Serving on a strata council can feel like stepping into a part-time operations role overnight. One week you are approving a landscaping invoice; the next, you are dealing with a roof leak, resident complaints, and a budget discussion that suddenly includes the words special levy. The good news: most strata councils in British Columbia succeed by focusing on a few core duties and using professional support when the building’s needs outgrow volunteer capacity.
At a high level, the strata council governs and maintains common property on behalf of all owners. That means making decisions that protect the building, reduce risk, and keep finances transparent. Here are the fundamentals every council should understand from day one.
1) Financial stewardship: budgets, fees, and the contingency reserve fund
Council helps prepare and approve the annual operating budget, set strata fees, and review financial reporting. A strong budget is not only about keeping fees low; it is about planning for predictable expenses (snow removal, landscaping, utilities, routine servicing) and avoiding surprise cost spikes. Councils also oversee the contingency reserve fund used for major repair and replacement over time. When long-term planning falls behind, owners often feel the impact through special levies, rushed projects, or deferred maintenance.
2) Maintenance and vendor management
Small issues become expensive fast when they are ignored. Councils should prioritize preventive maintenance: routine inspections, documented service schedules, and clear vendor scopes of work. In the Sea-to-Sky corridor, moisture management, roof performance, drainage, exterior envelope wear, and winter response planning are common priorities. Good vendor coordination, consistent documentation, and clear work approvals reduce the risk of disputes and costly failures.
3) Governance and rule enforcement
Councils enforce bylaws and rules fairly and consistently. This typically includes nuisance issues (noise, smoking, short-term rental concerns), parking, storage, pets, and move-in procedures. The objective is not to police residents; it is to protect quiet enjoyment and property value. When enforcement is inconsistent, councils can face escalated disputes and a breakdown in community trust.
4) Communication and record keeping
Transparent communication is one of the fastest ways to reduce friction. Councils should keep accurate minutes, track decisions, and provide timely updates to owners when there are significant issues, projects, or budget changes. Organized records also matter for due diligence, insurance renewals, and major project planning. A clear decision trail protects the council and helps owners feel confident that choices are being made responsibly.
So when should a strata council bring in professional management? A practical rule is this: if the work is becoming inconsistent, stressful, or too time-consuming for volunteers, it is time to get support. Professional strata management can handle administration, financial reporting, contractor coordination, bylaw processes, meeting support, and proactive maintenance planning. It also adds continuity when council membership changes year to year.
If your property is in Squamish or Whistler, local conditions can add complexity: seasonal maintenance demands, contractor availability, and weather-related building stress can be very different from other markets. If you want to see what professional support can look like locally, explore these service pages:
Council work is important, and it is often thankless. The best councils are not the ones who do everything themselves; they are the ones who build repeatable systems and bring in the right expertise before small problems become expensive ones.
