Short answer
An ordinary resolution passes on a simple majority of the votes cast. A special resolution needs much broader support: it fails if more than one-quarter of the votes cast are against it — so no more than 25% opposition. Special resolutions are reserved for bigger decisions such as making or changing by-laws.
Ordinary resolution
Most business at a strata meeting passes by ordinary resolution — a simple majority of the votes cast. If more than half the votes are in favour, it carries. Day-to-day decisions, approving budgets and levies, and electing the committee all run on ordinary resolutions.
Special resolution
A special resolution applies to more significant decisions and is harder to pass. Under NSW strata law it is defined by the opposition: the motion fails if more than one-quarter (25%) of the value of the votes cast are against it. In practice that means at least three-quarters of the votes cast must be in favour. This higher bar stops major changes — like altering by-laws — being pushed through on a bare majority.
Votes on a special resolution are counted by value where a poll applies, so unit entitlement can matter to the result.
Where unanimous sits above both
A small number of the most serious decisions need a unanimous resolution — no votes at all against. That’s the top of the ladder: ordinary (simple majority), then special (no more than 25% against), then unanimous (none against).
Getting the threshold right — without a manager
Applying the wrong threshold is a real risk: pass a by-law change as an ordinary resolution and the decision can be overturned. Straita flags what each motion needs, counts the votes against the correct threshold, and records the result — so a self-managed committee doesn’t accidentally under-pass a decision that needed a special resolution.
Primary sources
- Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW) — resolutions of owners corporations, ordinary, special and unanimous (s5).
- NSW Government — Strata schemes (Fair Trading) — voting and resolutions.