KEY TAKEAWAYS
- A significant change in appearance can require a 3/4 vote in BC.
- Paint real samples on the building, in more than one light.
- Offer owners a short list, not an open question.
Owners who never read a depreciation report will have strong views about the colour of their front door. A little process goes a long way.
Check the approval
Under BC’s Strata Property Act, a significant change in the use or appearance of common property generally needs a 3/4 vote, with limited exceptions. Whether a new colour scheme counts depends on how big a change it is, so ask your property manager or a lawyer when in doubt.
A simple process
- Council narrows it down to two or three schemes.
- Paint samples on an actual wall, for body, trim and doors.
- Look at them in the morning and the afternoon, and on a sunny and a dull day.
- Share photos with the owners, along with what the vote will decide.
- Record the final colours, products and formulas.
Tips that help
- Colours look darker in small samples on a wall than expected, and lighter on a whole building.
- Consider neighbouring buildings and the roof colour you cannot change.
- Dark colours fade faster on south and west walls.
This guide is general information for strata councils and property managers in British Columbia, not legal advice. Check your registered bylaws and the current Strata Property Act, or ask your property manager or a lawyer, before relying on it for a decision.
