MULLIN DEMEO ELECTRONIC LEGAL UPDATE
August 02, 2012
Strata Corporations can restrict owners, tenants and other occupants from keeping pets or certain kinds of pets through the Bylaws of the Strata Corporation. The Bylaws might restrict the number, size or type of pets and may even require pets to be registered with the Strata Council.
If the Strata Corporation has not filed its own bylaws, then the Standard Bylaws apply. The Standard Bylaws state that an owner, tenant or occupant must not keep any pets on a strata lot other than one or more of the following:
• a reasonable number of fish or other small aquarium animals;
• a reasonable number of small caged mammals;
• up to two caged birds;
• one dog or one cat
The Standard Bylaws also require owners, tenants, occupants or visitors to ensure that all animals are leashed or otherwise secured when on the common property or on land that is a common asset.
The Strata Property Act and the Bylaws of the Strata apply not only to traditional strata condominium properties but also to all properties registered under a strata plan at the Land Title Office. This includes bare land stratas, detached single family homes registered over a strata plan and strata duplexes. When acting for a Buyer, it is prudent to thoroughly investigate the strata bylaws to ensure there are no restrictions on the pets the Buyer intends to keep on the property.
Yours truly,
Mullin DeMeo
Please note that this is a preliminary discussion of the matter. In the meantime, should you have any questions or concerns with respect to this or any other aspect of real estate law, please contact Mullin DeMeo at lawyers@mdlawcorp.com, or (250) 477-3327.
