Incorporate a Society in BC: Societies Act Guide 2026

In British Columbia, a not-for-profit organization is called a society, and the rules for creating and running one come from the Societies Act, S.B.C. 2015, c. 18 — passed in 2015 and in force since November 28, 2016, with further amendments effective May 4, 2023. If you want to incorporate a society in BC, everything runs through BC Registries and Online Services, which administers society filings through its dedicated Societies Online portal.

This guide is written for the people who actually start societies: community group organizers, sports club volunteers, cultural association founders, and anyone launching a charitable, educational or recreational organization in B.C. for the first time. It walks through the directors you need, the documents you must prepare, what the government charges, and what you have to file every year to stay in good standing.

Key facts at a glance

What counts as a not-for-profit in British Columbia

A B.C. society is a member-based corporation formed for purposes other than making money for its members — the Societies Act contemplates charitable, educational, recreational, cultural and similar community purposes, which must be set out in the society's constitution. The defining feature is the non-distribution constraint: a society can earn revenue, but that money must be applied to its purposes rather than paid out as profit to members. Societies cannot issue shares or pay dividends the way a business corporation incorporated under B.C.'s Business Corporations Act can.

The Act also recognizes a special class called the member-funded society — one that is funded primarily by its members to carry on activities for their benefit (think professional associations or sports clubs funded by member dues), with that status declared in its constitution. Member-funded societies get lighter governance rules, including a one-director minimum, but face restrictions that make them unsuitable for organizations seeking public donations or charitable status.

Being an incorporated society is also not the same as being a registered charity. Charitable registration is a separate federal process through the Canada Revenue Agency, and it is what allows an organization to issue official donation receipts; many B.C. societies incorporate first and apply to the CRA afterwards.

Why incorporate your not-for-profit

An unincorporated club is legally just a collection of individuals, which means the individuals carry the risk. Incorporation under the Societies Act creates a separate legal entity that can sign leases, hold property, open bank accounts and enter contracts in its own name — and that continues to exist as volunteers come and go.

Incorporation also protects the people involved: members and directors are generally shielded from personal liability for the society's debts (directors still owe duties of care and honesty). Just as importantly, incorporation is the credibility threshold funders look for: grant programs — including B.C.'s community gaming grants — typically require applicants to be incorporated societies in good standing, and it is the practical first step towards charitable registration with the CRA.

Step-by-step: how to incorporate a society in BC

1. Reserve your name through BC Registries. Submit a name request (fee: $30, or $100 for priority service) through BC Registries' Name Request system. Examiners check that your proposed society name is distinctive and not confusingly similar to existing names; approved names are reserved for your incorporation filing. See the province's guidance on requesting approval for a name.
2. Prepare your constitution. Under the Act, the constitution is a short document containing only the society's name and its purposes — for example charitable, educational or recreational purposes. If the society will be member-funded, that statement belongs in the constitution too.
3. Prepare your bylaws. Bylaws are the society's internal rulebook — membership, meetings, voting, directors and officers. You can adopt the model bylaws set out in the Societies Regulation as-is, or draft custom bylaws tailored to your organization.
4. Confirm your board. An ordinary society needs at least three directors, at least one of whom is ordinarily resident in British Columbia. All directors must be individuals (not organizations), at least 18 years old, and otherwise qualified under the Act — for example, not an undischarged bankrupt. A member-funded society needs only one director, with no residency requirement.
5. Set a registered office. Every society needs a registered address in B.C. where records are kept and documents can be delivered; it is filed in the statement of directors and registered office.
6. File the incorporation application online. One or more persons may apply. File through Societies Online — you'll need a Basic BCeID account — and pay the $100 fee. The application consists of the constitution, the bylaws, and the statement of directors and registered office. At incorporation you create a registry key (a password of eight or more characters) used for future online filings.
7. Receive your incorporation documents. Once processed, the society exists under the Societies Act and the registrar issues confirmation of incorporation — the proof of legal existence banks and funders ask to see.

Official forms and links

After incorporation: ongoing compliance

Incorporating is the beginning of the paperwork, not the end. Every B.C. society must hold an annual general meeting each year, and file an annual report with the registrar within 30 days after that AGM, with a $40 filing fee — the one exception being the calendar year the society is incorporated, when no annual report is due. The annual report is filed through Societies Online using the society's registry key.

Beyond the annual report, societies must keep their registry record current — filing changes of directors and changes to the registered office address as they happen — and maintain proper internal records, including the register of members, minutes and financial statements, at the registered office. Alterations to the constitution or bylaws must also be filed with the registrar.

The consequence of ignoring these obligations is serious: a society that persistently fails to file can be dissolved by the registrar and struck from the register, losing its legal existence, its name protection and its standing with funders. Restoring a dissolved society is possible but slower and costlier than simply filing a $40 report on time each year.

Frequently asked questions

How many directors do you need for a society in BC?

An ordinary B.C. society needs at least three directors, and at least one of them must be ordinarily resident in British Columbia. A member-funded society — one funded primarily by its members for their own benefit — needs only one director, with no residency requirement. All directors must be individuals aged 18 or over who meet the qualifications in the Societies Act.

How much does it cost to register a society in British Columbia?

The government fees are $30 for the name request and $100 for the incorporation application filed through Societies Online, so plan on $130 in basic filing fees. Priority name service costs $100 instead of $30. After incorporation, each annual report costs $40 to file. Professional help with drafting bylaws or filing is extra.

What is a member-funded society in BC?

A member-funded society is a special class under the B.C. Societies Act for organizations funded mainly by their members to carry on activities for members' benefit — such as clubs or professional associations. Its constitution must say so. It needs only one director, but the status is generally unsuitable for societies seeking public donations, government funding or charitable registration.

Do BC societies have to file an annual report?

Yes. Every society must file an annual report with BC Registries within 30 days after holding its annual general meeting, paying a $40 fee, except in the year it was incorporated. Filing is done through the Societies Online portal using the society's registry key. Repeated failure to file can lead to the society being dissolved.

Can a not-for-profit society in BC make a profit?

A B.C. society can earn more revenue than it spends — through memberships, events, sales or grants — and healthy societies often do. What it cannot do is distribute that surplus to members as profit. Money must be applied to the society's purposes as stated in its constitution. This non-distribution rule is what separates societies from business corporations.

Is a BC society the same as a registered charity?

No. Incorporating a society under the Societies Act is a provincial process that creates a legal entity. Registered charity status is granted separately by the Canada Revenue Agency and is what permits issuing official donation receipts. Many organizations incorporate as a B.C. society first, then apply to the CRA for charitable registration once their purposes and governance are in place.

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Related guides

• Not-for-Profit Incorporation in Canada: The Complete Guide
• British Columbia grants for not-for-profits
• Incorporate a federal not-for-profit corporation