Cooperative associations

Last updated on December 12, 2024

Cooperatives (co-ops) develop communities and create jobs by offering a range of supports like housing, food or health care. They are owned and operated by the people who use these essential products or services.

Start a cooperative

Cooperatives do not have to incorporate, but incorporating has advantages.

An incorporated co-op is a legal entity. It's independent of its members. This makes it easier to enter into contracts, incur debt or get funding.

See the Cooperative Association Act and Regulation

You may want to get advice from a chartered accountant or lawyer before setting up a cooperative association.  

Cooperatives that plan to do business in other provinces also need to complete an extraprovinical (out-of-province) registration.

Incorporated cooperatives from outside B.C. complete an extraprovinical (out-of-province) registration and maintain registered status while doing business in B.C.

Maintain a cooperative

 

Look up information about a cooperative

Records filed by cooperatives can be accessed by the public for a small fee. Find out how to submit a search request.

Financial statements and meeting minutes are not part of filed records. You can request this information by contacting a cooperative's registered office.

Find out who can examine or receive copies of a cooperative association's records: 

Dissolve or end a cooperative

 

Restore a cooperative

Follow these steps to restore a co-op that’s been dissolved for 10 years or less.

 

Register an extraprovincial (out-of-province) cooperative

 

Ask for help

Contact the BC Registries helpdesk for help Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The registry does not provide business or legal advice.

Email: BCRegistries@gov.bc.ca
Toll free: 1-877-526-1526
Victoria: 250-387-7848

Support and services

For additional support with BC Registries filings, visit a Service BC location or call 1-877-370-1033.  Visit Support with BC Registries filings for your service options.  Please note that Service BC does not provide legal or financial advice.

Explore business resources and support services from the Small Business Branch.