1351

CIVIL CODE
SECTION 1351




1351.  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 817.