Condominium Dispute Resolution Tribunal

The CDRT provides Albertans with access to independent, fair, and timely quasi-judicial and alternative dispute resolution services for the resolution of disputes concerning the Condominium Property Act, the Condominium Property Regulation and the condominium community.

The CDRT has the jurisdiction to review specific types of matters within the Condominium Property Act and Condominium Property Regulation, as per the CDRT Regulation (Tribunal Regulation). Those matters are:

• monetary sanctions imposed by a condominium corporation, including the process used to impose the sanction
  • a monetary sanction is a fine for violating the condominium corporation's bylaws (section 35 of the Condominium Property Act)
• access to documents (sections 43.2 and 44 of the Condominium Property Act and Part 1.6 of the Condominium Property Regulation)
• general meetings and special general meetings of a corporation (sections 30 and 30.1 of the Condominium Property Act)

The CDRT can hear disputes about monetary sanctions, but not about chargebacks. A monetary sanction is a fine for violating the condominium corporation’s bylaws. Chargebacks are fees billed back to recover costs paid by a condominium corporation. If a dispute is only about a chargeback, the CDRT may refuse the application. 

The CDRT is made up of members from a broad range of expertise and backgrounds.

All CDRT members, including the Chair, are appointed by Ministerial Order. Members are appointed for terms of up to 3 years, for a maximum of 12 years of continuous service.   

CDRT members are compensated for their work in accordance with the Committee Remuneration Order (OC466/2007) and the Government of Alberta’s Travel and Subsistence Policy. 

View current membership: Public agency member biographies.

The CDRT charges the following fees:

• $150 application fee, with access to the following services at no additional charge:
  • guided negotiation
  • up to 4 hours of mediation
• Additional mediation fees:
  • $150 per half day (up to 4 hours)
  • up to a maximum of $300 per day
• $350 adjudication fee

Payment of the application fee is required at the time an application is submitted. Payment can be made online by MasterCard, VISA, or Amex debit and credit cards. For paper applications, payment can be made by cheque payable to the “Government of Alberta” or in person at the CDRT’s Edmonton office by appointment only. The CDRT does not accept cash.

CDRT fees, including the application fee, additional mediation fee, and adjudication fee, may be reduced or waived by the Chair where applicants meet the criteria under section 13 of the CDRT Policies and Procedures. To apply for a fee waiver, an applicant must complete and submit the required form.

Guided negotiation is typically the first dispute resolution step after an application is submitted. During guided negotiation, both sides can discuss the dispute through a chat room within the CDRT’s application service. This informal discussion allows both parties to gain a better understanding of the dispute and discuss options for resolving it in a neutral, safe, respectful, and convenient space. CDRT staff moderate the discussion to make sure it stays productive and that the parties can openly communicate and express what they hope to achieve. Reaching a mutually agreed upon outcome in this step can result in a timely, more cost-effective settlement.

Mediation is a more formal process than guided negotiation. It is a voluntary, confidential process that the parties must agree to participate in. Mediation is facilitated by a trained mediator who helps the parties come to a resolution by focusing on mutual interests and solutions, while preserving relationships. Should the parties come to a resolution, they may be provided with an agreement.

Adjudication is the most formal dispute resolution method offered by the CDRT. At an adjudication hearing, a panel of up to three CDRT members will listen to the dispute and issue a decision on the matter. Parties have an opportunity to present evidence and arguments to the panel. After the hearing is closed, the panel has 60 days to issue a decision. The Chair may grant a 30-day extension, in which case parties will be notified.

The CDRT can make different types of decisions. Sometimes it can make different decisions on the same application. For example, it can make a decision about whether your dispute is something the CDRT has jurisdiction to hear and resolve. If the dispute goes to an adjudication hearing, the assigned panel will make a decision on the outcome.

Written decisions issued by the CDRT are legally binding and will include:

• names of the parties
• an overview of the evidence and arguments submitted
• how evidence was weighed by the panel
• how the panel applied the legislation to the dispute
• what the panel decided and why

Parties will not receive a decision during a hearing.

Once a decision has been issued, either party can file it with the court. Once it is filed, the decision can be enforced in the same way as a court order. 

If either party thinks the panel did not correctly interpret the law, they can appeal the decision to the Court of King’s Bench. This must be done within 30 days of receiving the decision. 

The parties can ask the Court of King’s Bench for a judicial review. This must be done within 30 days of receiving the decision, and follow the steps set out in the Alberta Rules of Court. 

Decisions issued by the CDRT may be published on the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) website. Decisions may include information submitted by either party to a dispute. For questions about the collection of personal information, contact the CDRT by email at [email protected], or by telephone at 780-644-1945.

• General Information Fact Sheet
• Guided Negotiation Fact Sheet
• Mediation Fact Sheet
• Adjudication Fact Sheet
• Submissions Fact Sheet

• CDRT Policies and Procedures
• CDRT Refund Guidelines

• Condominium Dispute Resolution Tribunal Application
• Request for CDRT Fee Waiver
• Personal Representative Authorization