What is CDRT adjudication?

Adjudication is Stage 3 of an Alberta CDRT dispute — a formal virtual hearing before a 1-or-3 person panel. The panel hears evidence, asks questions, and issues a binding written decision within 90 days. It's the equivalent of a small-claims trial but specifically for condominium disputes.

How much does CDRT adjudication cost?

$350 in addition to the $150 application fee — so $500 total if you go through the full process. This is still well below the cost of a small-claims trial with counsel.

Can I appeal a CDRT adjudication decision?

Yes. You may appeal or request a Judicial Review at the Court of King's Bench within 30 days of receiving the decision. Appeals are on questions of law only — the King's Bench will not re-litigate the facts.

CDRT guide · Stage 3

CDRT Adjudication — Stage 3 of an Alberta tribunal dispute

Q: How long does an adjudication decision take?

The panel has up to 90 days after the hearing to issue its written decision. The decision is the official decision of the CDRT, effective on the date it's signed.

Last updated May 18, 2026

Adjudication is the final stage of a CDRT dispute — a formal virtual hearing before a tribunal panel that issues a binding written decision. It's the equivalent of a small-claims trial, but cheaper, more accessible, and specifically designed for condo disputes.

What it is

Per the CDRT Adjudication Fact Sheet, adjudication is a hearing “similar to a court hearing but more informal. All parties have a chance to share information, make submissions and present evidence about the dispute to the panel.”

The hearing is held by video conference by default. (Written-submission and in-person formats are possible via preliminary application.) The CDRT Chair decides whether a single Member or a three-Member panel hears the case.

Cost

Adjudication adds $350 on top of the $150 application fee. Total CDRT cost through full adjudication: $500.

That's well below the cost of a small-claims trial with counsel. Most Alberta condo lawyers charge $300-$600 per hour, and a half-day trial typically runs $3,000-$5,000 in counsel fees alone. The CDRT is designed for self-represented owners.

How a hearing runs

Per s.25 of the CDRT Policies and Procedures, both parties have the right to:

Present evidence.
Call witnesses.
Question or cross-examine witnesses who give evidence.
Make submissions on the evidence and issues.
Receive copies of the other party's written submissions and evidence.

The panel has wide discretion over how the hearing runs — ordering of speakers, time limits, oaths, admissibility of evidence, whether to exclude a witness, and so on. Hearings are open to the public by default; closed hearings are possible by request.

Evidence — important rule

Per s.25(j), if you intend to rely on legal authorities or cases during the hearing — for example, citing a specific section of the Condominium Property Act, the Regulation, or the CDRT's own Policies and Procedures — you must submit copies of those authoritiesas part of your evidence submission. The panel won't look them up for you.

Acceptable evidence formats: written documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, TXT), photos (JPEG, PNG, GIF), audio (MP3, WAV, WMA), video (MP3, MP4, AVI). Everything must be uploaded to the Application Service by the deadline in your Notice to Attend.

After the hearing — the decision

The panel has up to 90 days after the hearing to issue its written decision. The decision is the official decision of the CDRT and is effective on the date it is signed.

All CDRT decisions are published on CanLII. That means future owners (and FineCheck's assessment) will be able to read how the tribunal ruled on similar fact patterns.

Appeals and Judicial Review

If you disagree with the decision, you may either appeal or request a Judicial Review at the Court of King's Benchwithin 30 days of receiving it.

Appeals are on questions of law only. The King's Bench will not re-litigate the facts — it's not a second chance to argue your case from scratch. The Court will only intervene if the CDRT got the law wrong, applied the wrong test, or made a decision no reasonable tribunal could have made on the evidence.

What to prepare for adjudication

Your written submission. Frame your case as a substantial-compliance + prejudice analysis under CDRT P&P s.7(b). Explain what about the notice broke substantial compliance and what prejudice you suffered as a result.
All evidence. The fine letter, your bylaw, correspondence, photos, prior warning notices, anything else relevant.
Copies of every statute and CDRT document you cite. Per s.25(j) you must submit the actual text of any legal authority you rely on. Pull these from the King's Printer.
Witness list.Anyone you want to give evidence at the hearing. You're responsible for their attendance.
Your bottom line and your worst-case.Even at adjudication, settlement can happen if a panel question reveals a weakness in either side's position. Know what you'd accept.

A FineCheck reportis built around the same substantial-compliance + prejudice framework the CDRT panel applies. Submitting it as part of your evidence package puts your case in the tribunal's own terms. Check my fine →

Check my fine — $15

Source: CDRT Adjudication Fact Sheet and ss.23-27 of the CDRT Policies and Procedures, Government of Alberta.