Should strata council members be paid?

The short answer: usually not, but it depends on your bylaws

Most strata council members in BC serve as volunteers, and that's the norm across the province. But the question of pay comes up often, especially in bigger or busier communities where the workload is real. The honest answer is that it's possible in limited ways, and it hinges on what your bylaws say.

Serving on council is genuine work. Chasing quotes, sitting through meetings, fielding late-night calls about a flooded parkade. It's fair to wonder whether that effort should come with some recognition. Let's walk through what's generally allowed.

What the Strata Property Act framework generally allows

Under BC's Strata Property Act, council members are elected owners who volunteer their time. The Act doesn't set them up as paid employees, and it doesn't hand council a blank cheque to vote itself a salary.

That said, two things are commonly permitted, and it helps to keep them separate in your mind:

• Expense reimbursement. If a council member spends their own money on something legitimate for the strata (postage, printing, a tank of gas to pick up supplies), the strata can generally pay them back. This isn't compensation. It's just making them whole for an out-of-pocket cost.
• Honorariums. A one-time or annual thank-you payment to council members for their service. This is where bylaws really matter. Whether a strata can pay an honorarium, and how much, generally depends on what its bylaws permit and what the owners approve.

The distinction is important. Reimbursement covers real costs. An honorarium is a gesture of appreciation for time and effort. They tend to be treated differently, and conflating them tends to cause friction.

The role of your bylaws

Your strata's bylaws are the rulebook here. Some stratas adopt a bylaw that specifically allows council to receive an honorarium or sets out how expenses get reimbursed. Others are silent on it, and some address it in other ways.

If your bylaws don't clearly speak to paying council, that's usually a sign to slow down. Changing or adding a bylaw generally requires owner approval by the threshold the Act sets for bylaw amendments, which is a higher bar than a simple majority. So a council can't quietly decide to start paying itself. The owners generally need to be in the loop and on board.

Because bylaws and the Act's thresholds vary, and because the details genuinely matter, this is a good moment to check your own bylaws and, if you're unsure, ask a strata lawyer.

The case for paying council

There are real arguments in favour of an honorarium:

• It recognizes that council work takes hours, and thanks people who might otherwise burn out.
• In a busy building, it can make it easier to fill seats and keep good people engaged.
• A modest, transparent honorarium approved by owners can feel fair to everyone.

The case against

And there are equally real arguments the other way:

• Council members owe the strata a duty to act honestly and in good faith, in the community's best interests. Introducing pay can muddy that, or create the appearance that decisions are about the money.
• It can breed resentment among owners who volunteer elsewhere for nothing, or who feel their fees are funding council salaries.
• Once money's involved, questions about "who gets how much" and "did they earn it" can sour the goodwill that keeps a small community running.

For many smaller stratas, the volunteer model works precisely because it stays simple and above suspicion.

Governance best practice

If your community is weighing this, a few principles keep things clean:

• Be transparent. Any payment to council should be visible to owners, not buried. Put it in the budget, name it plainly, and talk about it at the AGM.
• Get owner approval. Don't rely on council deciding for itself. Bring honorariums to the owners and let them vote.
• Keep reimbursement separate. Track and repay real expenses on their own, with receipts, regardless of whether you pay honorariums.
• Watch for conflicts. A council member should step back from voting on their own pay.
• Write it down. If owners approve an honorarium, get it recorded clearly, whether in the bylaws or a well-documented resolution, so future councils aren't guessing.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Your bylaws and situation are unique, so confirm the specifics with a strata lawyer before you act.

How Onehive helps

We work with strata councils across Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley to sort out exactly these kinds of governance questions. We can help you find and read your relevant bylaws, present options clearly to owners at your AGM, and keep expense reimbursements clean and documented through our trust accounting and owner portal. If your council is wrestling with whether and how to recognize its volunteers, reach out at 778-386-2058 or info@onehivepm.com, and we'll help you get it right.