whether a required exemption covers them before you buy.
Check local and provincial short-term rental rules too
Even where strata bylaws allow short-term rentals, provincial and municipal rules may not. Read them together.
Prepare the Form K and bylaw package as a landlord
Give your tenant the bylaws, rules and a Form K, and send the signed Form K to the strata within two weeks.
Watch for upcoming votes
Notices of resolutions needing a 3/4 vote appear on the Form B and in meeting notices. They show where the bylaws may be heading.
Who it applies to, and the exceptions
Usually applies to
Exceptions and limits
- Short-term rental bylaws remain valid and can carry fines of up to $1,000 a day.
- A 55+ bylaw may still prevent a younger buyer from living in the unit unless a required exemption applies.
- A strata’s own bylaws can add further exemptions to an age-restriction bylaw.
Common mistakes
- Passing on a building because an outdated bylaw still mentions a rental cap.
- Assuming “rentals allowed” includes nightly or weekly short-term rentals.
- Buying in a 55+ building for a household member who does not qualify for an exemption.
- Forgetting the Form K. A landlord who does not provide the bylaws or file the Form K can owe a tenant reasonable moving costs, up to one month’s rent, if the tenant leaves within 90 days of learning of it.
- Not reading the minutes for proposed bylaw changes that would apply after you buy.
Questions people also ask
Can my strata stop me from renting my condo?
Not for long-term residential rentals.
As of November 24, 2022, no BC strata corporation or section is allowed to have a residential rental-restriction bylaw, and existing ones are invalid.
Can a strata ban Airbnb-style rentals?
Yes. A strata can create a bylaw, by a 3/4 vote of owners, that limits or bans short-term rentals, and can fine up to $1,000 a day for breaches.
Are 19+ or 45+ age bylaws still valid?
No. Since November 24, 2022 the only permitted age-restriction bylaw is 55 and over.
Can I buy in a 55+ strata if I am younger than 55?
You can own a strata lot there, but the bylaw applies to residents, so you may not be able to live in it unless a required exemption applies to you.
Who is exempt from a 55+ bylaw?
Legacy residents living there lawfully when the bylaw passed, live-in caregivers for a dependent resident, and certain family members of a qualifying resident, including a younger spouse and children.
Do strata bylaws apply to my tenants?
Yes. Bylaws and rules apply to owners, tenants, occupants and visitors, and the strata can fine tenants who break them. A landlord must give tenants the bylaws and a Form K.
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.
- Changes to strata legislationProvince of British Columbia
- Strata age-restriction bylawsProvince of British Columbia
- Landlords and strata corporationsProvince of British Columbia
- Strata short-term rental bylawsProvince of British Columbia
- Strata bylaws and rules explainedProvince of British Columbia