What are the strata fence regulations in BC?

If you are considering replacing your fence, you have most likely come across vinyl fencing as an alternative to traditional wood fencing. As you consider the pros and cons of each fence type, you may have a few lingering questions. What is vinyl fencing made of? Is vinyl fencing durable? Are PVC and vinyl fences the same thing? Are all vinyl fences the same quality? Is vinyl fencing a good option for my backyard fence? In this article, we will be answering those questions for you.

If you live in BC strata and you are looking to replace your fence, you may be wondering what the rules and regulations are. Read below to see the BC strata fence rules that apply today. We have gathered this information directly from the BC Strata property act.

The strata fence regulations in BC as per the STRATA PROPERTY ACT, [SBC 1998] CHAPTER 43, last updated on February 8, 2023.

Obtain approval before altering a strata lot

5   (1)An owner must obtain the written approval of the strata corporation before making an alteration to a strata lot that involves any of the following:

(a)the structure of a building;

(b)the exterior of a building;

(c)chimneys, stairs, balconies or other things attached to the exterior of a building;

(d)doors, windows or skylights on the exterior of a building, or that front on the common property;

(e)fences, railings or similar structures that enclose a patio, balcony or yard;

(f)common property located within the boundaries of a strata lot;

(g)those parts of the strata lot which the strata corporation must insure under section 149 of the Act.

(2)The strata corporation must not unreasonably withhold its approval under subsection (1), but may require as a condition of its approval that the owner agree, in writing, to take responsibility for any expenses relating to the alteration.

(3)This section does not apply to a strata lot in a bare land strata plan.

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Repair and maintenance of property by strata corporation

8  The strata corporation must repair and maintain all of the following:

(a)common assets of the strata corporation;

(b)common property that has not been designated as limited common property;

(c)limited common property, but the duty to repair and maintain it is restricted to

(i)repair and maintenance that in the ordinary course of events occurs less often than once a year, and

(ii)the following, no matter how often the repair or maintenance ordinarily occurs:

(A)the structure of a building;

(B)the exterior of a building;

(C)chimneys, stairs, balconies and other things attached to the exterior of a building;

(D)doors, windows and skylights on the exterior of a building or that front on the common property;

(E)fences, railings and similar structures that enclose patios, balconies and yards;

(d)a strata lot in a strata plan that is not a bare land strata plan, but the duty to repair and maintain it is restricted to

(i)the structure of a building,

(ii)the exterior of a building,

(iii)chimneys, stairs, balconies and other things attached to the exterior of a building,

(iv)doors, windows and skylights on the exterior of a building or that front on the common property, and

(v)fences, railings and similar structures that enclose patios, balconies and yards.

You may also be interested in some of our other strata articles:

• What kind of maintenance is the Strata Council responsible for?
• Fence Contractor Hiring Guide for Strata’s:
• Question: When should my strata get a budget proposal for a fence project?

We hope you found this article to be helpful. Feel free to call or contact us with any questions you may have about fence replacement for your strata, and a member of our support team will be happy to assist you. We pride ourselves on having the best customer service in the industry. We care about our clients and are genuinely grateful for their business. Thank you for reading this.