Strata By-laws

The Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 outlines a number of standard by-laws that apply to all strata schemes in New South Wales. Additionally, strata schemes are also able to create their own additional by-laws, subject to the approval of the owners corporation. Examples of by-laws include:

1. Use of common property: By-laws can be established to regulate the use of common property, such as the lobby, gym, pool, or garden. This can include rules about noise levels, hours of operation, and the type of activities that are allowed.
2. Parking and visitors: By-laws can also be established to regulate parking and visitors in a strata scheme. This can include rules about the number of parking spaces allocated to each unit, visitor parking, and the use of common parking areas.
3. Pets: Strata corporations can create by-laws that dictate if pets are allowed in the building, if so, what types, size, quantity and if owners have to register their pets.
4. Maintenance and repair: By-laws can require unit owners to maintain and repair their own units, and to contribute to the maintenance and repair of common property.
5. Smoking: By-laws can prohibit smoking in certain areas of the building, such as common areas, balconies, and patios.
6. Use of balconies, decks and patios: By-laws can regulate the use of balconies, decks, and patios, such as prohibiting the use of certain types of furniture or requiring that balconies be screened for privacy.
7. Noise and nuisance: By-laws can be established to regulate noise levels and prohibit activities that cause a nuisance to other residents.
8. Insurance: By-laws can require that unit owners have insurance coverage for their own units.

In summary, by-laws in New South Wales are a set of rules and regulations that govern the operation of strata scheme and are guided by the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 and Strata Schemes Development Act 2015, and need to be approved by strata corporation’s members. By-laws need to be consistent with the state laws and regulations, and they must be passed by the Owners Corporation with a majority vote of the members. If special by-laws conflict with the standard by-laws, the special by-laws take precedence.

Strata One works with the Owners Corporation to ensure that all residents abide by the required by-laws.