Once a building is built, the developer has the declaration of co-ownership drawn up by a notary. And once the surveyor has finalized the cadastral plans for the building, the notary is able to publish it in the land register in accordance with the provisions of Section 1059 et seq. of the Civil Code of Québec.
Before diving into the details of what a declaration of co-ownership entails, it’s important to understand its role as a cornerstone document in Quebec, that outlines the obligation of each co-owner, the management of the property, and the action plan for shared responsibilities.
This policy document sets out the essential rules that govern the harmonious coexistence of co-owners and ensures the effective operation of the condominium, safeguarding everyone’s rights and interests.
What does the declaration of co-ownership in Quebec include?
The declaration of co-ownership consists of three separate parts, as required by the provisions of Section 1052 of the Civil Code of Québec. These are the act constituting the co-ownership, the condo by-laws, and a description of the fractions.
The act constituting the co-ownership
The act constituting the co-ownership defines the following elements:
- The intention or purpose of the building, both the private portions and the common portions;
- The relative value of the fractions and the methodology used to determine this;
- The number of votes at the general meeting of co-owners attached to each fraction;
- The share of the common expenses;
- The sharing of the powers and duties between the general meeting of co-owners and the board of directors (per the provisions of the law);
- The provisions regarding insurance for the building and—more generally—any other provision related to the building.
Learn more about whether or not you should buy a parking spot with your condo.
The condo by-laws
In the condo by-laws, the condominium’s operating rules for living appear, in particular regarding the use of the common portions. Among other things, the mission of the manager, who is responsible for the management of the condominium, is to enforce these by-laws.
Following the provisions of Section 1054 of the Civil Code of Québec, the condo by-laws also determine the procedure for the assessment and collection of contributions to the common expenses. Consequently, the manager is required to carry out the tasks related to the financial management of the condominium.
Finally, it establishes the methods for appointing directors as well as the rules related to the general meetings and the meetings of the board of directors.
The description of the fractions
- This part contains a description of the various expenses and any easements of the building. It is presented in the form of expense distribution tables and determines for each lot its share according to the type of expense:
- General common expenses (condo association fees);
- Elevator expenses;
- For condominiums comprising multiple buildings: expenses specific to building A, building B, etc.;
- Local parking expenses when these are private portions;
- Etc.
Amending the declaration of co-ownership
The declaration of co-ownership may be amended, particularly in the event of the deletion or creation of fractions or modifications to the boundaries of contiguous private portions. Only the general meeting of co-owners has the power to decide to make changes affecting the declaration of co-ownership, and the majority rules differ according to the type of amendment.
Amendments made to the act constituting the co-ownership and the description of the fractions must be published in the land register. On the other hand, those affecting the condo by-laws are attached to the documents making up the condominium records.
Who has the authority to amend the declaration of co-ownership in Quebec?
