Strata Disputes in BC: Cost and Process
Most strata disputes in BC go to the Civil Resolution Tribunal, an online tribunal. Making a strata claim costs $125 online or $150 by email or mail, and if the claim goes all the way to a decision, there is a further $100 fee. Most claims pass through four stages: apply, negotiate, work with a case manager, and a decision by a tribunal member. Here is how it works and what it cannot decide.
Questions about this guide: Gary Paul, REALTOR®, Personal Real Estate Corporation, Grand Central Realty, 778-828-7476
Key Topics
Most strata disputes go online
The Civil Resolution Tribunal says it takes many claims about stratas, and that its decisions and orders are enforceable in court.
The fees
A strata claim costs $125 online or $150 by email or mail. A counterclaim costs the same. A final decision costs a further $100, according to the tribunal's fee page.
Settling is built in
After the claim is made, the owners can negotiate on a secure online platform. If that fails, a case manager helps them try to reach an agreement, which can become an enforceable order.
What it cannot decide
The tribunal cannot order the sale of a strata lot, appoint an administrator, set each owner's share, wind up a strata, or give remedies for a council member's conflict of interest.
Your right to answer first
Before a strata fines you, it must give you the complaint in writing and a reasonable chance to answer it, including a hearing if you ask (Strata Property Act, section 135).
Calling a meeting
Owners holding 20% of the votes can demand a special general meeting in writing (section 43). In a triplex or fourplex, one owner holds more than 20%.
What the Tribunal Charges
| Step | Online | By email or mail |
|---|---|---|
| Make a strata claim | $125 | $150 |
| Make a counterclaim or third-party claim | $125 | $150 |
| Final decision | $100 | $100 |
Source: BC Civil Resolution Tribunal, Fees page, accessed October 9, 2026. Fees can change; check the tribunal's page before you file.
Our view
In a building of three or four homes, you will live next to the other side of any dispute for years. The tribunal is affordable, but a conversation and a well run meeting usually cost less.
Before you buy, the minutes tell you how the owners handle disagreement. Talk to our team if you would like help reading them.
Where these rules come from
- Fees, BC Civil Resolution Tribunal. Current page, accessed October 8, 2026.
- What kinds of claims can the CRT take?, BC Civil Resolution Tribunal. Current page, accessed October 8, 2026.
- The CRT process, BC Civil Resolution Tribunal. Current page, accessed October 9, 2026.
- Strata Property Act, Part 7: Bylaws and rules (sections 119 to 138), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
- Strata Property Act, Part 4: Governance (sections 25 to 65), BC Laws. Current consolidation, accessed October 8, 2026.
General information only. The tribunal fees and process on this page are as published by the BC Civil Resolution Tribunal on the date noted, and the strata rules are from BC's Strata Property Act. None of this is legal advice. Before you start a claim, read the tribunal's current guidance and consider advice from a BC lawyer.
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Key Takeaways
- A strata claim at the tribunal costs $125 online or $150 by email or mail.
- A final decision costs a further $100.
- Most claims pass through four stages: apply, negotiate, case manager, decision.
- Tribunal decisions and orders are enforceable in court.
- The tribunal cannot order a sale, appoint an administrator or decide conflict of interest remedies.
- A strata must let you answer a complaint before it fines you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a strata dispute cost at the Civil Resolution Tribunal?
The tribunal's fee page lists $125 to make a strata claim online, or $150 by email or mail, and the same for a counterclaim. If the claim does not settle and goes to a final decision, there is a further $100 fee. So a claim made online that goes all the way to a decision costs $225 in tribunal fees, before any time, legal advice or other costs you choose to take on.
What strata disputes can the Civil Resolution Tribunal decide?
The tribunal says it can take many claims about stratas, and it lists the strata claims it cannot take: ordering the sale of a strata lot, appointing an administrator, vesting authority in a liquidator, setting each owner's percentage share, winding up a strata, section 33 conflict of interest remedies, and appointing voters where no one can vote for a lot.
How does the Civil Resolution Tribunal process work?
The tribunal describes four main stages for most claims. You apply, often starting with its free online Solution Explorer. The parties then negotiate on a secure online platform. If they cannot agree, a case manager helps them try to reach an agreement, which can become an enforceable order. If that fails too, an independent tribunal member decides the claim, and the decision can be enforced like a court order.
Are Civil Resolution Tribunal decisions binding?
Yes. The tribunal says its decisions and orders are enforceable in court, and that a decision can be enforced like a court order. An agreement the parties reach during negotiation or with a case manager can also be turned into an enforceable order. Read the tribunal's guidance on enforcing an order if the other side does not comply.
What must a strata do before it fines me?
Under section 135 of BC's Strata Property Act, the strata must have received a complaint, give you the details of that complaint in writing, and give you a reasonable opportunity to answer it, including a hearing if you ask for one. Only then can it fine you, charge you for fixing the problem, or deny you a recreational facility. If it skips these steps, you can raise that in a claim.
How can owners in a small strata settle a disagreement before going to the tribunal?
Talk first, and put the issue on the agenda of a council or owners' meeting. Owners holding 20% of the votes can demand a special general meeting in writing, which in a triplex or fourplex means a single owner, and the meeting needs at least 2 weeks' written notice. Keep minutes of what is decided. If that does not resolve it, the tribunal's free Solution Explorer is a sensible next step.
Where should I start if I have a strata dispute?
The Civil Resolution Tribunal suggests starting with its free online Solution Explorer, which asks questions about your problem, gives legal information and points you to the right application form if you need to make a claim. In a small strata, use it alongside a direct conversation with the other owners and a properly called meeting, since a settlement keeps the cost to the $125 filing fee or less.
What should I check before buying into a small strata?
Read the minutes of recent meetings for any dispute between owners, and ask the seller whether any claim at the Civil Resolution Tribunal or in court involves the strata. The Form B information certificate, which the strata must provide within one week of a request, is a good place to start. Make your offer subject to reading these documents, so you can cancel if they show a problem.
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