Thinking about joining your Condo Board? Or are you already serving and looking for ways to improve? Either way, you're in the right place.
This guide covers:
Board structure
Roles and responsibilities
Eligibility to serve
Practical tips for day-to-day success
How to work effectively with a licensed Property Management company
For a deeper look at the legislation that governs your Corporation, see our guide to the Alberta Condominium Property Act.
We have spoken to our top Community Managers in Alberta to learn their go-to tips, which we have compiled in this blog to drive you and your Board on the path to success.
What is a Condo Board?
A Condo board (the Board of Directors) is an elected group that governs the Condominium Corporation on behalf of all Owners. Under the Alberta Condominium Property Act (RSA 2000, c C-22), every Condo Corporation must have a functioning Board to oversee:
Communication: keeping Owners & Residents informed
The Condo Board sets direction, approves spending, and makes sure the Corporation meets its legal obligations. If the Corporation hires a Condo Management company, that team handles day-to-day operations and carries out Board decisions.
Think of your community as a hockey team:
Unit Owners elect Board members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). After the condo plan is registered, the Condominium Corporation is created, and it must hold its first AGM within one year. At the AGM, Owners elect Board members who will represent their interests and oversee governance.
After the first AGM, the community must hold an AGM every year. The Condominium Property Act (CPA) allows no more than 15 months between AGMs. This schedule keeps leadership stable while maintaining regular oversight.
Before casting your vote at the AGM, consider whether the candidate:
Demonstrates leadership, sound judgment, and a collaborative mindset
Has time to commit to the role (Board meetings, communications, and reviews)
Can communicate effectively with both the Board and the broader community Holds relevant experience (financial, legal, trades, or community governance) or the willingness to learn
In Alberta, the Condo Act does not set out how many Directors must sit on the Condo Board. This is determined by the community’s bylaws, which often specify a range. The range (minimum to maximum number of Directors) is typically tied to the size of the Corporation. After the AGM, the Corporation files Directors’ names and addresses with the Land Titles office. For privacy, a Director may use the condo management company’s address “care of”.
Forming the Board is not just a legal requirement; it helps set the expectations for transparency, community involvement, and clear decision-making. We encourage Owners to attend AGMs, not only to elect Directors but to stay updated on the Corporation’s finances, maintenance plans, upcoming community initiatives and actively support the building.
The four primary positions on a Condo Board are President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary with each role carrying distinct responsibilities. The Board assigns the positions at the first meeting after the AGM.
We've prepared an outline of what each role entails, the core responsibilities, and ways to be successful in the position:
Your Condo Corporation can further benefit by creating sub-committees. Sub-committees address specific areas of community life. Common committees include:
Landscaping Committee
Social or Community Events Committee
Parking and Traffic Committee
Exterior Maintenance Committee
Committees distribute workload, engage more Residents in community governance, and bring specialized focus to ongoing concerns.
No matter the position you hold on the Board, it is essential to fulfill your responsibilities with honesty and integrity. This means you should always act in good faith and consistently place the Corporation’s best interests first.
Each Condominium Corporation’s bylaws determine who can run for and serve on the Board. In most cases, eligible candidates are unit owners over 18 or mortgagees.
Some bylaws also allow non-owners, such as tenants or family members, to serve if the Owner grants them proxy. A proxy is a written authorization that allows someone to vote on an Owner’s behalf. However, the Act requires that at least two-thirds of the Board be unit Owners or mortgagees.
Because eligibility varies by community, always check your registered bylaws to confirm who can serve.
The Alberta Condominium Property Act provides specific guidance on who is not eligible to serve on a Condo Board regardless of the Corporation’s bylaws:
Note: This list is not complete. Your community bylaws may include additional eligibility requirements. If you are unsure whether you qualify, speak with your Community Manager before the AGM.
Eligibility is only one part of the picture. It’s also important to understand how long Condo Board members typically serve, when a Director may be removed, and whether Board members receive compensation.
Board terms can last up to three years, depending on the community's bylaws. Many Condo Corporations stagger terms so that not all seats expire at the same time, which ensures a strong flow of knowledge and governance.
Yes. A Director can be removed if they no longer meet the eligibility requirements under the Condominium Property Act or the Corporation's bylaws — for example, if they fall into arrears or sell their condo. In some circumstances, Owners may also vote to remove a Director at a Special General meeting.
In most Alberta Condo Corporations, Board members serve as unpaid volunteers. Corporations may offer a stipend if their bylaws allow it, but most rarely do so in practice.
The Corporation must disclose in writing any compensation it provides to Board members in its budget.
Whether you're new to the role or a returning Director, these proven tips will help you keep your community running smoothly.
Serving effectively as a Board member is about more than individual effort. It is about working as part of a team. While the Board sets direction and makes decisions, strong outcomes depend on how well those decisions are supported and carried out. This is where your relationship with a professional Property Management company becomes essential.
Many Alberta Condo Corporations choose to engage a licensed Property Management company to handle day-to-day operations. This is a strategic choice that gives the Board access to professional expertise while allowing Directors to focus on governance and decision-making.
In Alberta, Community Managers must hold a license with the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA). A licensed Property Manager and their team typically:
Manages financial accounts, processes invoices, and prepares financial reports
Coordinates maintenance contractors and manages service agreements
Provides administrative support for meetings, including preparing agendas and distributing notices
Acts as the primary point of contact for Owner inquiries and bylaw concerns
Advises the Board based on experience and industry knowledge
A Property Manager advises and supports. The Board decides. Understanding the roles and responsibilities of the Property Manager versus Condo Board is important. All final authority for the Condo Corporation rests with the elected Board of Directors, not the Property Management company. Community Managers cannot provide legal advice.
Think of your Community Manager as a trusted operational advisor who helps you implement the Board's decisions effectively and efficiently.
Effective condo board governance in Alberta starts with understanding your obligations under the Condominium Property Act, but it doesn't end there. The Boards that truly thrive are the ones that communicate openly, plan ahead, and build real relationships with the people around them, including their fellow Directors, their Owners, and their professional partners.
That's a lot to take on, especially if you're volunteering your time alongside everything else life throws at you. The good news: you don't have to figure it out alone.
Tribe Management's licensed Community Managers work with Condo Boards across Alberta to provide operational support, financial management, and governance guidance. This allows your Board to have the time and space to focus on making great decisions for your community. Ready to explore what that looks like for your Corporation? We'd love to hear from you — get in touch with our team.
In the meantime, keep building your knowledge. Consider common issues Alberta Condo Boards face or costly Condo Board mistakes to avoid for your next great read.
Still have questions about how Alberta condo boards work? These quick answers cover some of the most common questions from Owners and Board members.
A Condo Board has significant authority within the Condo Corporation. Under the Alberta Condominium Property Act, the Board can enforce bylaws, issue fines for bylaw violations, approve budgets, prioritize capital projects, and sign contracts on behalf of the Corporation. However, certain decisions, such as bylaw amendments, require a majority Owner vote. The Act and the Corporation's registered bylaws define and limit the Board's authority.
Unit owners elect Board members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). Candidates declare their intention to run before the AGM or at the AGM when there is a call for nominations. Owners vote at the meeting, and the results take effect at the first Board meeting following the AGM.
The Condo Board is the elected governing body of the Condominium Corporation. It holds all decision-making authority and is accountable to unit Owners. The Corporation hires a Property Management company and its licensed Property Managers to deliver operational, administrative, and financial services. The Board directs; management executes.
A Condo Board’s job is to govern the Condominium Corporation and make the final decisions on behalf of Owners. Directors typically approve budgets and condo fees, authorize repairs and capital projects, award contracts (insurance, trades, services), and set priorities for reserve fund spending. The Property Manager then implements those decisions and handles day-to-day operations under the Board’s direction.
Yes. Alberta Condo Boards are responsible for ensuring the Corporation maintains and repairs common property (and any additional areas assigned to the Corporation in the bylaws). Directors approve the scope, timing, and spending; the Property Manager typically sources quotes, schedules contractors, and communicates with residents. When responsibility is unclear, default to the registered bylaws and your condo plan before approving work.
An Alberta Condo Board enforces the Condominium Corporation’s registered bylaws. In practice, this means receiving complaints, documenting facts, issuing written notices, and applying the enforcement steps allowed by the Bylaws and the Alberta Condominium Property Act. For Directors, consistency, due process, and good records are the best protection if a dispute escalates.