February 2020
Ministry of Government and Consumer Services is proposing revisions to the Condo Act to better regulate nuisances, annoyances and disruptions in condo communities, and to expand Condominium Authority Tribunal’s (CAT’s) authority to deal with disputes.
If approved, revisions would establish that certain “nuisances, annoyances, and disruptions are to be prohibited on condominium properties” including unreasonable noise, odour, smoke, vapour, light, vibration and infestation.
This proposal would broaden the scope of disputes that can be heard by the Condominium Authority Tribunal to include these same nuisances, annoyances and disruptions plus the following:
- Condominium corporation declarations, bylaws or rules provisions that prohibit, restrict or otherwise govern other nuisances, annoyances, or disruptions.
- Declarations, bylaws or rules provisions that prohibit, restrict or otherwise govern pets or other animals, vehicles, parking and storage.
- Declarations, bylaws or rules governing indemnification or compensation of a condominium corporation, owner or mortgagee regarding these same disputes.
Proposed changes to the Condo Act can be found here. Proposed amendments to the CAT’s jurisdiction can be found here.
Changes are expected to provide residents and management with tools for dealing with second-hand smoke, disorderly pets and other matters.
The ministry intends to have these proposals in force on July 1, 2020. Cost for expanding CAT online dispute resolution will be funded by fees paid by condo owners and collected by the Condominium Authority of Ontario (CAO).
