Skip to content

Notifications

Government mail service may be affected by the Canada Post labour disruption. Learn about how critical government mail will be handled.

Popular topics:

Alberta.ca Account
Part of Property and community

Condominium Dispute Resolution Tribunal

The Tribunal provides timely, fair, and independent dispute resolution services for the condominium community.

Condominium Dispute Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) launches April 1, 2026.

About the CDRT

The Condominium Dispute Resolution Tribunal (CDRT) is an independent, quasi-judicial body established under section 68.1 of the Condominium Property Act.

Condominium communities bring people together in close living spaces, which makes maintaining positive relationships essential. Resolving disputes with as little intervention as possible helps maintain those relationships. The CDRT provides various resources to help parties resolve their disputes on their own, with assistance of formal mediation or adjudication when needed. A Case Officer will be assigned to assist and guide parties through the various stages of dispute resolution.

To ensure its services are accessible and provided at a minimum cost to parties, they are primarily conducted online. When necessary, offline options are also available.

  • Mandate

    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.

  • Jurisdiction

    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 corporation, including the process that took place in applying that sanction (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 31 of the Condominium Property Act)

  • Membership

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

    All CDRT members, including the Tribunal Chair, are appointed by Ministerial Order and are compensated for their work in accordance with the Committee Remuneration Order (OC466/2007).

  • Fees

    The CDRT charges user fees depending on the services used by applicants:

    • $150 application fee that includes:
      • guided negotiation
      • first 4 hours of mediation services
    • Additional mediation fees:
      • $150 per half day (4 hours)
      • up to a maximum of $300 per day
    • $350 adjudication fee

    User fees may be reduced or waived by the Tribunal Chair where applicants can demonstrate financial hardship. Should an applicant wish to apply for a waiver of a user fee, they will need to complete and submit the required form.

Dispute resolution

Dispute resolution provides ways for those involved to solve disagreements in a fair and neutral manner. It provides an opportunity for parties to talk through the issue, understand each other, and find a solution. The CDRT offers different methods of dispute resolution, including guided negotiation, mediation and adjudication. These methods provide an increased level of support and intervention, depending on the needs of the parties.

  • Guided Negotiation

    Negotiation is often the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to resolve a dispute. The first attempt at dispute resolution involves a moderated discussion between the parties. This is done through an online chatroom or another method as agreed to by the parties and CDRT. The CDRT refers to this stage as Guided Negotiation.

  • Mediation

    Mediation usually follows Guided Negotiation if that process fails. It is a voluntary, informal, and confidential process that is intended to allow the parties to come to their own resolution with the assistance of a skilled mediator to facilitate communication between the parties.

    During Mediation, both parties meet with a mediator to discuss the dispute. The mediator guides the conversation to help each side understand the other’s perspective and work toward an agreement. The dispute is only resolved when all parties agree on the outcome.

  • Adjudication

    Should Guided Negotiation and Mediation be unsuccessful, the CDRT can provide Adjudication services.

    Where Guided Negotiation and Mediation encourage conversation and discussion between parties, Adjudication is a more formal proceeding that requires more preparation. It is ideal for situations that require a binding decision from a third-party, such as when both parties have deeply entrenched views.

    At an Adjudication hearing, a panel comprised of one or more CDRT members will be assigned to hear and decide the dispute. Each party will have an opportunity to present their evidence and arguments and ask questions. The panel may also ask questions of the parties.

  • Decisions

    Following an Adjudication hearing, parties will be provided with a written decision that is legally binding, which will include:

    • 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.

    The Tribunal Regulation requires that decisions are issued within 60 days of the conclusion of a hearing and allows for one 30-day extension to that time limitation at the discretion of the Tribunal Chair. If the Tribunal Chair determines that the deadline to issue a decision needs to be extended, the parties will be notified.

    If a party disagrees with the decision, they may file an appeal with the Court of King’s Bench, on a question of law only, within 30 days of receiving their decision. If a party feels the process used by the panel was unfair, they can file a judicial review with the Court of King's Bench. Judicial Reviews must be filed within 30 days of the receipt of a decision.

Related