Legal Definitions - cohousing

Cohousing describes a residential arrangement where a group of private homes is intentionally designed around shared common facilities. Residents maintain their individual living spaces, but they also collectively own and manage shared amenities and communal areas. The core principle of cohousing is to foster a strong sense of community and mutual support among neighbors, while still respecting individual privacy. This model encourages regular social interaction and shared activities, often promoting sustainable living practices and a collaborative approach to neighborhood life.

Here are a few examples to illustrate cohousing:

• Urban Family Community: Imagine a newly developed property in a bustling city where several families and single professionals purchase individual townhouses. These townhouses are clustered around a central courtyard featuring a shared children's play area, a communal kitchen and dining hall for optional potluck dinners, and a small library/co-working space. Each resident has their own private home, but they regularly interact in the common areas, organize shared childcare, and collectively decide on the upkeep and use of the shared facilities. This setup allows them to enjoy city living with the added benefit of a close-knit, supportive community.

  This example demonstrates cohousing by showing private residences (the townhouses) combined with shared common spaces (courtyard, play area, communal kitchen/dining, library/co-working space). It highlights the intentional design to foster relationships through shared activities and collective management, balancing individual privacy with community interaction.

• Eco-Conscious Living Group: Consider a rural development where a dozen small, energy-efficient homes are built on a larger plot of land. The residents, who are all passionate about environmental sustainability, each own their private dwelling. However, they collectively manage a large organic community garden, share a workshop for repairs and DIY projects, and have a common building with laundry facilities and a meeting room. They also share a centralized composting system and a rainwater harvesting setup for the garden. This arrangement allows them to live sustainably, share resources, and support each other's eco-friendly initiatives while maintaining their personal space.

  This illustrates cohousing through the presence of private homes (the energy-efficient dwellings) and extensive shared amenities (community garden, workshop, laundry, meeting room, composting, rainwater harvesting). It emphasizes sustainable living and mutual support within a community context, balancing individual ownership with shared resources and collective decision-making.

• Active Adult Community: Picture a community designed for active retirees, consisting of individual bungalows or apartments. While each resident enjoys their private living space, the community also features a large central clubhouse with a fitness center, an art studio, a woodworking shop, and a communal lounge for social gatherings. Residents regularly organize group activities like book clubs, art classes, and shared meals in the clubhouse. They collectively manage the common grounds, including walking paths and a small dog park, fostering a vibrant social life and a supportive environment where neighbors look out for one another, without sacrificing their personal autonomy.

  This example clearly demonstrates cohousing by featuring private residences (bungalows/apartments) alongside extensive shared facilities (clubhouse, fitness center, art studio, woodworking shop, lounge, walking paths, dog park). It highlights the fostering of relationships through organized group activities and social gatherings, and the mutual support among residents, all while each individual maintains their private home.