Section 45 of the Strata Property Act says a strata corporation must give at least 2 weeks' written notice of an annual or special general meeting. Councils who count 14 days on the calendar routinely send notice late, because two other rules stretch the period.
First, B.C.'s Interpretation Act says that when a law requires "at least" a number of days between two events, the days on which both events happen are excluded — so 14 becomes 16 clear days. Second, section 61(3) of the Act deems a notice sent by mail, email, or fax, or left in a mailbox or under a door, to be received 4 days after it is given. Sixteen plus four is the 20-day period this calculator applies. Notice handed directly to a person is received immediately, so only the 16 clear days apply.
Getting this wrong has consequences: resolutions passed at a badly-noticed meeting can be challenged, and while section 47 forgives a reasonable attempt that goes astray, it does not forgive counting the days wrong.
Does this apply to special general meetings too?
Yes — section 45 covers both annual and special general meetings.
What about a meeting to consider winding up the strata?
Different rule: winding-up resolutions require at least 4 weeks' notice under s. 45(1.1). This calculator covers standard AGMs and SGMs only.
Do weekends or holidays extend the period?
No — the notice period runs in calendar days. But sending a day or two early costs nothing, and late notice can cost a meeting.
Why do some sources say 21 days, not 20?
Authorities genuinely differ on one counting step: whether the day notice is sent is excluded before adding the 4 deemed-receipt days. Owner associations describe a 20-day period; some strata lawyers count 21. This calculator shows the 20-day derivation and recommends a buffer that satisfies both readings — when the experts disagree, send earlier.
Is this legal advice?
No. It's general information based on the current legislation, verified against the sources linked above. For anything contested, talk to a strata lawyer.