Land Use, Planning, Zoning, and Strata/Cooperative Ownership
Planning and zoning
Local governments regulate land use through official community plans, zoning bylaws, development permits, and subdivision. Candidates must know the difference between zoning (permitted uses and density), variances (site-specific relief), and non-conforming uses (lawful uses that predate a bylaw and may continue with limits). Understand the Agricultural Land Reserve, floodplain and riparian rules, and heritage designation as overlays that affect what can be built.
Strata ownership
In BC, a strata corporation owns common property; owners hold a strata lot plus a share in common property. Know the strata plan, the Form B information certificate, strata fees, the contingency reserve fund, depreciation reports, and the Strata Property Act rules on rentals, pets, and age restrictions. Understand special levies and how they differ from monthly strata fees.
Cooperatives and other tenures
A housing cooperative is a corporation; members own shares and occupy under an occupancy agreement - they do not own their unit in fee simple. Know leasehold, bare land strata, and common property distinctions.
Traps
Questions confuse common property with a strata lot, or assume a strata council can change a rental bylaw without the required resolution. Another trap is treating a non-conforming use as a right to expand. Strata documents must be reviewed: a Form B discloses fees, litigation, and bylaws.
Worked example
A buyer purchases a strata lot and later faces a $20,000 special levy for roof replacement. The levy is valid if properly approved; the strata fee did not include it. Reviewing the depreciation report and minutes would have signalled the risk.