Saturday, July 25, 2026 — Wholesale Blind Factory
Yes, in most Greater Vancouver condo and strata buildings, your bylaws can restrict what window coverings you install — not the product itself, but how it looks from outside the building. The most common rule requires a uniform exterior-facing colour, usually white or off-white, on any window covering visible from the street or common property, so the building presents a consistent look. Some stratas also restrict reflective or metallic finishes, and high-rise buildings may have separate rules for balcony sliding doors. The fix is simple: check your strata's bylaws or ask the property manager before you order, and choose a product with a solid white liner or backing on the outward-facing side.
Most BC strata corporations don't ban any particular product — roller shades, cellular shades, and shutters are all typically fine. What they regulate is appearance from outside: an exterior-facing colour requirement (almost always white or off-white), sometimes a ban on patterned or coloured fabric facing the street, and occasionally a rule against reflective foil-backed blackout fabrics that can bounce glare onto neighbouring units. A few buildings also require louvres or shutters to match an approved style on street-facing units. If your building has a strata council or property manager, a two-minute email before you order saves you a redo later.
Products with a clean white or off-white face on the side that shows from outside solve this automatically:
If you want colour or pattern on the room side, ask about dual-tone fabrics — you get the look you want indoors while staying compliant outside. Browse options in cellular shades or California shutters, or bring a photo of your building's exterior to a consultation so we can match what's already approved next door.
Beyond bylaws, condos and stratas come with a few practical challenges apartments and houses don't share as often:
Get approval first if your bylaws mention window coverings at all. Custom blinds and shades are made to your exact window measurements and colour choice, so a rejected exterior colour means reordering. A quick email or call to your strata manager confirming the approved exterior colour (almost always white) takes a few minutes and avoids the cost and delay of a remake.
Wholesale Blind Factory is a Canadian, family-run manufacturer based in Coquitlam, and we build every order locally rather than importing from overseas — which means faster turnaround if you do need to adjust a colour after checking with your strata. A free in-home consultation lets us measure your condo's windows, show you dual-tone fabric samples, and confirm what will meet your building's rules before anything goes into production. Call (604) 942-4201 or book a visit, or browse ready-to-order options at /shop.
Yes, if the exterior-facing colour or finish doesn't match your bylaws, a strata council can require you to replace it. This is why it's worth confirming the approved colour — usually white or off-white — before you order, rather than after installation.
Most bylaws only regulate what's visible from outside the building, so interior-facing colour and fabric choice are usually up to you. Some buildings do require a general renovation notice for any window covering installation, so check your specific bylaws or ask your property manager.
They can be, especially for hard-to-reach windows over stairwells, high ceilings, or awkward furniture layouts common in condo floor plans. Somfy-powered motorized shades also avoid drilling extra hardware into shared walls in some buildings, though you should confirm any wall-mounting rules with your strata first.
Cordless or motorized lifts remove dangling cords entirely, which matters in smaller condo layouts where cribs, play areas, or cat trees often sit close to windows. Wholesale Blind Factory includes free safety cleats with horizontal, roller, and vertical orders for households that prefer corded products.