Frequently Asked Questions

Every time an owner or tenant changes, the old mail room access code is disabled.

Contact a council member to meet at the mail room (inside the visitor parkade entranceway) to get a new access code in person.

For security, an access code will not be provided by phone, text or email.

For an access code, use the New Resident Welcome Checklist appended to this document, then give it to a council member.

You will then be given the code and mail room access instructions.

You need to get a locksmith to come into the mail room to replace the lock and key set.

The old lock is drilled out and replaced by a new one.

Neither the strata nor Canada Post has any control over locks used for individual mail boxes.

No extra keys are kept by anyone, including the locksmith. The resident will be required to pay for any replacement cost.

Burnaby city requires residents to practice proper recycling as well as disposal of organic waste & garbage.

Recycle bins are located in the mail room as well as in the upper roadway garbage shed.

Organic waste bins are located across from the mail room in the visitor underground parking.

Details are found in bylaws -6- “Garbage” and -42- “Recycling Program”. Violators will be fined.

For proper disposal of large appliances, furniture and mattresses, etc. — refer to the “Bulky Item & Appliance Recycle Pickup” handout.

There is a designated city pick up area located inside the left side of the underground visitor parking entrance.

Call Burnaby 604-294-7972 before placing outside to arrange a free pickup.

Each item should be labelled with date and unit number.

There is no onsite or part-time caretaker at this time, although this may change in the future.

The strata council works on a voluntary basis with the property manager to administer major needs such as landscaping, building exterior maintenance, and common property care – not janitorial services.

All residents, owners and tenants alike, are encouraged and responsible to do their share as good neighbours: watering plants in and around their strata lots, practice proper recycling, picking up litter, clean up after their pets, etc.

A caretaker would result in higher strata fees.

The strata provides an AC powered/battery backup smoke alarm on all three floors in your townhouse.

Only the type and model of smoke alarm used by the strata is allowed for strata insurance requirements; all others cannot be used and must be replaced at the owner’s cost.

Keeping these in good working order at all times is documented in “Strata Smoke Alarm Instructions. These smoke alarms are tested annually by council for insurance purposes.

Standard white doorbells were supplied by the builder and are maintained at no charge as strata property.

However, appropriate smart doorbells (i.e. with a built-in security camera) are allowed with strata approval as stated in the “Standard & Smart Doorbells” strata document.

As governed by Bylaw -3- “Use of Property sections” (1) & (3), smoking is limited to the balcony, front yard and garage door driveway.

No smoking is allowed outside the strata lot and may be subject to a $50 per incident for discarded cigarette butts and other smoking material.

Cannabis smoking is restricted to only inside a townhouse with windows closed to not disturb others.

Since Stonebrook was built in 2003, the Front Door Handle Set standard has been “TAYMOR Madera, 34-FV8170 antique nickel”.

In recent years, this product has been discontinued, making it harder to find a matching replacement.

Bylaw -9- “Obtain Approval Before Altering A Lot” governs the style and finish used to maintain a “uniform look and feel” of front door settings.

Attached here is the 2024 Replacement Policy for specific WEISER models that are the new standard from now on.

A phantom (side retracting) screen door in a dark colour to match the door or frame is allowed.

Check with the strata council first before installing one for compliance to Bylaw -9- restrictions.

Regulated by Bylaw -9- “… Altering Exterior View”, horizontal window blinds and a vertical patio door blind can be replaced, but must be a white or near white shade, plain with no pattern.

The most common request is to replace the original 1” wide horizontal blinds with modern 2” ones.

Prior approval is required by submitting a sample and/or details to the strata council.

These can be installed within an individual townhouse but everything must comply with privacy issues and strata bylaws.

Any device looking outside or altering the look has restrictions.

Smart peephole devices are not allowed as well as door ornaments because they violate Bylaw -9-.

For details, see the “Security Cameras Smart Locks & Smart Doorbells” strata document.

The 100 amp power box in the garage does not have enough capacity for a dedicated Level 1 or Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Station.

Upon strata inspection, an existing or dedicated 15 Amp circuit may be used for a Level 1 120 VAC 15 Amp electric vehicle charger.

Refer to “BCS367 Electric Vehicle Charging Station” document for more details on what is required.

Unauthorized EVCS may result in a $200/week fine until the power box is restored to its original condition.

Yes, if it complies with Bylaw -9- “… Altering Exterior View” (1) (h) for Installation of an air conditioning unit visible from the exterior of a strata lot.

In practice, this means a portable one can be used without strata permission as long as it does not obviously show the input & exhaust ports except through an existing window or patio door opening.

Dual hose portable air conditioners:
Pros: More efficient, cools the room faster and more evenly.
Cons: More expensive, can be difficult to install.

Single hose portable air conditioners:
Pros: Easier to install, budget-friendly.
Cons: Less efficient than dual hose models

Exterior window mounted AC units are doable with restrictions:

1. Must be manufacturer rated at a noise level that is 55 decibels or lower.
2. Only one AC exterior mounted unit is allowed per townhouse, preferably on the top floor.
3. No mounting screws or fasteners into exterior surfaces to prevent water envelope damage.
4. No permanent mount, only temporary installation between April 1st and October 1st.

Bylaw -5- “Balconies/Patios” (1) states that items which may be kept on a patio or balcony are gas or electric barbecues, patio style furniture and plants.

Therefore, bicycles and storage cabinets, as well as clothes drying racks, brooms & cleaning equipment, etc. CANNOT be placed on balconies.

Bylaw -10- “Obtain Approval Before Altering Common Property “states residents may plant flowers (annuals, bulbs) of up to 24 inches in height in their gardens.

Vegetables may not be grown in front yards because it alters the landscaping tasks maintained by the strata gardeners.

No, it would violate bylaw -6- “Pets” and -9- “Obtain Permission before Altering Exterior View”. Regarding pets, unattended dogs are not allowed on balconies. Someone must be with them.

Gas fireplaces and the gas stove cannot be removed.

This is because the townhouse 100 amp power panel is not large enough to add another 30 or 40 amp circuit for electric stoves or heating.

Upgrading to larger capacity power panel is not possible due to limitations in strata utility rooms.

This is not permitted by the Burnaby building code and development (parking) restrictions.

(After spending $10,000 to build an illegal bedroom suite, a former owner had to spend another $3,000 to restore it to a 2-car garage after an unexpected visit from a city building inspector!) .

The Form K (notice of tenant’s responsibilities) is a requirement under the BC Strata Property Act for any landlord-tenant relationship in a strata.

For example, this applies when renting a bedroom to a student, even while the owner is living in the strata unit at the same time.

There is no exemption from a Form K requirement." Even applies if a relative is living in an investment unit. Under Section 35 of the Act, the strata must maintain a list of names of owners and tenants.

This recordkeeping is also essential for emergency and safety purposes. Stonebrook also uses it to provide the tenant(s) with an access code to the mail and recycle room.

Failure to submit a Form K to the Property Manager within 2 weeks of the tenant’s occupancy may result in a minimum $50 fine per incident applied to the strata owner.

This can be applied every 7 days if necessary, as per bylaws -28- “Maximum Fine” & -29- “Continuing Contravention”.

Click here to fill in then downlaod the Form K for Stonebrook Tenants.

No, Bylaw -44- “Other Accommodation” states that a strata lot must not be used except as a private residential dwelling home.

A strata lot is not to be used or occupied for transient, commercial or hotel purposes under a contract, license arrangement or any other form of agreement for transient, short-term rentals or short-term occupancy or accommodation of any kind, commercial hotel or hotel-like accommodation, a boarding house, house letting, a bed and breakfast or for any other short term accommodations, including without limitation, short-term accommodation advertised under the names "VRBO", "Airbnb", "Home Away" or monikers advertising, by newspaper, Craigslist, internet or otherwise, short-term occupancy or accommodation of any kind. Any breach of bylaw -44- is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per day.

The strata cirrently uses  Westside Perst Control for ants, mice. rats, silvrfish, wasps, etc.

Click here for more details on how to request service submitted by the Strata Proeprty Manager at a discounted rate.

Typiclly, this means each type of service is $95 + ST charged to the strat owner's account.

This is much cheper than directly contacting the pest control company wthout our  strata discount,