Condominium bylaws govern how the condominium corporation is run. They often address the election and practices of the board of directors, the collection of contributions, and how rules are passed. Rules supplement the bylaws, focusing on the day-to-day concerns of condo living to keep it a pleasant place to live or work.
Every condominium is legally required to have a set of bylaws and to enforce them. Bylaws apply to all owners, as well as anyone renting or visiting. They can cover a wide variety of issues, including but not limited to:
- Pets — whether they're allowed, how many, which types, whether board approval is required
- Age restrictions — whether there is a minimum age, whether children are allowed
- Aesthetic restrictions — colour of window coverings, whether planters are allowed on balconies
- Renovation guidelines — e.g. hardwood flooring may require extra soundproofing
- Parking restrictions — types of vehicles, visitor parking rules
- Use of amenities — hours of operation, maintenance standards, visitor policies
- Condo governance — electing board members, meeting schedules, voting procedures, bylaw amendments
- Bylaw enforcement — penalties for not following the bylaws