Surrey Strata Common Area Maintenance Bylaws

Housing and Building Standards British Columbia 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of British Columbia

Surrey, British Columbia strata owners and councils must coordinate common area maintenance across strata property rules and municipal bylaws. This guide explains who is responsible for upkeep, how strata bylaws interact with city standards, reporting and complaint pathways, and practical steps to resolve disputes in Surrey.

Who is responsible

Under provincial strata law the strata corporation generally has primary responsibility for repair and maintenance of common property and common assets; individual owners are responsible for their strata lots and any limited common property assigned to them. For municipal requirements such as property standards, sidewalks and storm drains, the City of Surrey enforces local bylaws and may require compliance where public safety or nuisance is affected. See the Strata Property Act for provincial duties and liabilities Strata Property Act[1].

Start by checking your strata corporation bylaws and rules before escalating to the city.

Common rules and best practices

  • Have a written maintenance plan in the strata corporation minutes and budget.
  • Document issues with dated photos and written notices to council.
  • Track deadlines for repairs and enforcement steps in a central register.
  • Ensure reserve fund and special levy procedures follow the Strata Property Act and your bylaws.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement of maintenance obligations can arise from two sources: strata-level enforcement under the Strata Property Act and strata bylaws, and municipal enforcement under City of Surrey bylaws for public-safety or nuisance matters.

  • Strata fines and remedies: amounts and procedures are set by each strata's bylaws; specific fine amounts are not specified on the cited provincial page.
  • Municipal fines and penalties: specific fine amounts for city bylaw contraventions are not specified on the cited provincial page and must be confirmed on the City of Surrey consolidated bylaws or enforcement pages.
  • Escalation: strata councils typically follow warning, notice, fine, lien and collection steps; municipal escalation follows notice, ticketing and prosecution where applicable—exact timelines and progressive ranges are not specified on the cited provincial page.
  • Enforcers: strata council (and hired property managers) enforce strata bylaws; City of Surrey Bylaw Enforcement enforces municipal bylaws and property standards.
  • Appeals and reviews: strata-level decisions can be disputed at the Civil Resolution Tribunal or through strata dispute mechanisms; municipal bylaw decisions have prescribed appeal routes—check the relevant decision or ticket for time limits, as specific time limits are not specified on the cited provincial page.
  • Defences and discretion: councils and enforcement officers may apply discretion for reasonable excuse, permits, or remediation plans; availability depends on the bylaw or strata policy.
If a penalty amount or deadline is needed, request the strata's enforcement policy or consult the City of Surrey bylaw text.

Applications & Forms

Commonly relevant documents include the strata's notice templates, hearing procedures, and any municipal property-standards complaint form. Where an official city form or specific provincial fine is required, it must be obtained from the issuing authority; no specific application form number is specified on the cited provincial page.

How to report and escalate a maintenance issue

Follow clear, documented steps to preserve evidence and ensure proper authority involvement.

  • Notify strata council in writing and keep a copy.
  • Allow the council the time required by bylaws to respond and act.
  • If unresolved and affecting public safety or city infrastructure, contact City of Surrey Bylaw Enforcement or file a property standards complaint.
Keep communications factual, dated and limited to the observed issues to help enforcement or dispute resolution.

FAQ

Who pays for repairs to common property?
The strata corporation is generally responsible for maintenance and repair of common property; owners pay through strata fees or levies as set by the strata's budget and bylaws.
Can the city force a strata to fix a problem?
The City of Surrey can enforce municipal bylaws where public safety, nuisances or infrastructure are affected; enforcement powers apply to matters that fall under city jurisdiction.
What if the strata council does not act?
Owners can raise the matter at a general meeting, call for a special resolution, pursue remedies in the Civil Resolution Tribunal, or contact the city if the issue involves municipal bylaws.

How-To

  1. Review your strata bylaws and the written maintenance plan to confirm responsibilities.
  2. File a written notice to council describing the issue, attaching photos and dates.
  3. Allow the council to respond within the bylaws' specified timeframe; request updates in writing.
  4. If the issue remains, escalate to the Civil Resolution Tribunal for strata disputes or contact City of Surrey Bylaw Enforcement for municipal matters.

Key Takeaways

  • Strata corporations manage common areas; owners must follow strata bylaws for repairs and fees.
  • City bylaws apply where public safety or municipal infrastructure is affected.
  • Document issues, notify council in writing, and use formal dispute routes if necessary.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Strata Property Act, Province of British Columbia

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