Glossary › Property and Common Areas
HOA Property and Common Area Terms
An association splits property into private homes and shared spaces. Knowing where one ends and the other begins settles most maintenance disputes. These terms draw the lines.
Common Area
#Property the whole community shares and the association maintains. It covers things like pools, clubhouses, parks, and private roads. Assessments pay for its upkeep.
Limited Common Element
#A shared area set aside for certain owners. A balcony, assigned parking spot, or patio fits here. The owner uses it, but the association may still own it.
Lot
#A single parcel of land owned by one member, common in single-family communities. The lot lines appear on the plat map. The owner maintains what sits inside them.
Unit
#An owner's private space in a condo or townhome. It usually runs from the interior walls inward. The association handles the structure and the area outside.
Easement
#A right to use part of someone's land for a set purpose. Utility crews and the association often hold them for pipes, wires, or access. The owner keeps title but cannot block the use.
Maintenance Boundary
#The line that splits owner repairs from association repairs. The CC&Rs spell it out part by part. A clear boundary heads off arguments over who pays.
Setback
#The required gap between a structure and a lot line. It keeps homes off property edges and streets. Owners check it before building a shed or fence.