Burnaby Multiple Dwelling Common Area Bylaws

This guide explains how Burnaby, British Columbia regulates common areas in multiple-dwelling buildings. It covers owner and strata responsibilities, tenant obligations, complaint and inspection pathways, and how bylaws and building rules apply to lobbies, corridors, laundry rooms, parking garages and other shared spaces. Use the official bylaw index and enforcement contacts to confirm specific rules for your property and follow the complaint and appeal steps outlined below to resolve disputes or unsafe conditions.

Scope and Who Must Comply

Common areas of multiple dwellings include any part of a building or site shared by two or more households. Obligations can arise under municipal bylaws, strata rules and building/health standards; property owners, strata councils and tenants each have duties to maintain safety, cleanliness and lawful use of those areas. For official bylaw texts consult the City of Burnaby bylaws.City bylaws^[1]

Common Rules for Shared Areas

• Restrictions on obstruction of egress and fire exits.
• Prohibition of storage of hazardous materials in corridors and stairwells.
• Requirements to keep common areas clean and free of vermin.
• Posting and adhesion to no-smoking rules where adopted by bylaw or strata.
• Rules governing visitor parking and loading zones within common property.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement is handled by the City of Burnaby's bylaw enforcement function and related departments depending on the issue (e.g., Building Division for structural or life-safety defects). The consolidated bylaw repository is the starting point for enforcement procedures and contacts.City bylaws^[1]

Fines and sanctions:

• Monetary fines: specific fine amounts for common-area violations are not specified on the cited page.^[1]
• Escalation: first, repeat and continuing offence ranges are not specified on the cited page.^[1]
• Non-monetary orders: the city may issue abatement or remedial orders to property owners or strata councils to correct unsafe or nuisance conditions.
• Court action: unresolved offences can be prosecuted as provincial offences where the municipal bylaw sets out the offence.

Enforcer, Inspections and Complaints

• The primary enforcer is City of Burnaby Bylaw Enforcement; to report or request inspection use the official enforcement contact page.Bylaw Enforcement^[2]
• Inspections are conducted by bylaw officers or by the Building Division depending on the complaint type.
• Many complaints begin with an online form or phone report to bylaw enforcement; check the city page for submission methods and required information.^[2]

Appeals and Review

• Appeal routes for orders or tickets are governed by the municipal offence procedures or specific bylaw appeal provisions; exact time limits and procedures are not specified on the cited bylaw index page.^[1]
• For building-related orders, review and permit variance requests go through the Building Division and Planning as applicable.Building & Permits^[3]

Common Violations

• Blocked fire exits and obstructed egress.
• Accumulated garbage or vermin-attracting conditions.
• Unauthorized vehicle parking in designated common-area zones.
• Illegal storage of flammable or hazardous materials in common corridors.

Applications & Forms

The city provides online complaint reporting and forms for bylaw complaints and building permits. Specific form names and fee schedules are provided on the enforcement and building pages; fees for bylaw offences or remediation are not specified on the cited pages.^{[2] [3]}

How-To

1. Document the issue with photos, dates and unit numbers where safe to do so.
2. Check strata bylaws and building rules to identify who is responsible for remediation.
3. Submit a complaint to City of Burnaby Bylaw Enforcement via the official page and include your documentation.Bylaw Enforcement^[2]
4. If the issue involves structural or life-safety defects, contact the Building Division and request an inspection.Building & Permits^[3]
5. If you receive an order you disagree with, follow the appeal instructions on the order and seek review within the stated time limits or consult legal advice.

FAQ

Who enforces common-area bylaws in Burnaby?

The City of Burnaby Bylaw Enforcement team enforces municipal bylaws; building safety concerns may be handled by the Building Division.^[2]

How do I report a dangerous obstruction in a corridor?

Document the condition, notify strata (if applicable), then submit a complaint to bylaw enforcement or call emergency services if it is an immediate life-safety hazard.^[2]

Are there standard fines for common-area breaches?

Specific fine amounts are not specified on the cited bylaw index page; see the applicable bylaw text or contact enforcement for details.^[1]

Key Takeaways

• Owners, strata and tenants share responsibilities for safety and cleanliness in common areas.
• Report issues to Bylaw Enforcement or the Building Division depending on the hazard.

Help and Support / Resources

• City of Burnaby - Bylaw Enforcement
• City of Burnaby - Consolidated Bylaws
• City of Burnaby - Building & Permits

1. [1] City of Burnaby bylaw index and consolidated bylaws
2. [2] City of Burnaby Bylaw Enforcement contact and complaint page
3. [3] City of Burnaby Building Division and permit information