HOA Law Blog

(a) A common interest development shall be managed by an association that may be incorporated or unincorporated. The association may be referred to as a community association.

(b) An association, whether incorporated or unincorporated, shall prepare a budget pursuant to Section 1365 and disclose information, if requested, in accordance with Section 1368.

(c) Unless the governing documents provide otherwise, and regardless of whether the association is incorporated or unincorporated, the association may exercise the powers granted to a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation, as enumerated in Section 7140 of the Corporations Code, except that an unincorporated association may not adopt or use a corporate seal or issue membership certificates in accordance with Section 7313 of the Corporations Code.

The association, whether incorporated or unincorporated, may exercise the powers granted to an association in this title.

(d) Meetings of the membership of the association shall be conducted in accordance with a recognized system of parliamentary procedure or any parliamentary procedures the association may adopt.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, notice of meetings of the members shall specify those matters the board intends to present for action by the members, but, except as otherwise provided by law, any proper matter may be presented at the meeting for action.

(f) Members of the association shall have access to association records, including accounting books and records and membership lists, in accordance with Article 3 (commencing with Section 8330) of Chapter 13 of Part 3 of Division 2 of Title 1 of the Corporations Code. The members of the association shall have the same access to the operating rules of the association as they have to the accounting books and records of the association.

(g) If an association adopts or has adopted a policy imposing any monetary penalty, including any fee, on any association member for a violation of the governing documents or rules of the association, including any monetary penalty relating to the activities of a guest or invitee of a member, the board of directors shall adopt and distribute to each member, by personal delivery or first-class mail, a schedule of the monetary penalties that may be assessed for those violations, which shall be in accordance with authorization for member discipline contained in the governing documents. The board of directors shall not be required to distribute any additional schedules of monetary penalties unless there are changes from the schedule that was adopted and distributed to the members pursuant to this subdivision.

(h) When the board of directors is to meet to consider or impose discipline upon a member, the board shall notify the member in writing, by either personal delivery or first-class mail, at least 10 days prior to the meeting. The notification shall contain, at a minimum, the date, time, and place of the meeting, the nature of the alleged violation for which a member may be disciplined, and a statement that the member has a right to attend and may address the board at the meeting. The board of directors of the association shall meet in executive session if requested by the member being disciplined.

If the board imposes discipline on a member, the board shall provide the member a written notification of the disciplinary action, by either personal delivery or first-class mail, within 15 days following the action. A disciplinary action shall not be effective against a member unless the board fulfills the requirements of this subdivision.

(i) Whenever two or more associations have consolidated any of their functions under a joint neighborhood association or similar organization, members of each participating association shall be (1) entitled to attend all meetings of the joint association other than executive sessions, (2) given reasonable opportunity for participation in those meetings, and (3) entitled to the same access to the joint association's records as they are to the participating association's records.

(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to create, expand, or reduce the authority of the board of directors of an association to impose monetary penalties on an association member for a violation of the governing documents or rules of the association.

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Posted In: 1363 - General Powers And Duties Of Association; Meetings; Access To Records; Disciplinary Action.

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To the extent existing funds are available, the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Real Estate shall develop an on-line education course for the board of directors of an association regarding the role, duties, laws, and responsibilities of board members and prospective board members, and the nonjudicial foreclosure process.

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Posted In: 1363.001 - On-line Education Course

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Unless the declaration otherwise provides, in a condominium project, or in a planned development in which the common areas are owned by the owners of the separate interests, the common areas are owned as tenants in common, in equal shares, one for each unit or lot.

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Posted In: 1362 -Ownership of Common Areas

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Except as otherwise provided in law, an order of the court, or an order pursuant to a final and binding arbitration decision, an association may not deny an owner or occupant physical access to his or her separate interest, either by restricting access through the common areas to the owner's separate interest, or by restricting access solely to the owner's separate interest.

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Posted In: 1361.5 - Denial Of Access To Owner's Separate Interest.

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Unless the declaration otherwise provides:

(a) In a community apartment project and condominium project, and in those planned developments with common areas owned in common by the owners of the separate interests, there are appurtenant to each separate interest nonexclusive rights of ingress, egress, and support, if necessary, through the common areas. The common areas are subject to these rights.

(b) In a stock cooperative, and in a planned development with common areas owned by the association, there is an easement for ingress, egress, and support, if necessary, appurtenant to each separate interest. The common areas are subject to these easements.

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Posted In: 1361 -Rights or Easements in Common Areas

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(a) No governing documents shall prohibit the owner of a separate interest within a common interest development from keeping at least one pet within the common interest development, subject to reasonable rules and regulations of the association. This section may not be construed to affect any other rights provided by law to an owner of a separate interest to keep a pet within the development.

(b) For purposes of this section, "pet" means any domesticated bird, cat, dog, aquatic animal kept within an aquarium, or other animal as agreed to between the association and the homeowner.

(c) If the association implements a rule or regulation restricting the number of pets an owner may keep, the new rule or regulation shall not apply to prohibit an owner from continuing to keep any pet that the owner currently keeps in his or her separate interest if the pet otherwise conforms with the previous rules or regulations relating to pets.

(d) For the purposes of this section, "governing documents" shall include, but are not limited to, the conditions, covenants, and restrictions of the common interest development, and the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the association.

(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2001, and shall only apply to governing documents entered into, amended, or otherwise modified on or after that date.

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Posted In: 1360.5 -Pet Ownership Cannot Be Prohibited

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(a) Subject to the provisions of the governing documents and
other applicable provisions of law, if the boundaries of the separate
interest are contained within a building, the owner of the separate
interest may do the following:
(1) Make any improvements or alterations within the boundaries of
his or her separate interest that do not impair the structural
integrity or mechanical systems or lessen the support of any portions
of the common interest development.
(2) Modify a unit in a condominium project, at the owner's
expense, to facilitate access for persons who are blind, visually
handicapped, deaf, or physically disabled, or to alter conditions
which could be hazardous to these persons. These modifications may
also include modifications of the route from the public way to the
door of the unit for the purposes of this paragraph if the unit is on
the ground floor or already accessible by an existing ramp or
elevator. The right granted by this paragraph is subject to the
following conditions:
(A) The modifications shall be consistent with applicable building
code requirements.
(B) The modifications shall be consistent with the intent of
otherwise applicable provisions of the governing documents pertaining
to safety or aesthetics.
(C) Modifications external to the dwelling shall not prevent
reasonable passage by other residents, and shall be removed by the
owner when the unit is no longer occupied by persons requiring those
modifications who are blind, visually handicapped, deaf, or
physically disabled.
(D) Any owner who intends to modify a unit pursuant to this
paragraph shall submit his or her plans and specifications to the
association of the condominium project for review to determine
whether the modifications will comply with the provisions of this
paragraph. The association shall not deny approval of the proposed
modifications under this paragraph without good cause.

(b) Any change in the exterior appearance of a separate interest
shall be in accordance with the governing documents and applicable
provisions of law.

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Posted In: 1360 - Modifications Of Unit By Owner; Facilitation Of Access For Hadicapped; Association Approval.

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(a) Except as provided in this section, the common areas in a
condominium project shall remain undivided, and there shall be no
judicial partition thereof. Nothing in this section shall be deemed
to prohibit partition of a cotenancy in a condominium.

(b) The owner of a separate interest in a condominium project may
maintain a partition action as to the entire project as if the owners
of all of the separate interests in the project were tenants in
common in the entire project in the same proportion as their
interests in the common areas. The court shall order partition under
this subdivision only by sale of the entire condominium project and
only upon a showing of one of the following:
(1) More than three years before the filing of the action, the
condominium project was damaged or destroyed, so that a material part
was rendered unfit for its prior use, and the condominium project
has not been rebuilt or repaired substantially to its state prior to
the damage or destruction.
(2) Three-fourths or more of the project is destroyed or
substantially damaged and owners of separate interests holding in the
aggregate more than a 50-percent interest in the common areas oppose
repair or restoration of the project.
(3) The project has been in existence more than 50 years, is
obsolete and uneconomic, and owners of separate interests holding in
the aggregate more than a 50-percent interest in the common area
oppose repair or restoration of the project.
(4) The conditions for such a sale, set forth in the declaration,
have been met.

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Posted In: 1359 -Common Areas in Condominium

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(a) In a community apartment project, any conveyance,
judicial sale, or other voluntary or involuntary transfer of the
separate interest includes the undivided interest in the community
apartment project. Any conveyance, judicial sale, or other voluntary
or involuntary transfer of the owner's entire estate also includes
the owner's membership interest in the association.

(b) In a condominium project the common areas are not subject to
partition, except as provided in Section 1359. Any conveyance,
judicial sale, or other voluntary or involuntary transfer of the
separate interest includes the undivided interest in the common
areas. Any conveyance, judicial sale, or other voluntary or
involuntary transfer of the owner's entire estate also includes the
owner's membership interest in the association.

(c) In a planned development, any conveyance, judicial sale, or
other voluntary or involuntary transfer of the separate interest
includes the undivided interest in the common areas, if any exist.
Any conveyance, judicial sale, or other voluntary or involuntary
transfer of the owner's entire estate also includes the owner's
membership interest in the association.

(d) In a stock cooperative, any conveyance, judicial sale, or
other voluntary or involuntary transfer of the separate interest
includes the ownership interest in the corporation, however
evidenced. Any conveyance, judicial sale, or other voluntary or
involuntary transfer of the owner's entire estate also includes the
owner's membership interest in the association.

Nothing in this section prohibits the transfer of exclusive use
areas, independent of any other interest in a common interest
subdivision, if authorization to separately transfer exclusive use
areas is expressly stated in the declaration and the transfer occurs
in accordance with the terms of the declaration.

Any restrictions upon the severability of the component interests
in real property which are contained in the declaration shall not be
deemed conditions repugnant to the interest created within the
meaning of Section 711 of the Civil Code. However, these
restrictions shall not extend beyond the period in which the right to
partition a project is suspended under Section 1359.

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Posted In: 1358 - Interest Included and Restrictions On Transfer of Common Area.

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(a) This article applies to a rule change commenced on or
after January 1, 2004.

(b) Nothing in this article affects the validity of a rule change
commenced before January 1, 2004.

(c) For the purposes of this section, a rule change is commenced
when the board of directors of the association takes its first
official action leading to adoption of the rule change.

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Posted In: 1357.150 -Rule Change Requirements Are Effective January 1, 2004

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(a) Members of an association owning 5 percent or more of
the separate interests may call a special meeting of the members to
reverse a rule change.

(b) A special meeting of the members may be called by delivering a
written request to the president or secretary of the board of
directors, after which the board shall deliver notice of the meeting
to the association's members and hold the meeting in conformity with
Section 7511 of the Corporations Code. The written request may not
be delivered more than 30 days after the members of the association
are notified of the rule change. Members are deemed to have been
notified of a rule change on delivery of notice of the rule change,
or on enforcement of the resulting rule, whichever is sooner. For
the purposes of Section 8330 of the Corporations Code, collection of
signatures to call a special meeting under this section is a purpose
reasonably related to the interests of the members of the
association. A member request to copy or inspect the membership list
solely for that purpose may not be denied on the grounds that the
purpose is not reasonably related to the member's interests as a
member.

(c) The rule change may be reversed by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the votes represented and voting at a duly held meeting
at which a quorum is present (which affirmative votes also constitute
a majority of the required quorum), or if the declaration or bylaws
require a greater proportion, by the affirmative vote or written
ballot of the proportion required. In lieu of calling the meeting
described in this section, the board may distribute a written ballot
to every member of the association in conformity with the
requirements of Section 7513 of the Corporations Code.

(d) Unless otherwise provided in the declaration or bylaws, for
the purposes of this section, a member may cast one vote per separate
interest owned.

(e) A meeting called under this section is governed by Chapter 5
(commencing with Section 7510) of Part 3 of Division 2 of Title 1 of,
and Sections 7612 and 7613 of, the Corporations Code.

(f) A rule change reversed under this section may not be readopted
for one year after the date of the meeting reversing the rule
change. Nothing in this section precludes the board of directors
from adopting a different rule on the same subject as the rule change
that has been reversed.

(g) As soon as possible after the close of voting, but not more
than 15 days after the close of voting, the board of directors shall
provide notice of the results of a member vote held pursuant to this
section to every association member. Delivery of notice under this
subdivision is subject to Section 1350.7.

(h) This section does not apply to an emergency rule change made
under subdivision (d) of Section 1357.130.

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Posted In: 1357.140 -Members ' Request for Special Meeting

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(a) The board of directors shall provide written notice
of a proposed rule change to the members at least 30 days before
making the rule change. The notice shall include the text of the
proposed rule change and a description of the purpose and effect of
the proposed rule change. Notice is not required under this
subdivision if the board of directors determines that an immediate
rule change is necessary to address an imminent threat to public
health or safety or imminent risk of substantial economic loss to the
association.

(b) A decision on a proposed rule change shall be made at a
meeting of the board of directors, after consideration of any
comments made by association members.

(c) As soon as possible after making a rule change, but not more
than 15 days after making the rule change, the board of directors
shall deliver notice of the rule change to every association member.
If the rule change was an emergency rule change made under
subdivision (d), the notice shall include the text of the rule
change, a description of the purpose and effect of the rule change,
and the date that the rule change expires.

(d) If the board of directors determines that an immediate rule
change is required to address an imminent threat to public health or
safety, or an imminent risk of substantial economic loss to the
association, it may make an emergency rule change; and no notice is
required, as specified in subdivision (a). An emergency rule change
is effective for 120 days, unless the rule change provides for a
shorter effective period. A rule change made under this subdivision
may not be readopted under this subdivision.

(e) A notice required by this section is subject to Section 1350.7.

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Posted In: 1357.130 -Notice of Rule Changes

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(a) Sections 1357.130 and 1357.140 only apply to an operating rule
that relates to one or more of the following subjects:

(1) Use of the common area or of an exclusive use common area.
(2) Use of a separate interest, including any aesthetic or
architectural standards that govern alteration of a separate
interest.
(3) Member discipline, including any schedule of monetary
penalties for violation of the governing documents and any procedure
for the imposition of penalties.
(4) Any standards for delinquent assessment payment plans.
(5) Any procedures adopted by the association for resolution of disputes.
(6) Any procedures for reviewing and approving or disapproving a
proposed physical change to a member's separate interest or to the
common area.
(7) Procedures for elections.

(b) Sections 1357.130 and 1357.140 do not apply to the
following actions by the board of directors of an association:
(1) A decision regarding maintenance of the common area.
(2) A decision on a specific matter that is not intended to apply
generally.
(3) A decision setting the amount of a regular or special
assessment.
(4) A rule change that is required by law, if the board of directors has
no discretion as to the substantive effect of the rule change.
(5) Issuance of a document that merely repeats existing law or the
governing documents.

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Posted In: 1357.120 -Applicability of §§1357.130 and 1357.140

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An operating rule is valid and enforceable only if all of
the following requirements are satisfied:

(a) The rule is in writing.
(b) The rule is within the authority of the board of directors of
the association conferred by law or by the declaration, articles of
incorporation or association, or bylaws of the association.
(c) The rule is not inconsistent with governing law and the
declaration, articles of incorporation or association, and bylaws of
the association.
(d) The rule is adopted, amended, or repealed in good faith and in
substantial compliance with the requirements of this article.
(e) The rule is reasonable.

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Posted In: 1357.110 -Enforceability of Rules

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As used in this article:

(a) "Operating rule" means a regulation adopted by the board of
directors of the association that applies generally to the management
and operation of the common interest development or the conduct of
the business and affairs of the association.

(b) "Rule change" means the adoption, amendment, or repeal of an
operating rule by the board of directors of the association.

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Posted In: 1357.100 -Definitions

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(a) The Legislature finds that there are common interest
developments that have been created with deed restrictions which do
not provide a means for the property owners to extend the term of the
declaration. The Legislature further finds that covenants and
restrictions, contained in the declaration, are an appropriate method
for protecting the common plan of developments and to provide for a
mechanism for financial support for the upkeep of common areas
including, but not limited to, roofs, roads, heating systems, and
recreational facilities. If declarations terminate prematurely,
common interest developments may deteriorate and the housing supply
of affordable units could be impacted adversely.

The Legislature further finds and declares that it is in the
public interest to provide a vehicle for extending the term of the
declaration if owners having more than 50 percent of the votes in
the association choose to do so.

(b) A declaration which specifies a termination date, but which
contains no provision for extension of the termination date, may be
extended by the approval of owners having more than 50 percent of the
votes in the association or any greater percentage specified in the
declaration for an amendment thereto. If the approval of owners
having more than 50 percent of the votes in the association is
required to amend the declaration, the term of the declaration may be
extended in accordance with Section 1356.

(c) Any amendment to a declaration made in accordance with
subdivision (b) shall become effective upon recordation in
accordance with Section 1355.

(d) No single extension of the terms of the declaration made
pursuant to this section shall exceed the initial term of the
declaration or 20 years, whichever is less. However, more than one
extension may occur pursuant to this section.

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Posted In: 1357 - Extending Term Of Declaration.

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(a) If in order to amend a declaration, the declaration requires owners having more than 50 percent of the votes in the association, in a single class voting structure, or owners having more than 50 percent of the votes in more than one class in a voting structure with more than one class, to vote in favor of the amendment, the association, or any owner of a separate interest, may petition the superior court of the county in which the common interest development is located for an order reducing the percentage of the affirmative votes necessary for such an amendment. The petition shall describe the effort that has been made to solicit approval of the association members in the manner provided in the declaration, the number of affirmative and negative votes actually received, the number or percentage of affirmative votes required to effect the amendment in accordance with the existing declaration, and other matters the petitioner considers relevant to the court's
determination. The petition shall also contain, as exhibits thereto, copies of all of the following:
(1) The governing documents.
(2) A complete text of the amendment.
(3) Copies of any notice and solicitation materials utilized in the solicitation of owner approvals.
(4) A short explanation of the reason for the amendment.
(5) Any other documentation relevant to the court's determination.

(b) Upon filing the petition, the court shall set the matter for hearing and issue an ex parte order setting forth the manner in which notice shall be given.

(c) The court may, but shall not be required to, grant the petition if it finds all of the following:
(1) The petitioner has given not less than 15 days written notice of the court hearing to all members of the association, to any mortgagee of a mortgage or beneficiary of a deed of trust who is entitled to notice under the terms of the declaration, and to the city, county, or city and county in which the common interest development is located that is entitled to notice under the terms of the declaration.
(2) Balloting on the proposed amendment was conducted in accordance with all applicable provisions of the governing documents.
(3) A reasonably diligent effort was made to permit all eligible members to vote on the proposed amendment.
(4) Owners having more than 50 percent of the votes, in a single class voting structure, voted in favor of the amendment. In a voting structure with more than one class, where the declaration requires a majority of more than one class to vote in favor of the amendment, owners having more than 50 percent of the votes of each class required by the declaration to vote in favor of the amendment voted in favor of the amendment.
(5) The amendment is reasonable.
(6) Granting the petition is not improper for any reason stated in subdivision (e).

(d) If the court makes the findings required by subdivision (c), any order issued pursuant to this section may confirm the amendment as being validly approved on the basis of the affirmative votes actually received during the balloting period or the order may dispense with any requirement relating to quorums or to the number or percentage of votes needed for approval of the amendment that would otherwise exist under the governing documents.

(e) Subdivisions (a) to (d), inclusive, notwithstanding, the court shall not be empowered by this section to approve any amendment to the declaration that:
(1) Would change provisions in the declaration requiring the approval of owners having more than 50 percent of the votes in more than one class to vote in favor of an amendment, unless owners having more than 50 percent of the votes in each affected class approved the amendment.
(2) Would eliminate any special rights, preferences, or privileges designated in the declaration as belonging to the declarant, without the consent of the declarant.
(3) Would impair the security interest of a mortgagee of a mortgage or the beneficiary of a deed of trust without the approval of the percentage of the mortgagees and beneficiaries specified in the declaration, if the declaration requires the approval of a specified percentage of the mortgagees and beneficiaries.

(f) An amendment is not effective pursuant to this section until the court order and amendment have been recorded in every county in which a portion of the common interest development is located. The amendment may be acknowledged by, and the court order and amendment may be recorded by, any person designated in the declaration or by the association for that purpose, or if no one is designated for that purpose, by the president of the association. Upon recordation of the amendment and court order, the declaration, as amended in accordance with this section, shall have the same force and effect as if the amendment were adopted in compliance with every requirement imposed by the governing documents.

(g) Within a reasonable time after the amendment is recorded the association shall mail a copy of the amendment to each member of the association, together with a statement that the amendment has been recorded.

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Posted In: 1356 - Petition To Court To Reduce Percentage Of Affirmative Votes.

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(a) Notwithstanding any provision of the governing
documents of a common interest development to the contrary, the board
of directors of the association may, after the developer of the
common interest development has completed construction of the
development, has terminated construction activities, and has
terminated his or her marketing activities for the sale, lease, or
other disposition of separate interests within the development, adopt
an amendment deleting from any of the governing documents any
provision which is unequivocally designed and intended, or which by
its nature can only have been designed or intended, to facilitate the
developer in completing the construction or marketing of the
development. However, provisions of the governing documents relative
to a particular construction or marketing phase of the development
may not be deleted under the authorization of this subdivision until
that construction or marketing phase has been completed.

(b) The provisions which may be deleted by action of the board
shall be limited to those which provide for access by the developer
over or across the common area for the purposes of (a) completion of
construction of the development, and (b) the erection, construction,
or maintenance of structures or other facilities designed to
facilitate the completion of construction or marketing of separate
interests.

(c) At least 30 days prior to taking action pursuant to
subdivision (a), the board of directors of the association shall mail
to all owners of the separate interests, by first-class mail, (1) a
copy of all amendments to the governing documents proposed to be
adopted under subdivision (a) and (2) a notice of the time, date, and
place the board of directors will consider adoption of the
amendments. The board of directors of an association may consider
adoption of amendments to the governing documents pursuant to
subdivision (a) only at a meeting which is open to all owners of the
separate interests in the common interest development, who shall be
given opportunity to make comments thereon. All deliberations of the
board of directors on any action proposed under subdivision (a)
shall only be conducted in such an open meeting.

(d) The board of directors of the association may not amend the
governing documents pursuant to this section without the approval of
the owners, casting a majority of the votes at a meeting or election
of the association constituting a quorum and conducted in accordance
with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 7510) of Part 3 of Division 2
of Title 1 of, and Section 7613 of, the Corporations Code. For the
purposes of this section, "quorum" means more than 50 percent of the
owners who own no more than two separate interests in the
development.

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Posted In: 1355.5 - Amendment To Delete Developer Provision.

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(a) The declaration may be amended pursuant to the governing
documents or this title. Except as provided in Section 1356, an
amendment is effective after (1) the approval of the percentage of
owners required by the governing documents has been given, (2) that
fact has been certified in a writing executed and acknowledged by the
officer designated in the declaration or by the association for that
purpose, or if no one is designated, by the president of the
association, and (3) that writing has been recorded in each county in
which a portion of the common interest development is located.

(b) Except to the extent that a declaration provides by its
express terms that it is not amendable, in whole or in part, a
declaration which fails to include provisions permitting its
amendment at all times during its existence may be amended at any
time. For purposes of this subdivision, an amendment is only
effective after (1) the proposed amendment has been distributed to
all of the owners of separate interests in the common interest
development by first-class mail postage prepaid or personal delivery
not less than 15 days and not more than 60 days prior to any approval
being solicited; (2) the approval of owners representing more than
50 percent, or any higher percentage required by the declaration for
the approval of an amendment to the declaration, of the separate
interests in the common interest development has been given, and that
fact has been certified in a writing, executed and acknowledged by
an officer of the association; and (3) the amendment has been
recorded in each county in which a portion of the common interest
development is located. A copy of any amendment adopted pursuant to
this subdivision shall be distributed by first-class mail postage
prepaid or personal delivery to all of the owners of separate
interest immediately upon its recordation.

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Posted In: 1355 -Amendment of Declaration.

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(a) The covenants and restrictions in the declaration shall
be enforceable equitable servitudes, unless unreasonable, and shall
inure to the benefit of and bind all owners of separate interests in
the development. Unless the declaration states otherwise, these
servitudes may be enforced by any owner of a separate interest or by
the association, or by both.
(b) A governing document other than the declaration may be
enforced by the association against an owner of a separate interest
or by an owner of a separate interest against the association.
(c) In an action to enforce the governing documents, the
prevailing party shall be awarded reasonable attorney's fees and
costs.

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Posted In: 1354 - Covenants And Restrictions In Declaration Enforcement.

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The architectural guidelines of a common interest development shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of low water-using plants as a group.

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Posted In: 1353.8 - Use Of Low Water-Using Plants.

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(a) No common interest development may require a homeowner
to install or repair a roof in a manner that is in violation of
Section 13132.7 of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) Governing documents of a common interest development located
within a very high fire severity zone, as designated by the Director
of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing
with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public
Resources Code or by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8
(commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of
the Government Code, shall allow for at least one type of fire
retardant roof covering material that meets the requirements of
Section 13132.7 of the Health and Safety Code.

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Posted In: 1353.7 - Fire Retardent Roof Covering Materials.

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(a) The governing documents, including the operating rules,
may not prohibit posting or displaying of noncommercial signs,
posters, flags, or banners on or in an owner's separate interest,
except as required for the protection of public health or safety or
if the posting or display would violate a local, state, or federal
law.
(b) For purposes of this section, a noncommercial sign, poster,
flag, or banner may be made of paper, cardboard, cloth, plastic, or
fabric, and may be posted or displayed from the yard, window, door,
balcony, or outside wall of the separate interest, but may not be
made of lights, roofing, siding, paving materials, flora, or
balloons, or any other similar building, landscaping, or decorative
component, or include the painting of architectural surfaces.
(c) An association may prohibit noncommercial signs and posters
that are more than 9 square feet in size and noncommercial flags or
banners that are more than 15 square feet in size.

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Posted In: 1353.6 - Displaying Of Noncommercial Signs Or Flags.

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(a) Except as required for the protection of the public
health or safety, no declaration or other governing document shall
limit or prohibit, or be construed to limit or prohibit, the display
of the flag of the United States by an owner on or in the owner's
separate interest or within the owner's exclusive use common area, as
defined in Section 1351.
(b) For purposes of this section, "display of the flag of the
United States" means a flag of the United States made of fabric,
cloth, or paper displayed from a staff or pole or in a window, and
does not mean a depiction or emblem of the flag of the United States
made of lights, paint, roofing, siding, paving materials, flora, or
balloons, or any other similar building, landscaping, or decorative
component.
(c) In any action to enforce this section, the prevailing party
shall be awarded reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

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Posted In: 1353.5 - Displaying Flag of the United States.

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(a) (1) A declaration, recorded on or after January 1, 1986,
shall contain a legal description of the common interest development,
and a statement that the common interest development is a community
apartment project, condominium project, planned development, stock
cooperative, or combination thereof. The declaration shall
additionally set forth the name of the association and the
restrictions on the use or enjoyment of any portion of the common
interest development that are intended to be enforceable equitable
servitudes. If the property is located within an airport influence
area, a declaration, recorded after January 1, 2004, shall contain
the following statement:

NOTICE OF AIRPORT IN VICINITY

This property is presently located in the vicinity of an
airport, within what is known as an airport influence area.
For that reason, the property may be subject to some of the
annoyances or inconveniences associated with proximity to
airport operations (for example: noise, vibration, or odors).
Individual sensitivities to those annoyances can vary from
person to person. You may wish to consider what airport
annoyances, if any, are associated with the property before
you complete your purchase and determine whether they are
acceptable to you.

(2) For purposes of this section, an "airport influence area,"
also known as an "airport referral area," is the area in which
current or future airport-related noise, overflight, safety, or
airspace protection factors may significantly affect land uses or
necessitate restrictions on those uses as determined by an airport
land use commission.
(3) If the property is within the San Francisco Bay Conservation
and Development Commission jurisdiction, as described in Section
66610 of the Government Code, a declaration recorded on or after
January 1, 2006, shall contain the following notice:

NOTICE OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION JURISDICTION

This property is located within the jurisdiction of the San
Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Use and
development of property within the commission's jurisdiction may be
subject to special regulations, restrictions, and permit
requirements. You may wish to investigate and determine whether they
are acceptable to you and your intended use of the property before
you complete your transaction.

(4) The statement in a declaration acknowledging that a property
is located in an airport influence area or within the jurisdiction of
the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission does
not constitute a title defect, lien, or encumbrance.
(b) The declaration may contain any other matters the original
signator of the declaration or the owners consider appropriate.

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Posted In: 1353 - Contents of Declaration

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(a) No declaration or other governing document shall
include a restrictive covenant in violation of Section 12955 of the
Government Code.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or provision of the
governing documents, the board of directors of an association,
without approval of the owners, shall amend any declaration or other
governing document that includes a restrictive covenant prohibited by
this section to delete the restrictive covenant, and shall restate
the declaration or other governing document without the restrictive
covenant but with no other change to the declaration or governing
document.
(c) If after providing written notice to an association requesting
that the association delete a restrictive covenant that violates
subdivision (a), and the association fails to delete the restrictive
covenant within 30 days of receiving the notice, the Department of
Fair Employment and Housing, a city or county in which a common
interest development is located, or any person may bring an action
against the association for injunctive relief to enforce subdivision
(a). The court may award attorney's fees to the prevailing party.

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Posted In: 1352.5 - Covenants in Violations Of Gov't Code § 12955; Action For Injunctive Relief.

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This title applies and a common interest development is
created whenever a separate interest coupled with an interest in the
common area or membership in the association is, or has been,
conveyed, provided, all of the following are recorded:
(a) A declaration.
(b) A condominium plan, if any exists.
(c) A final map or parcel map, if Division 2 (commencing with
Section 66410) of Title 7 of the Government Code requires the
recording of either a final map or parcel map for the common interest
development.

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Posted In: 1352 - Requirements for Creation of Common Interest Development

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As used in this title, the following terms have the following
meanings:
(a) "Association" means a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated
association created for the purpose of managing a common interest
development.
(b) "Common area" means the entire common interest development
except the separate interests therein. The estate in the common area
may be a fee, a life estate, an estate for years, or any combination
of the foregoing. However, the common area for a planned
development specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (k) may consist
of mutual or reciprocal easement rights appurtenant to the separate
interests.
(c) "Common interest development" means any of the following:
(1) A community apartment project.
(2) A condominium project.
(3) A planned development.
(4) A stock cooperative.
(d) "Community apartment project" means a development in which an
undivided interest in land is coupled with the right of exclusive
occupancy of any apartment located thereon.
(e) "Condominium plan" means a plan consisting of (1) a
description or survey map of a condominium project, which shall refer
to or show monumentation on the ground, (2) a three-dimensional
description of a condominium project, one or more dimensions of which
may extend for an indefinite distance upwards or downwards, in
sufficient detail to identify the common areas and each separate
interest, and (3) a certificate consenting to the recordation of the
condominium plan pursuant to this title signed and acknowledged by
the following:
(A) The record owner of fee title to that property included in the
condominium project.
(B) In the case of a condominium project which will terminate upon
the termination of an estate for years, the certificate shall be
signed and acknowledged by all lessors and lessees of the estate for
years.
(C) In the case of a condominium project subject to a life estate,
the certificate shall be signed and acknowledged by all life tenants
and remainder interests.
(D) The certificate shall also be signed and acknowledged by
either the trustee or the beneficiary of each recorded deed of trust,
and the mortgagee of each recorded mortgage encumbering the
property.
Owners of mineral rights, easements, rights-of-way, and other
nonpossessory interests do not need to sign the condominium plan.
Further, in the event a conversion to condominiums of a community
apartment project or stock cooperative has been approved by the
required number of owners, trustees, beneficiaries, and mortgagees
pursuant to Section 66452.10 of the Government Code, the certificate
need only be signed by those owners, trustees, beneficiaries, and
mortgagees approving the conversion.
A condominium plan may be amended or revoked by a subsequently
acknowledged recorded instrument executed by all the persons whose
signatures would be required pursuant to this subdivision.
(f) A "condominium project" means a development consisting of
condominiums. A condominium consists of an undivided interest in
common in a portion of real property coupled with a separate interest
in space called a unit, the boundaries of which are described on a
recorded final map, parcel map, or condominium plan in sufficient
detail to locate all boundaries thereof. The area within these
boundaries may be filled with air, earth, or water, or any
combination thereof, and need not be physically attached to land
except by easements for access and, if necessary, support. The
description of the unit may refer to (1) boundaries described in the
recorded final map, parcel map, or condominium plan, (2) physical
boundaries, either in existence, or to be constructed, such as walls,
floors, and ceilings of a structure or any portion thereof, (3) an
entire structure containing one or more units, or (4) any combination
thereof. The portion or portions of the real property held in
undivided interest may be all of the real property, except for the
separate interests, or may include a particular three-dimensional
portion thereof, the boundaries of which are described on a recorded
final map, parcel map, or condominium plan. The area within these
boundaries may be filled with air, earth, or water, or any
combination thereof, and need not be physically attached to land
except by easements for access and, if necessary, support. An
individual condominium within a condominium project may include, in
addition, a separate interest in other portions of the real property.
(g) "Declarant" means the person or group of persons designated in
the declaration as declarant, or if no declarant is designated, the
person or group of persons who sign the original declaration or who
succeed to special rights, preferences, or privileges designated in
the declaration as belonging to the signator of the original
declaration.
(h) "Declaration" means the document, however denominated, which
contains the information required by Section 1353.
(i) "Exclusive use common area" means a portion of the common
areas designated by the declaration for the exclusive use of one or
more, but fewer than all, of the owners of the separate interests and
which is or will be appurtenant to the separate interest or
interests.
(1) Unless the declaration otherwise provides, any shutters,
awnings, window boxes, doorsteps, stoops, porches, balconies, patios,
exterior doors, doorframes, and hardware incident thereto, screens
and windows or other fixtures designed to serve a single separate
interest, but located outside the boundaries of the separate
interest, are exclusive use common areas allocated exclusively to
that separate interest.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of the declaration, internal
and external telephone wiring designed to serve a single separate
interest, but located outside the boundaries of the separate
interest, are exclusive use common areas allocated exclusively to
that separate interest.
(j) "Governing documents" means the declaration and any other
documents, such as bylaws, operating rules of the association,
articles of incorporation, or articles of association, which govern
the operation of the common interest development or association.
(k) "Planned development" means a development (other than a
community apartment project, a condominium project, or a stock
cooperative) having either or both of the following features:
(1) The common area is owned either by an association or in common
by the owners of the separate interests who possess appurtenant
rights to the beneficial use and enjoyment of the common area.
(2) A power exists in the association to enforce an obligation of
an owner of a separate interest with respect to the beneficial use
and enjoyment of the common area by means of an assessment which may
become a lien upon the separate interests in accordance with Section
1367 or 1367.1.
(l) "Separate interest" has the following meanings:
(1) In a community apartment project, "separate interest" means
the exclusive right to occupy an apartment, as specified in
subdivision (d).
(2) In a condominium project, "separate interest" means an
individual unit, as specified in subdivision (f).
(3) In a planned development, "separate interest" means a
separately owned lot, parcel, area, or space.
(4) In a stock cooperative, "separate interest" means the
exclusive right to occupy a portion of the real property, as
specified in subdivision (m).
Unless the declaration or condominium plan, if any exists,
otherwise provides, if walls, floors, or ceilings are designated as
boundaries of a separate interest, the interior surfaces of the
perimeter walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, and outlets
located within the separate interest are part of the separate
interest and any other portions of the walls, floors, or ceilings are
part of the common areas.
The estate in a separate interest may be a fee, a life estate, an
estate for years, or any combination of the foregoing.
(m) "Stock cooperative" means a development in which a corporation
is formed or availed of, primarily for the purpose of holding title
to, either in fee simple or for a term of years, improved real
property, and all or substantially all of the shareholders of the
corporation receive a right of exclusive occupancy in a portion of
the real property, title to which is held by the corporation. The
owners' interest in the corporation, whether evidenced by a share of
stock, a certificate of membership, or otherwise, shall be deemed to
be an interest in a common interest development and a real estate
development for purposes of subdivision (f) of Section 25100 of the
Corporations Code.
A "stock cooperative" includes a limited equity housing
cooperative which is a stock cooperative that meets the criteria of
Section 33007.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

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Posted In: 1351-Definitions

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(a) This section applies to delivery of a document to the
extent the section is made applicable by another provision of this
title.
(b) A document shall be delivered by one or more of the following
methods:
(1) Personal delivery.
(2) First-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to a member at
the address last shown on the books of the association or otherwise
provided by the member. Delivery is deemed to be complete on deposit
into the United States mail.
(3) E-mail, facsimile, or other electronic means, if the recipient
has agreed to that method of delivery. If a document is delivered
by electronic means, delivery is complete at the time of
transmission.
(4) By publication in a periodical that is circulated primarily to
members of the association.
(5) If the association broadcasts television programming for the
purpose of distributing information on association business to its
members, by inclusion in the programming.
(6) A method of delivery provided in a recorded provision of the
governing documents.
(7) Any other method of delivery, provided that the recipient has
agreed to that method of delivery.
(c) A document may be included in or delivered with a billing
statement, newsletter, or other document that is delivered by one of
the methods provided in subdivision (b).
(d) For the purposes of this section, an unrecorded provision of
the governing documents providing for a particular method of delivery
does not constitute agreement by a member of the association to that
method of delivery.

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Posted In: 1350.7 - Methods of Document Delivery.

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Division, part, title, chapter, and section headings do not
in any manner affect the scope, meaning, or intent of this title.

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Posted In: 1350.5 - Title.

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This title shall be known and may be cited as the
Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act.

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Posted In: 1350-Title

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Interesting article recently appeared in the Wall Street Journal (and was also reported in the Los Angeles Daily Journal). Apparently there are "tens of thousands of empty or unfinished condominiums" in Florida. While we have not heard of this type of inventory in California, there are many condominium buildings under construction or recently completed, and many if not most of those units have not been sold. Many owners or individuals who've contracted to buy some of these uncompleted units may be seeking some sort of exit strategy and that may include lawsuits.

The Wall Street Journal article states that recent legal decisions in Florida courts indicate that won't be that easy for buyers to get out of those deals. "the bottom line: unless it's a bona fide contract dispute, and investors chance of winning appear to be slim."

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Posted In: Current Affairs

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