Tag Archives: Unit Boundaries

Airspace Condominium Units

Included within the various forms of common interest developments (“CIDS”) are condominium projects. (Civ. Code § 4100.) The portion of real property within a condominium project that is owned individually by a property owner is the owner’s “separate interest” (or unit). (Civ. Code §§ 4185(a)(2), 4125(b).) The majority of condominium units within California condominium projects are structured as “airspace” condominium units.

Boundaries
The boundaries of an airspace condominium unit typically include the interior, unfinished surfaces of the unit’s perimeter walls, floors, ceilings, windows and doors. These boundaries are often identified within the provisions of the CID’s condominium plan and may also be stated in the association’s CC&Rs. Where such provisions are absent or ambiguous, Civil Code Section 4185(b) establishes this default boundary structure:

“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…” (Civ. Code § 4185(b).)

The property owned by an owner (the owner’s separate interest) consists of the block of airspace created by the interior, unfinished surfaces of the unit’s perimeter walls, floors and ceilings. Using this structure, the owner would own the paint on the walls and ceilings, and any finishes placed on the floor (i.e., tile, hardwood, carpet, etc.), as well as the block or “cube” of airspace located within those boundaries and any improvements located within that airspace (i.e., cabinetry, appliances, plumbing fixtures, etc.). However, everything existing beyond those boundaries (i.e., the physical drywall, subfloor, unit foundation, roof, etc.) would generally constitute common area. The boundaries of an airspace condominium unit are significant in determining the scope of an owner’s maintenance and repair responsibilities versus those of the association. (See “Common Area Maintenance.”)

Exclusive Use Common Areas
The owner of an airspace condominium unit often also has certain portions of association common area designated for the owner’s exclusive use (i.e., patios, balconies, decks, etc.). These “exclusive use common areas” are not owned by the owner in his/her individual capacity; they are a portion of common area reserved for the owner’s exclusive use via the provisions of the association’s CC&Rs. This distinction is significant because it impacts the scope of the owner’s maintenance and repair responsibilities versus those of the association. (See “Exclusive Use Common Area Maintenance.”)

Davis-stirling Act

Civil Code Section 4775. Association and Owner Maintenance Responsibilities.

(a)

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (4), unless otherwise provided in the declaration of a common interest development, the association is responsible for repairing, replacing, and maintaining the common area.

(2)

(A) Unless otherwise provided in the declaration of a common interest development, or unless the utility service that failed is required to be maintained, repaired, or replaced by a public, private, or other utility service provider, the association is responsible for repairs and replacements necessary to restore interrupted gas, heat, water, or electrical services that begin in the common area even if the matter extends into a separate interest or the exclusive use common area appurtenant to a separate interest.

(B) This paragraph does not change any legal duty or obligation of a utility company or local government to repair or replace components pertaining to gas, heat, water, or electrical services.

(3) Unless otherwise provided in the declaration of a common interest development, the owner of each separate interest is responsible for repairing, replacing, and maintaining that separate interest.

(4) Unless otherwise provided in the declaration of a common interest development, the owner of each separate interest is responsible for maintaining the exclusive use common area appurtenant to that separate interest and the association is responsible for repairing and replacing the exclusive use common area.

(b)

(1) An association’s board shall commence the process to make the repairs necessary to restore gas, heat, water, or electrical services, as required by this section, within 14 days of the interruption of services.

(2) If there are insufficient reserve funds available to cover the costs of repairs or replacements, as required by this section, an association may obtain competitive financing from a financial institution, in compliance with Section 5735, to pay for the costs of the repairs or replacements described in paragraph (1) without requiring a vote of the members and levy an emergency assessment to allow for the repayment of the loan. However, before obtaining that financing, the board shall pass a resolution containing written findings regarding the nature of the association’s expenses and how the association’s reserves do not cover the necessary costs. The resolution shall be distributed to the members with the notice of the emergency assessment and with notices otherwise required by law or governing documents pursuant to the board’s action, if any.

(3) Notwithstanding any other section of law or the association’s governing documents, if an association’s board is unable to meet a quorum within 14 days, pursuant to this section, then at the next duly noticed board meeting following the 14th day, the requirements for a quorum shall be reduced so that the total number of directors at that board meeting shall constitute a quorum. This reduced quorum shall only apply for the vote to commence the process specified in paragraph (1). The notice shall contain a provision indicating the use of a reduced quorum.

(4) Notwithstanding the requirements of Section 4910, if directors of an association are required to vote to initiate any repairs or replacements pursuant to this subdivision, voting may be performed by electronic means, including, but not limited to, email. All records of the vote shall be deemed association records and subject to the inspection and retention rules specified in Section 5210.

(c) The costs of temporary relocation during the repair, replacement, or maintenance of the areas within the responsibility of the association shall be borne by the owner of the separate interest affected.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to result in the personal liability of a director of an association.

(e) This section shall not apply if the association is in an area affected by one or more of the following conditions, and such condition or conditions materially affect the association’s ability to perform its responsibilities pursuant to this section:

(1) A state of disaster or emergency declared by the federal government.

(2) A state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor pursuant to Section 8625 of the Government Code.

(3) A local emergency proclaimed by a local governing body or official under Section 8630 of the Government Code.

Related Links

Limitation on HOA Tort Liability for Maintenance Failures
– Published on HOA Lawyer Blog (January 2020)

Davis-stirling Act

Civil Code Section 4290. Condominium Plan Recording.

(a) The certificate consenting to the recordation of a condominium plan that is required by subdivision (c) of Section 4285 shall be signed and acknowledged by all of the following persons:

(1) The record owner of fee title to that property included in the condominium project.

(2) In the case of a condominium project that will terminate upon the termination of an estate for years, by all lessors and lessees of the estate for years.

(3) In the case of a condominium project subject to a life estate, by all life tenants and remainder interests.

(4) The trustee or the beneficiary of each recorded deed of trust, and the mortgagee of each recorded mortgage encumbering the property.

(b) Owners of mineral rights, easements, rights-of-way, and other nonpossessory interests do not need to sign the certificate.

(c) 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.

Davis-stirling Act

Civil Code Section 4285. Condominium Plan Requirements.

A condominium plan shall contain all of the following:

(a) A description or survey map of a condominium project, which shall refer to or show monumentation on the ground.

(b) 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 area and each separate interest.

(c) A certificate consenting to the recordation of the condominium plan pursuant to this act that is signed and acknowledged as provided in Section 4290.

Davis-stirling Act

Civil Code Section 4220. Boundaries of Units.

In interpreting deeds and condominium plans, the existing physical boundaries of a unit in a condominium project, when the boundaries of the unit are contained within a building, or of a unit reconstructed in substantial accordance with the original plans thereof, shall be conclusively presumed to be its boundaries rather than the metes and bounds expressed in the deed or condominium plan, if any exists, regardless of settling or lateral movement of the building and regardless of minor variance between boundaries shown on the plan or in the deed and those of the building.

Davis-stirling Act

Civil Code Section 4185. “Separate Interest” Defined.

(a) “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 Section 4105.

(2) In a condominium project, “separate interest” means a separately owned unit, as specified in Section 4125.

(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 Section 4190.

(b) 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 area.

(c) The estate in a separate interest may be a fee, a life estate, an estate for years, or any combination of the foregoing.

Davis-stirling Act

Civil Code Section 4145. “Exclusive Use Common Area” Defined.

(a) “Exclusive use common area” means a portion of the common area 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.

(b) 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 area allocated exclusively to that separate interest.

(c) 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, is exclusive use common area allocated exclusively to that separate interest.

Davis-stirling Act

Civil Code Section 4125. “Condominium Project” Defined.

(a) A “condominium project” means a real property development consisting of condominiums.

(b) 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, water, or fixtures, 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.

(c) 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, water, or fixtures, or any combination thereof, and need not be physically attached to land except by easements for access and, if necessary, support.

(d) An individual condominium within a condominium project may include, in addition, a separate interest in other portions of the real property.