Bill 16 in Québec: What You Need to Know

Bill 16 is a significant legislative reform in Québec aimed at improving the maintenance, financial planning, and transparency of co-owned buildings (condominiums). Adopted on December 11, 2019 and progressively enforced since January 10, 2020, this law introduces new responsibilities for condo syndicates, including mandatory maintenance planning and financial forecasting.

How Groupe Anthem Can Help

At Groupe Anthem, we support condo boards and property managers in meeting the obligations of Bill 16 with clarity and confidence. Our services include:

  • Structural & Architectural Inspections
    Evaluations by qualified professionals to identify and track building conditions.

  • Preparation of Maintenance Logbooks
    Compliant with the most recent draft regulations, including full 25-year maintenance outlooks.

  • Reserve Fund Studies
    Tailored financial assessments to forecast and manage future expenditures responsibly.

  • Permit & Planning Support
    We help streamline the permit and planning process for building upgrades and retrofits that align with maintenance requirements.

Whether you're preparing for your first reserve study or updating existing documentation, Groupe Anthem can guide you through every step.

Adopted in December 2019, Bill 16 introduced major updates to Québec’s Civil Code regarding the management of co-owned properties. One of its key provisions—though not yet in force—is the requirement for syndicates of co-owners to carry out a Reserve Fund Study (RFS) and maintain a building maintenance log.

Under the amended Article 1070 of the Civil Code of Québec (as revised by Bill 16 and Bill 31), the board of directors of every syndicate will be legally required to keep a detailed maintenance log. This document must track both completed and upcoming maintenance and will need to be periodically reviewed.

The exact content and review frequency of the log will be defined by forthcoming government regulations. These will likely vary depending on factors such as the number of units in the building and the year it was built.

Implementation Timeline

The new obligations will take effect based on the syndicate’s date of formation:

  • For syndicates created before January 10, 2020:
    Compliance will be required no later than three years after the relevant regulation comes into force.

  • For syndicates created on or after January 10, 2020:
    Compliance will be required immediately upon the regulation’s coming into effect.