Religious Symbols In Condominiums

This article discusses the issue of displaying religious symbols in condominiums. While condominium corporations are entitled to enact reasonable rules, the rules and their enforcement cannot breach the Ontario Human Rights Code, which requires reasonable accommodation to a person’s religious beliefs. The Supreme Court of Canada determined in 2004 that sincere personal religious beliefs override the terms of a condominium declaration, making it clear that condominium corporations need to take religious beliefs and practices into account with enforcement matters. In cases where an owner or resident is displaying a religious symbol or engaging in a religious practice that is in contravention of the condominium documents, corporations should consult with legal counsel to determine the extent to which the corporation is required to accommodate the individual.