Legal Definitions - common interest development

A Common Interest Development (CID) is a form of property ownership where individual units, whether residential or commercial, are part of a larger community that shares ownership or access to certain common areas. These developments are governed by a private association, such as a homeowners' association (HOA), which is responsible for maintaining the shared spaces, enforcing rules among members, and collecting fees to cover these costs. CIDs allow for shared amenities and services, but members must adhere to specific regulations that apply to both their individual units and the common areas.

Examples:

• A Gated Community of Single-Family Homes: Imagine a neighborhood where each resident owns their individual house and yard, but they collectively own and maintain a private clubhouse, a community swimming pool, and the security gates at the entrance. An elected homeowners' association (HOA) manages the budget, hires landscapers for the common areas, and sets rules for things like exterior paint colors or noise levels.

  Explanation: Here, each single-family home is an individual unit. The clubhouse, pool, and security gates are the common areas. The HOA is the governing body that collects fees from all homeowners to maintain these shared amenities and enforces community rules, illustrating a CID.

• A Professional Office Park: Consider a complex of several separate office buildings where each business owns its specific building, but they all share a large parking lot, common walkways, and a central courtyard with outdoor seating. A business owners' association oversees the maintenance of these shared facilities, manages security for the entire park, and allocates costs among the different businesses.

  Explanation: Each office building is an individual unit. The parking lot, walkways, and courtyard are the common areas. The business owners' association acts as the governing body, collecting dues to manage and maintain these shared resources and enforce operational guidelines within the park, fitting the definition of a CID.

• A Mixed-Use Urban Building: Picture a multi-story building in a city center where the ground floor contains several retail shops, and the upper floors are residential apartments. All residents and shop owners share a common rooftop garden, a fitness center, and the building's main elevator system. A property management association is responsible for the upkeep of these shared spaces, manages the building's utilities, and establishes rules for all occupants regarding noise, waste disposal, and common area usage.

  Explanation: The individual retail units and apartment units are the distinct properties. The rooftop garden, fitness center, and elevators are the common areas. The property management association is the governing body that collects fees from both commercial and residential owners to maintain these shared amenities and enforce rules for the benefit of the entire building, demonstrating a CID.