You have purchased in a new development. The building is occupied. The developer has handed over management responsibilities. But is your strata corporation registered with the Commission of Strata Corporations?
If not, every day that passes after the 90-day deadline is a day the corporation is committing a criminal offence under the Registration (Strata Titles) Act.
Registration is not optional. It is the first legal obligation of every strata corporation in Jamaica. It is also the foundation on which every other compliance obligation rests — annual returns, compliance certificates, Power of Sale applications, and CSC dispute resolution all require a valid registration.
Here is the complete process.
Who Must Register
Every strata corporation — the body of proprietors within a registered strata plan — must register with the Commission of Strata Corporations. There are no exceptions based on size, location, or type of development. A two-unit townhouse scheme has the same registration obligation as a 300-unit high-rise.
The 90-Day Deadline
The corporation must register within 90 days of the strata plan being incorporated or registered with the Registrar of Titles. This is a hard deadline. Failure to register within 90 days is classified as a criminal offence under the Act.
The countdown begins when the plan is legally registered — not when the first unit is sold, not when the development is fully occupied, and not when the executive committee is first elected. The 90-day clock starts at incorporation.
Step 1 — Prepare the Application
The registration application requires Form 7 (First Registration Form). This form must be signed by two executive committee members or by the registered developer.
For new developments where the executive committee has not yet been formally elected, the developer typically signs the application. For existing developments that have never registered — and yes, these exist — the executive committee must sign.
Form 7 is available at the REB/CSC website or at the Commission’s offices at 24 Trafalgar Road, Kingston 10.
Step 2 — Pay the Registration Fee
Registration fees are based on the number of strata lots in the development:
| Number of Lots | Fee (JMD) |
|---|---|
| 2-5 | $1,000 |
| 6-10 | $3,000 |
| 11-15 | $5,000 |
| Over 250 | $125,000 |
The full fee schedule for all lot ranges is available on the REB website. Fees are paid at the time of application submission.
Step 3 — Submit the Application
The completed Form 7 and proof of payment can be submitted through two channels:
- Email: [email protected]
- In person: 24 Trafalgar Road, Kingston 10 (Monday-Thursday 8:30am-5:00pm, Friday 8:30am-4:00pm)
Step 4 — Receive the Certificate
Within 7-10 working days, the corporation receives:
- A unique registration number in the format CSC-XXXX
- A certificate of registration
The certificate can be collected by the developer, attorney, or an executive committee member. If collected by a committee member, meeting minutes must be presented as proof of authorization.
Payment Options
The CSC accepts payment through several channels:
Client Portal
The REB’s online client portal at clientportal.reb.gov.jm accepts Visa and MasterCard. Multiple payments can be made in a single transaction. The portal requires account creation with email verification and the corporation’s licence or registration number.
Bill Payment via Online Banking
- Scotiabank: Payee name — “THE REAL ESTATE BD”
- NCB: Payee name — “REAL ESTATE BOARD RENK”
- For Strata Corporations on both platforms: “Real Estate Bd/Csc”
- Requires an 8-digit alphanumeric account number (category abbreviation plus registration number with leading zeros)
In-Office
At 24 Trafalgar Road, Kingston 10. Accepts Visa/MasterCard debit or credit cards, or manager’s cheques only. Bank transfers and third-party online transfers are strongly discouraged due to tracking difficulties.
Post-Registration — The Critical Next Steps
Registration with the CSC is only the first step. Many corporations complete Form 7 and stop, leaving several critical post-registration obligations unfulfilled. Each of the following must be completed promptly:
1. Purchase a Corporate Seal
The corporate seal is required for official documents — including Power of Sale notices, contracts, and formal correspondence. Without a seal, the corporation cannot execute certain legal documents.
2. Obtain an NIS Number
Register with the National Insurance Scheme. This is required if the corporation employs any staff — including security guards, cleaners, or maintenance workers.
3. Register for a TRN
Every strata corporation needs a Taxpayer Registration Number. This is required for banking, financial transactions, and regulatory filings.
4. Open a Bank Account
All corporation funds must be held in a bank account in the corporation’s name. Not in a developer’s account. Not in a committee member’s personal account. In the corporation’s name. This requires the TRN and corporate seal.
What Happens Next
With registration complete and post-registration obligations fulfilled, the corporation enters the ongoing compliance cycle:
Annual registration renewal. Each year, the corporation must renew its registration using Form 8 and pay the annual fee based on lot count.
Annual returns. Within 120 days of the corporation’s financial year end, Forms 13A, 13B, and 13C must be filed. These must include insurance documentation, executive committee records, AGM minutes, and financial accounts.
Compliance certificates. The corporation must maintain annual compliance certificates. These are prerequisites for Power of Sale applications and demonstrate ongoing regulatory compliance.
CSC inspections. The corporation is subject to random inspections by the CSC, with at least 3 months’ advance written notice.
The Registration Gap
Despite the criminal offence classification, not all strata corporations in Jamaica are registered. Some developments — particularly older ones or those where the developer exited without completing handover — have operated for years without registration.
If your corporation is not registered, the first step is to complete Form 7 immediately. The 90-day deadline may have passed, but registration now is far better than continued non-compliance. The CSC’s interest is in bringing corporations into compliance, not in prosecuting historical registration failures.
Gated Communities — Prepare Now
The Registration (Shared Community) Act 2026, tabled in Parliament on January 28, 2026, will extend registration requirements to gated communities. Developers will be required to lodge shared community plans and register community corporations. Penalties for failure to register within specified timeframes include fines of up to JMD $500,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months.
If you manage or live in a gated community, the registration obligation is coming. Understanding the strata corporation registration process provides a clear preview of what your community will need to do.
Starting Right
FiWi Community helps new strata corporations start their compliance journey from day one. Registration tracking, compliance calendars, financial management, and governance tools ensure that the corporation does not just register — but stays compliant from the moment the certificate is issued.
The 90-day deadline is the beginning, not the end. The corporations that thrive are those that build compliance into their daily operations from the start.
See how Caymanas Estate recovered J$6.1 million
679 lots. 53% to 77% good standing. 87,000+ visitors processed digitally. See how FiWi Community turned policy into results.
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