The regulation took effect on August 15, 2025 and gives existing co-ownerships three years to comply. By then, every syndicate must have its contingency fund study and its maintenance logbook.
What the law actually says
Loi 16 amended the Civil Code of Québec to make the contingency fund study (CcQ 1071 para. 2) and the maintenance logbook (CcQ 1070.2) mandatory. The implementing regulation, which sets their content and the authorized professionals, took effect on August 15, 2025. Existing co-ownerships have three years to comply — until August 14, 2028. This isn't an optional target: it's a legal obligation of the syndicate, carried by its board.
The real consequences of non-compliance
The regulation doesn't set out a schedule of fines that would automatically kick in on August 15, 2028. The consequences are mostly indirect — but very real, and they can cost far more than a study ever would.
| Consequence | Why it hits you |
|---|---|
| Directors' liability | Board members have a legal duty to act with prudence. Failing to obtain the study and logbook is a breach that can expose them to personal liability toward the co-owners. |
| Unit sales blocked or renegotiated | Notaries, buyers and lenders increasingly ask for these documents. Their absence delays the deal or becomes leverage to push the price down. |
| Unexpected special assessments | Without a study, the contingency fund is often underfunded. When a major repair arrives, owners pay a special assessment — sometimes several thousand dollars each. |
| Court proceedings | A co-owner can ask the court to order the syndicate to comply. That's slower, costlier and more adversarial than simply commissioning the study. |
| Harder insurance and financing | A syndicate with no documented planning is seen as riskier, which complicates insurance renewal and obtaining credit for works. |
Why waiting is the real risk
Thousands of Québec co-ownerships face the same deadline. The closer we get to August 2028, the more demand concentrates on a limited number of authorized professionals. Wait times grow, calendars fill up, and a mandate you could have planned calmly turns into a race against the clock — often at the worst possible moment, like the eve of a sale. Acting early means paying less, choosing your provider, and avoiding the emergency rush service.
Takeaway. The question isn't "will I get a fine on August 15, 2028?" but "how much will the lack of planning cost me the day I need it — at a sale, at the next major repair, or facing an unhappy co-owner?" Complying early is almost always the cheapest option.