Collect the building's current requirements and give the contractor a clear access and approval record.
Check the requirements for this building
British Columbia's Standard Bylaws address written approval for specified strata-lot and common-property alterations. Section 120 of the Strata Property Act provides for different bylaws filed in the land title office. Obtain this building's current documents and ask the strata contact which requirements apply to the proposed scope.
| Record | Question to resolve |
|---|---|
| Written work description | Does it describe the actual walls, ceilings, openings and other trades? |
| Applicable bylaws and building requirements | Which version was supplied, by whom and on what date? |
| Approval or confirmation | What has been agreed, what conditions apply, and what remains unresolved? |
| Project contacts | Who speaks for the owner, strata and contractor on this work? |
| Municipal and trade requirements | Who confirms any applicable permits or inspections for the actual project? |
Walk the material route on paper
Give the estimator a route from the unloading point to the work area, including the constraints. A room dimension does not reveal whether a selected sheet can be delivered along that route. Ask the contractor to confirm the material and handling plan rather than assuming it will fit.
| Location | Details to record |
|---|---|
| Arrival | Permitted unloading point, booking contact, vehicle restrictions and time window. |
| Entrance and corridor | Doorways, turns, access controls and protection requirements. |
| Elevator or stairs | Booking arrangements, usable dimensions, capacity restrictions and who confirms them. |
| Inside the unit | Work-room access, storage location and the boundary of occupied areas. |
| Waste route | How waste leaves the building, where it may wait, and who removes it. |
Treat building deposits, insurance documents, working hours and notices as questions for this building. Record the actual answers; do not copy requirements from another strata or assume a contractor's previous visit covers a new project.
Keep one current building pack
Store the agreed scope, relevant building requirements, approvals, access bookings and change contacts together. Give each revision a date. When the scope or access changes, send the updated information to the affected people through the agreed communication channel.
- Before estimating: share the room scope and known building restrictions.
- Before booking: resolve outstanding approvals and confirm access requirements.
- Before delivery: confirm the slot, route, protection and receiving contact.
- At completion: review the work and shared route, record remaining items and close outstanding building bookings.
Vancouver: keep the unit approval pack separate from City review
Vancouver’s renovation guidance includes condos and rental apartments in its project-type information.
Source: City of Vancouver
For a unit project, describe the actual building and scope when asking about City requirements. Keep that response beside the strata’s work approval, not in place of it. The route from loading area to unit still needs a building-specific handling and protection plan.
- Record the unit number and affected rooms without publishing resident details in photographs.
- List changes to partitions, service positions or ceilings explicitly rather than calling everything a cosmetic patch.
- Confirm elevator and corridor protection with the building contact after the contractor assesses material handling.
A few practical questions.
Does a small condo drywall repair always need strata approval?
The applicable requirements depend on the scope and the building's current bylaws and other requirements. Ask the strata contact to confirm what applies; the size of a patch alone is not a reliable basis for deciding.
Is an elevator booking enough to start the work?
It confirms an access arrangement only. Check the scope, applicable approvals, contractor arrangements and any conditions separately before the visit proceeds.
Should the contractor contact the strata manager?
Agree who communicates with the strata and who can approve decisions. Share the relevant contacts and written requirements with the contractor without assuming either party has already handled the other's responsibilities.
Sources & editorial context
- Strata Property Act · section 120, Standard Bylaws and filed amendmentsBC Laws · King's Printer · Checked October 24, 2026
- Strata Property Act · Schedule of Standard Bylaws, sections 5–6BC Laws · King's Printer · Checked October 24, 2026
- Renovate a homeCity of Vancouver · Checked October 24, 2026
Technical references support the points linked above. The checklists and planning questions are editorial guidance, not a specification or an account of a contractor’s completed work.