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Step 1 Draft the By-Law

Using DIY By-Laws you can easily add your lot details, select what areas you are renovating and attach the relevant plans to create a by-law and motion instantly! Your by-law will describe any impact there may be to common property (for example, waterproofing in bathroom, moving plumbing or external walls).

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Step 2 Before the Meeting

You will now need to give your draft by-law and consent form to your strata manager to be included in the agenda for the next annual general meeting. If there is not one coming up anytime soon, ask your strata manager the fee to call a meeting.

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Step 3 The Agenda

The strata manager will attach your motion to the agenda and be sent out to owners in your strata scheme 21 days before the meeting.

Make sure you have also given your consent form to the strata manager before the meeting.

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Step 4 The General Meeting

Your motion will be discussed at the AGM and details will be reviewed. Then a vote will be taken by all owners attending (and via proxy) the AGM on your motion. This will be specially resolved and you will get approval or could be asked to provide changes or more detail. A majority vote will get this approved.

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Step 5 Consolidation

Once this has been resolved, the new by-law needs to be added to full list of by-laws, thereby consolidating the new one with the existing by-laws.

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DIY By-Laws can assist you with this step too!

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Step 6 Registration

The new by-law must be registered with Land Registry Services within 6 months.

A lawyer, your strata manager or DIY By-Laws can also assist you with this step.

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Step 7 Start Your Renovation!

Now that you have completed all the necessary steps you can start your renovations.

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Do your planned works require council approval? Find out more →

Do your planned works need to comply with the Design & Building Practitioner’s Act 2020? Find out more →

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By-law Approved – Now What?

Categories: Approval, By-Laws

Council Approval Quiz

Find out whether your works need council approval

We often see by-laws approved at a general meeting that sadly did not complete the final by-law stage. As mentioned in our explainer video – 7 Easy Steps for your Renovation Journey it is essential to register and consolidate your by-law to become enforceable.

Registration of by-laws

Once a by-law has been approved at a general meeting, whether by way of special or ordinary resolution, it must be registered with NSW Land Registry Services (NSWLRS) within six months of the meeting date. Until registration is complete, the by-law has no legal force or effect.

For ease of reference, below is the relevant extract from Section 141 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015:

(2)  A change to the by-laws has no effect until—

  1. the owners corporation lodges a notice, in the approved form, with the Registrar-General, and
  1. the Registrar-General makes an appropriate recording of the notice in the folio of the Register for the common property for the scheme.

(3) the owners corporation must lodge the notice within 6 months of the day the special resolution is passed.”

Why Bannermans Lawyers?

Our dedicated by-law team specialises in the consolidation and registration of by-laws, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements and best practices. We offer:

  • Fast turnaround – Consolidation and submission to your strata manager within three business days for execution.
  • Compliance with regulatory standards – Ensuring all by-laws meet Lodgment Rules Version 2 – Registrar General.
  • Organised and professional documentation – A neatly formatted consolidated by-law register, now including an indexed table of contents for clarity and ease of reference.
  • Confirmation of registration – Once the by-laws have been registered with NSWLRS, we will promptly notify and issue you the most recent registered dealing and common property title search.

How can we assist?

For questions and assistance around your by-law steps, including registration and consolidation, please contact us on 02 9929 0226 or at bylaws@bannermans.com.au.

***The information contained in this article is general information only and not legal advice. The currency, accuracy and completeness of this article (and its contents) should be checked by obtaining independent legal advice before you take any action or otherwise rely upon its contents in any way.

Prepared by Bannermans Lawyers

9 February 2026

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ABOUT US: DIY By-Laws is a division of leading strata law firm, Bannermans Lawyers. We are an innovative law firm, constantly striving to develop and create solutions for our clients and our industry and this platform is part of our vision to deliver digital legal services to the Australian property and strata industries.

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