§33-1801 - Applicability; exemption

A. This chapter applies to all planned communities.

B. Notwithstanding any provisions in the community documents, this chapter does not apply to any school that receives monies from this state, including a charter school, and a school is exempt from regulation or any enforcement action by any homeowners’ association that is subject to this chapter. With the exception of home schools as defined in §15-802, schools shall not be established within the living units of a homeowners’ association. The homeowners’ association may enter into a contractual agreement with a school district or charter school to allow use of the homeowners’ association’s common areas by the school district or charter school.

C. This chapter does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title.

§33-1802 - Definitions

In this chapter and in the community documents, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “Association” means a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association of owners that is created pursuant to a declaration to own and operate portions of a planned community and that has the power under the declaration to assess association members to pay the costs and expenses incurred in the performance of the association’s obligations under the declaration.
     
2. “Community documents” means the declaration, bylaws, articles of incorporation, if any, and rules, if any.
     
3. “Declaration” means any instruments, however denominated, that establish a planned community and any amendment to those instruments.
     
4. “Planned community” means a real estate development which includes real estate owned and operated by a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association of owners that is created for the purpose of managing, maintaining or improving the property and in which the owners of separately owned lots, parcels or units are mandatory members and are required to pay assessments to the association for these purposes. Planned community does not include a timeshare plan or a timeshare association that is governed by chapter 20 of this title.

§33-1803 - Penalties; notice to member of violation

A. Unless limitations in the community documents would result in a lower limit for the assessment, the association shall not impose a regular assessment that is more than twenty per cent greater than the immediately preceding fiscal year's assessment without the approval of the majority of the members of the association. Unless reserved to the members of the association, the board of directors may impose reasonable charges for the late payment of assessments. A payment by a member is deemed late if it is unpaid fifteen or more days after its due date, unless the community documents provide for a longer period. Charges for the late payment of assessments are limited to the greater of fifteen dollars or ten per cent of the amount of the unpaid assessment. Any monies paid by the member for an unpaid assessment shall be applied first to the principal amount unpaid and then to the interest accrued.

B. After notice and an opportunity to be heard, the board of directors may impose reasonable monetary penalties on members for violations of the declaration, bylaws and rules of the association. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, the board of directors shall not impose a charge for a late payment of a penalty that exceeds the greater of fifteen dollars or ten per cent of the amount of the unpaid penalty. A payment is deemed late if it is unpaid fifteen or more days after its due date, unless the declaration, bylaws or rules of the association provide for a longer period. Any monies paid by a member for an unpaid penalty shall be applied first to the principal amount unpaid and then to the interest accrued. Notice pursuant to this subsection shall include information pertaining to the manner in which the penalty shall be enforced.

C. A member who receives a written notice that the condition of the property owned by the member is in violation of the community documents without regard to whether a monetary penalty is imposed by the notice may provide the association with a written response by sending the response by certified mail within ten business days after the date of the notice. The response shall be sent to the address contained in the notice or in the recorded notice prescribed by § 33-1807, subsection J.

D. Within ten business days after receipt of the certified mail containing the response from the member, the association shall respond to the member with a written explanation regarding the notice that shall provide at least the following information unless previously provided in the notice of violation:

1. The provision of the community documents that has allegedly been violated.
2. The date of the violation or the date the violation was observed.
3. The first and last name of the person or persons who observed the violation.
4. The process the member must follow to contest the notice.

E. Unless the information required in subsection D, paragraph 4 of this section is provided in the notice of violation, the association shall not proceed with any action to enforce the community documents, including the collection of attorney fees, before or during the time prescribed by subsection D of this section regarding the exchange of information between the association and the member. At any time before or after completion of the exchange of information pursuant to this section, the member may petition for a hearing pursuant to § 41-2198.01 if the dispute is within the jurisdiction of the department of fire, building and life safety as prescribed in § 41-2198.01, subsection B.

§33-1804 - Open meetings; exceptions

A. Notwithstanding any provision in the declaration, bylaws or other documents to the contrary, all meetings of the association and board of directors are open to all members of the association or any person designated by a member in writing as the member's representative and all members or designated representatives so desiring shall be permitted to attend and speak at an appropriate time during the deliberations and proceedings. The board may place reasonable time restrictions on those persons speaking during the meeting but shall permit a member or member's designated representative to speak before the board takes formal action on an item under discussion in addition to any other opportunities to speak. The board shall provide for a reasonable number of persons to speak on each side of an issue. Any portion of a meeting may be closed only if that closed portion of the meeting is limited to consideration of one or more of the following:

1. Legal advice from an attorney for the board or the association. On final resolution of any matter for which the board received legal advice or that concerned pending or contemplated litigation, the board may disclose information about that matter in an open meeting except for matters that are required to remain confidential by the terms of a settlement agreement or judgment.

2. Pending or contemplated litigation.

3. Personal, health or financial information about an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor for the association, including records of the association directly related to the personal, health or financial information about an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor for the association.

4. Matters relating to the job performance of, compensation of, health records of or specific complaints against an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor of the association who works under the direction of the association.

B. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, all meetings of the association and the board shall be held in this state. A meeting of the association shall be held at least once each year. Special meetings of the association may be called by the president, by a majority of the board of directors or by members having at least twenty-five per cent, or any lower percentage specified in the bylaws, of the votes in the association. Unless otherwise provided in the articles or bylaws of the association, not fewer than ten nor more than fifty days in advance of any meeting of the members the secretary shall cause notice to be hand-delivered or sent prepaid by United States mail to the mailing address for each lot, parcel or unit owner or to any other mailing address designated in writing by a member. The notice shall state the time and place of the meeting. A notice of any special meeting of the members shall also state the purpose for which the meeting is called, including the general nature of any proposed amendment to the declaration or bylaws, changes in assessments that require approval of the members and any proposal to remove a director or an officer. The failure of any member to receive actual notice of a meeting of the members does not affect the validity of any action taken at that meeting.

C. Unless otherwise provided in the articles or bylaws of the association, for meetings of the board of directors that are held after the termination of declarant control of the association, notice to members of meetings of the board of directors shall be given at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting by newsletter, conspicuous posting or any other reasonable means as determined by the board of directors. An affidavit of notice by an officer of the corporation is prima facie evidence that notice was given as prescribed by this section. Notice to members of meetings of the board of directors is not required if emergency circumstances require action by the board before notice can be given. Any notice of a board meeting shall state the time and place of the meeting. The failure of any member to receive actual notice of a meeting of the board of directors does not affect the validity of any action taken at that meeting.

§33-1805 - Association financial and other records

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, all financial and other records of the association shall be made reasonably available for examination by any member or any person designated by the member in writing as the member's representative. The association shall not charge a member or any person designated by the member in writing for making material available for review. The association shall have ten business days to fulfill a request for examination. On request for purchase of copies of records by any member or any person designated by the member in writing as the member's representative, the association shall have ten business days to provide copies of the requested records. An association may charge a fee for making copies of not more than fifteen cents per page.

B. Books and records kept by or on behalf of the association and the board may be withheld from disclosure to the extent that the portion withheld relates to any of the following:

1. Privileged communication between an attorney for the association and the association.
2. Pending litigation.
3. Meeting minutes or other records of a session of a board meeting that is not required to be open to all members pursuant to § 33-1804.
4. Personal, health or financial records of an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor for the association, including records of the association directly related to the personal, health or financial information about an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor for the association.
5. Records relating to the job performance of, compensation of, health records of or specific complaints against an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor of the association who works under the direction of the association.

C. The association shall not be required to disclose financial and other records of the association if disclosure would violate any state or federal law.

§33-1806 - Resale of units; information required; definition

A. For planned communities with fewer than fifty units, a member shall mail or deliver to a purchaser within ten days after receipt of a written notice of a pending sale of the unit, and for planned communities with fifty or more units, the association shall mail or deliver to a purchaser within ten days after receipt of a written notice of a pending sale that contains the name and address of the purchaser, all of the following:

1. A copy of the bylaws and the rules of the association.
     
2. A copy of the declaration.
     
3. A dated statement containing:

   (a) The telephone number and address of a principal contact for the association, which may be an association manager, an association management company, an officer of the association or any other person designated by the board of directors.

   (b) The amount of the common regular assessment and the unpaid common regular assessment, special assessment or other assessment, fee or charge currently due and payable from the selling member.

   (c) A statement as to whether a portion of the unit is covered by insurance maintained by the association.

   (d) The total amount of money held by the association as reserves.

   (e) If the statement is being furnished by the association, a statement as to whether the records of the association reflect any alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration. The association is not obligated to provide information regarding alterations or improvements that occurred more than six years before the proposed sale. Nothing in this subdivision relieves the seller of a unit from the obligation to disclose alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration, nor precludes the association from taking action against the purchaser of a unit for violations that are apparent at the time of purchase and that are not reflected in the association's records.

   (f) If the statement is being furnished by the member, a statement as to whether the member has any knowledge of any alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration

   (g) A statement of case names and case numbers for pending litigation with respect to the unit filed by the association against the member or filed by the member against the association. The member shall not be required to disclose information concerning such pending litigation which would violate any applicable rule of attorney-client privilege under Arizona law.

   (h) A statement that provides "I hereby acknowledge that the declaration, bylaws and rules of the association constitute a contract between the association and me (the purchaser). By signing this statement, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the association's contract with me (the purchaser). I also understand that as a matter of Arizona law, if I fail to pay my association assessments, the association may foreclose on my property." The statement shall also include a signature line for the purchaser and shall be returned to the association within fourteen calendar days.
     

4. A copy of the current operating budget of the association.
     
5. A copy of the most recent annual financial report of the association. If the report is more than ten pages, the association may provide a summary of the report in lieu of the entire report.
     
6. A copy of the most recent reserve study of the association, if any.

B. A purchaser or seller who is damaged by the failure of the member or the association to disclose the information required by subsection A of this section may pursue all remedies at law or in equity against the member or the association, whichever failed to comply with subsection A of this section, including the recovery of reasonable attorney fees.

C. The association may charge the member a reasonable fee to compensate the association for the costs incurred in the preparation of a statement furnished by the association pursuant to this section. The association shall make available to any interested party the amount of any fee established from time to time by the association.

D. A sale in which a public report is issued pursuant to §§ 32-2183 and 32-2197.02 or a sale pursuant to § 32-2181.02 is exempt from this section.

E. For purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "member" means the seller of the unit title and excludes any real estate salesperson or real estate broker who is licensed under title 32, chapter 20  and who is acting as a salesperson or broker and also excludes a trustee of a deed of trust who is selling the property in a trustee's sale pursuant to chapter 6.1 of this title.

§33-1807 - Lien for assessments; priority; mechanics' and materialmen's liens

A. The association has a lien on a unit for any assessment levied against that unit from the time the assessment becomes due. The association's lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments may be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage on real estate but may be foreclosed only if the owner has been delinquent in the payment of monies secured by the lien, excluding reasonable collection fees, reasonable attorney fees and charges for late payment of and costs incurred with respect to those assessments, for a period of one year or in the amount of one thousand two hundred dollars or more, whichever occurs first. Fees, charges, late charges, monetary penalties and interest charged pursuant to § 33-1803, other than charges for late payment of assessments are not enforceable as assessments under this section. If an assessment is payable in installments, the full amount of the assessment is a lien from the time the first installment of the assessment becomes due. The association has a lien for fees, charges, late charges, other than charges for late payment of assessments, monetary penalties or interest charged pursuant to § 33-1803 after the entry of a judgment in a civil suit for those fees, charges, late charges, monetary penalties or interest from a court of competent jurisdiction and the recording of that judgment in the office of the county recorder as otherwise provided by law. The association's lien for monies other than for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments may not be foreclosed and is effective only on conveyance of any interest in the real property.

B. A lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments under this section is prior to all other liens, interests and encumbrances on a unit except:

1. Liens and encumbrances recorded before the recordation of the declaration.
     
2. A recorded first mortgage on the unit, a seller's interest in a first contract for sale pursuant to chapter 6, article 3 of this title  on the unit recorded prior to the lien arising pursuant to subsection A of this section or a recorded first deed of trust on the unit.
     
3. Liens for real estate taxes and other governmental assessments or charges against the unit.

C. Subsection B of this section does not affect the priority of mechanics' or materialmen's liens or the priority of liens for other assessments made by the association. The lien under this section is not subject to chapter 8 of this title.

D. Unless the declaration otherwise provides, if two or more associations have liens for assessments created at any time on the same real estate those liens have equal priority.

E. Recording of the declaration constitutes record notice and perfection of the lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments. Further recordation of any claim of lien for assessments under this section is not required.

F. A lien for an unpaid assessment is extinguished unless proceedings to enforce the lien are instituted within three years after the full amount of the assessment becomes due.

G. This section does not prohibit:

1. Actions to recover amounts for which subsection A of this section creates a lien.
     
2. An association from taking a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

H. A judgment or decree in any action brought under this section shall include costs and reasonable attorney fees for the prevailing party.

I. On written request, the association shall furnish to a lienholder, escrow agent, unit owner or person designated by a unit owner a statement setting forth the amount of any unpaid assessment against the unit. The association shall furnish the statement within fifteen days after receipt of the request, and the statement is binding on the association, the board of directors and every unit owner if the statement is requested by an escrow agency that is licensed pursuant to title 6, chapter 7.  Failure to provide the statement to the escrow agent within the time provided for in this subsection shall extinguish any lien for any unpaid assessment then due.

J. The association shall record in the office of the county recorder in the county in which the planned community is located a notice stating the name of the association or designated agent or management company for the association, the address for the association and the telephone number of the association or its designated agent or management company. The notice shall include the name of the planned community, the date of the recording and the recorded instrument number or book and page for the main document that constitutes the declaration. If an association's address, designated agent or management company changes, the association shall amend its notice or record a new notice within ninety days after the change.

K. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents or in any contract between the association and a management company, unless the member directs otherwise, all payments received on a member's account shall be applied first to any unpaid assessments, for unpaid charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for unpaid attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments, in that order, with any remaining amounts applied next to other unpaid fees, charges and monetary penalties or interest and late charges on any of those amounts.

§33-1808 - Flag display; political signs; caution signs; for sale signs

A. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit the outdoor display of any of the following:

1. The American flag or an official or replica of a flag of the United States army, navy, air force, marine corps or coast guard by an association member on that member's property if the American flag or military flag is displayed in a manner consistent with the federal flag code (P.L. 94-344; 90 Stat. 810; 4 United States Code §§ 4 through 10).
     
2. The POW/MIA flag.
     
3. The Arizona state flag.
     
4. An Arizona Indian nations flag.

B. The association shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations regarding the placement and manner of display of the American flag, the military flag, the POW/MIA flag, the Arizona state flag or an Arizona Indian nations flag. The association rules may regulate the location and size of flagpoles but shall not prohibit the installation of a flagpole.

C. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit the indoor or outdoor display of a political sign by an association member on that member's property, except that an association may prohibit the display of political signs earlier than forty-five days before the day of an election and later than seven days after an election day. An association may regulate the size and number of political signs that may be placed on a member's property if the association's regulation is no more restrictive than any applicable city, town or county ordinance that regulates the size and number of political signs on residential property. If the city, town or county in which the property is located does not regulate the size and number of political signs on residential property, the association shall permit at least one political sign with the maximum dimensions of twenty-four inches by twenty-four inches on a member's property. For the purposes of this paragraph, "political sign" means a sign that attempts to influence the outcome of an election, including supporting or opposing the recall of a public officer or supporting or opposing the circulation of a petition for a ballot measure, question or proposition or the recall of a public officer.

D. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit the use of cautionary signs regarding children if the signs are used and displayed as follows:
  

1. The signs are displayed in residential areas only.
     
2. The signs are removed within one hour of children ceasing to play.
     
3. The signs are displayed only when children are actually present within fifty feet of the sign.
     
4. The temporary signs are no taller than three feet in height.
     
5. The signs are professionally manufactured or produced.

E. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit children who reside in the planned community from engaging in recreational activity on residential roadways that are under the jurisdiction of the association and on which the posted speed limit is twenty-five miles per hour or less.

F. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit the indoor or outdoor display of a for sale sign and a sign rider by an association member on that member's property, including a sign that indicates the member is offering the property for sale by owner. The size of a sign offering a property for sale shall be in conformance with the industry standard size sign, which shall not exceed eighteen by twenty-four inches, and the industry standard size sign rider, which shall not exceed six by twenty-four inches.

G. [Effective September 26, 2008] Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit but may reasonably regulate the circulation of political petitions, including candidate nomination petitions or petitions in support of or opposition to an initiative, referendum or recall or other political issue on property dedicated to the public within the association.  A planned community is not required to comply with this section if the planned community restricts vehicular or pedestrian access to the planned community.  Nothing in this section requires a planned community to make its common elements available for the circulation of political petitions to anyone who is not an owner or resident of the community.

§33-1809 - Parking; public service and public safety emergency vehicles; definition

A. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit a resident from parking a motor vehicle on a street or driveway in the planned community if the vehicle is required to be available at designated periods at the person's residence as a condition of the person's employment and either of the following applies:
  

1. 1. The resident is employed by a public service corporation that is regulated by the corporation commission or a municipal utility and the public service corporation or municipal utility is required to prepare for emergency deployments of personnel and equipment for repair or maintenance of natural gas, electrical, telecommunications or water infrastructure, the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of twenty thousand pounds or less and is owned or operated by the public service corporation or municipal utility and the vehicle bears an official emblem or other visible designation of the public service corporation or municipal utility.
     
2. 2. The resident is employed by a public safety agency, including police or fire service for a federal, state, local or tribal agency or a private fire service provider or an ambulance service provider that is regulated pursuant to title 36, chapter 21.1,  and the vehicle has a gross vehicle weight rating of ten thousand pounds or less and bears an official emblem or other visible designation of that agency.

B. For the purposes of this section, "telecommunications" means the transmission of information of the user's choosing between or among points specified by the user without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received. Telecommunications does not include commercial mobile radio services.

§33-1810 - Board of directors; annual audit

Unless any provision in the planned community documents requires an annual audit by a certified public accountant, the board of directors shall provide for an annual financial audit, review or compilation of the association. The audit, review or compilation shall be completed no later than one hundred eighty days after the end of the association's fiscal year and shall be made available upon request to the members within thirty days after its completion.

§33-1811 - Board of directors; contracts; conflict

If any contract, decision or other action for compensation taken by or on behalf of the board of directors would benefit any member of the board of directors or any person who is a parent, grandparent, spouse, child or sibling of a member of the board of directors or a parent or spouse of any of those persons, that member of the board of directors shall declare a conflict of interest for that issue. The member shall declare the conflict in an open meeting of the board before the board discusses or takes action on that issue and that member may then vote on that issue. Any contract entered into in violation of this section is void and unenforceable.
A.R.S. § 33-1812

§33-1812 - Proxies; absentee ballots; definition

A. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, after termination of the period of declarant control, votes allocated to a unit may not be cast pursuant to a proxy. The association shall provide for votes to be cast in person and by absentee ballot and may provide for voting by some other form of delivery. Notwithstanding § 10-3708 or the provisions of the community documents, any action taken at an annual, regular or special meeting of the members shall comply with all of the following if absentee ballots are used:

1. The absentee ballot shall set forth each proposed action.
     
2. The absentee ballot shall provide an opportunity to vote for or against each proposed action.
     
3. The absentee ballot is valid for only one specified election or meeting of the members and expires automatically after the completion of the election or meeting.
     
4. The absentee ballot specifies the time and date by which the ballot must be delivered to the board of directors in order to be counted, which shall be at least seven days after the date that the board delivers the unvoted absentee ballot to the member.
     
5. The absentee ballot does not authorize another person to cast votes on behalf of the member.

B. Votes cast by absentee ballot or other form of delivery are valid for the purpose of establishing a quorum.

C. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, an association for a timeshare plan as defined in § 32-2197 may permit votes by a proxy that is duly executed by a unit owner.

D. For the purposes of this section, "period of declarant control" means the time during which the declarant or persons designated by the declarant may elect or appoint the members of the board of directors pursuant to the community documents or by virtue of superior voting power.
  

§33-1813 - Removal of board member; special meeting

A. Notwithstanding any provision of the declaration or bylaws to the contrary, the members, by a majority vote of members entitled to vote and voting on the matter at a meeting of the members called pursuant to this section at which a quorum is present, may remove any member of the board of directors with or without cause, other than a member appointed by the declarant. For purposes of calling for removal of a member of the board of directors, other than a member appointed by the declarant, the following apply:
  

1. In an association with one thousand or fewer members, on receipt of a petition that calls for removal of a member of the board of directors and that is signed by the number of persons who are entitled to cast at least twenty- five per cent of the votes in the association or one hundred votes in the association, whichever is less, the board shall call and provide written notice of a special meeting of the association as prescribed by § 33-1804, subsection B.
     
2. Notwithstanding § 33-1804, subsection B, in an association with more than one thousand members, on receipt of a petition that calls for removal of a member of the board of directors and that is signed by the number of persons who are entitled to cast at least ten per cent of the votes in the association or one thousand votes in the association, whichever is less, the board shall call and provide written notice of a special meeting of the association. The board shall provide written notice of a special meeting as prescribed by § 33-1804, subsection B.
     
3. The special meeting shall be called, noticed and held within thirty days after receipt of the petition.
     
4. For purposes of a special meeting called pursuant to this subsection, a quorum is present if the number of owners to whom at least twenty per cent of the votes or one thousand votes, whichever is less, are allocated is present at the meeting in person or as otherwise permitted by law.
     
5. If a civil action is filed regarding the removal of a board member, the prevailing party in the civil action shall be awarded its reasonable attorney fees and costs.
     
6. The board of directors shall retain all documents and other records relating to the proposed removal of the member of the board of directors for at least one year after the date of the special meeting and shall permit members to inspect those documents and records pursuant to § 33-1805.
     
7. A petition that calls for the removal of the same member of the board of directors shall not be submitted more than once during each term of office for that member.

B. For an association in which board members are elected from separately designated voting districts, a member of the board of directors, other than a member appointed by the declarant, may be removed only by a vote of the members from that voting district, and only the members from that voting district are eligible to vote on the matter or be counted for purposes of determining a quorum.

§33-1814 - Slum property; professional management

For any residential rental units that have been declared a slum property by the city or town pursuant to § 33-1905 and that are in the planned community, the association is responsible for enforcing any requirement for a licensed property management firm that is imposed by a city or town pursuant to § 33- 1906.

§33-1815 - Association authority; commercial signage

Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, after an association has approved a commercial sign, including its registered trademark that is located on properties zoned for commercial use in the planned community, the association, including any subsequently elected board of directors, may not revoke or modify its approval of that sign if the owner or operator of the sign has received approval for the sign from the local or county governing body with jurisdiction over the sign.

§33-1816 - Solar energy devices; reasonable restrictions; fees and costs

A. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, an association shall not prohibit the installation or use of a solar energy device as defined in § 44-1761.

B. An association may adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement of a solar energy device if those rules do not prevent the installation, impair the functioning of the device or restrict its use or adversely affect the cost or efficiency of the device.

C. Notwithstanding any provision of the community documents, the court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to any party who substantially prevails in an action against the board of directors of the association for a violation of this section.

§33-1201 - Applicability – Effective Starting January 1, 2009

This chapter applies to all condominiums created within this state without regard to the date the condominium was created.

§33-1201 - Applicability – Effective Through December 31, 2008

A. This chapter applies to all condominiums created within this state on or after January 1, 1986.

B. This chapter applies to all condominiums created before January 1, 1986 to the extent that this chapter does not conflict with the declarations, articles or bylaws of the condominium.

C. With respect to condominiums created before January 1, 1986, this chapter applies to the extent the provisions of this chapter are not in conflict with former chapter 4.1 of this title, in effect before January 1, 1986, or declarations, bylaws or plats of condominiums adopted pursuant to former chapter 4.1 of this title. The provisions of former chapter 4.1 of this title and the declarations, bylaws or plats adopted pursuant to that chapter control, except as provided in subsection D of this section.

D. The provisions of former chapter 4.1 of this title, in effect before January 1, 1986, do not apply to condominiums created on or after January 1, 1986. The repeal of chapter 4.1 of this title does not invalidate condominiums created pursuant to chapter 4.1 of this title or future amendments to declarations, bylaws and plats of these condominiums if the amendments are permitted by this chapter. Amendments shall be adopted in conformity with the procedures and requirements specified in the declarations, bylaws and plats which were adopted pursuant to former chapter 4.1 of this title. If amendments grant to a person any rights, powers or privileges permitted by this chapter, all correlative obligations, liabilities and restrictions in this chapter also apply to that person.

E. Any unit owners' association created before January 1, 1986 may elect to be subject to the provisions of this chapter by amending its condominium documents to conform with the requirements of this chapter. The amendment must be adopted in conformity with the condominium documents and must be permitted by this chapter. If an amendment grants to a person a right, power or privilege permitted by this chapter, all correlative obligations, liabilities and restrictions in this chapter also apply.

§33-1202 - Definitions

In the condominium documents, unless specifically provided otherwise or the context otherwise requires, and in this chapter:

1. "Affiliate of a declarant" means any person who controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a declarant.
     
2. "Allocated interests" means the undivided interests in the common elements, the common expense liability and votes in the association allocated to each unit.
     
3. "Articles of incorporation" means the instrument by which an incorporated association or unit owners' association is formed and organized under this state's corporate statutes.
     
4. "Association" or "unit owners' association" means the unit owners' association organized under § 33-1241.
     
5. "Board of directors" means the body, regardless of its name, designated in the declaration and given general management powers to act on behalf of the association.
     
6. "Bylaws" means the bylaws required by § 33-1246.
     
7. "Common elements" means all portions of a condominium other than the units.
     
8. "Common expense liability" means the liability for common expenses allocated to each unit pursuant to § 33-1217.|
     
9. "Common expenses" means expenditures made by or financial liabilities of the association, together with any allocations to reserves.
     
10. "Condominium" means real estate, portions of which are designated for separate ownership and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely by the owners of the separate portions. Real estate is not a condominium unless the undivided interests in the common elements are vested in the unit owners.
      
11. "Condominium documents" means the declaration, bylaws, articles of incorporation, if any, and rules, if any.
      
12. "Declarant" means any person or group of persons who reserves, is granted or succeeds to any special declarant right.
      
13. "Declaration" means any instruments, however denominated, that create a condominium and any amendments to those instruments.
      
14. "Development rights" means any right or combination of rights reserved by or granted to a declarant in the declaration to do any of the following:

    (a) Add real estate to a condominium.
    (b) Create easements, units, common elements or limited common elements within a condominium.
    c) Subdivide units, convert units into common elements or convert common elements into units.
    (d) Withdraw real estate from a condominium.
    (e) Make the condominium part of a larger condominium or planned community.
    (f) Amend the declaration during any period of declarant control, pursuant to § 33-1243, subsection E, to comply with applicable law or to correct any error or inconsistency in the declaration, if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights of any unit owner.
    (g) Amend the declaration during any period of declarant control, pursuant to § 33-1243, subsection E, to comply with the rules or guidelines, in effect from time to time, of any governmental or quasi-governmental entity or federal corporation guaranteeing or insuring mortgage loans or governing transactions involving mortgage instruments.
      

15. "Identifying number" means a symbol or address that identifies one unit in a condominium.
      
16. "Leasehold condominium" means a condominium in which all or a portion of the real estate is subject to a lease the expiration or termination of which will terminate the condominium or reduce its size.
      
17. "Limited common element" means a portion of the common elements specifically designated as a limited common element in the declaration and allocated by the declaration or by operation of § 33-1212, paragraph 2 or 4 for the exclusive use of one or more but fewer than all of the units.
      
18. "Person" means a natural person, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal or commercial entity. In the case of a subdivision trust, as defined in § 6-801, person means the beneficiary of the trust who holds the right to subdivide, develop or sell the real estate rather than the trust or trustee.
      
19. "Real estate" means any legal, equitable, leasehold or other estate or interest in, over or under land, including structures, fixtures and other improvements and interests which by custom, usage or law pass with a conveyance of land though not described in the contract of sale or instrument of conveyance. Real estate includes parcels with or without upper or lower boundaries and spaces that may be filled with air or water.
      
20. "Rules" means the provisions, if any, adopted pursuant to the declaration or bylaws governing maintenance and use of the units and common elements.
      
21. "Special declarant rights" means any right or combination of rights reserved by or granted to a declarant in the declaration to do any of the following:

    (a) Construct improvements provided for in the declaration.
    (b) Exercise any development right.
    (c) Maintain sales offices, management offices, signs advertising the condominium, and models.
    (d) Use easements through the common elements for the purpose of making improvements within the condominium or within real estate which may be added to the condominium.
    (e) Appoint or remove any officer of the association or any board member during any period of declarant control.
      

22. "Unit" means a portion of the condominium designated for separate ownership or occupancy.
      
23. "Unit owner" means a declarant or other person who owns a unit or, unless otherwise provided in the lease, a lessee of a unit in a leasehold condominium whose lease expires simultaneously with any lease the expiration or termination of which will remove the unit from the condominium but does not include a person having an interest in a unit solely as security for an obligation. In the case of a contract for conveyance, as defined in § 33-741, of real property, unit owner means the purchaser of the unit.

§33-1203 - Variation

Except as expressly provided in this chapter, the provisions of this chapter shall not be varied by agreement and rights conferred by this chapter shall not be waived. A person shall not use any device to evade the limitations or prohibitions of this chapter.

§33-1204 - Separate titles and taxation

A. If there is a unit owner other than a declarant, each unit that has been created, together with its interest in the common elements, constitutes for all purposes a separate parcel of real estate.

B. Except as provided in subsection C, if there is a unit owner other than a declarant, each unit shall be separately taxed and assessed, and no separate tax or assessment may be rendered against any common elements.

C. Any portion of the common elements which the declarant reserves the right to withdraw from the condominium shall be separately taxed and assessed against the declarant and the declarant alone is liable for payment of those taxes, as long as the declarant retains this right to withdraw.

D. If there is no unit owner other than a declarant, the real estate comprising the condominium shall be taxed and assessed as a single parcel.

§33-1205 - Applicability of local ordinances, rules and building codes

A. A zoning, subdivision or building code or other real estate use law, ordinance or rule shall not prohibit a condominium form of ownership or impose any requirement on a condominium which it would not impose on a physically identical development under a different form of ownership.

B. Except as provided in subsection A, this chapter does not invalidate or modify any provision of any zoning, subdivision or building code or other real estate use law, ordinance or rule.

§33-1206 - Eminent domain

A. If a unit is acquired by eminent domain, or if part of a unit is acquired by eminent domain leaving the unit owner with a remnant which may not practically or lawfully be used for any purpose permitted by the declaration, the award must compensate the unit owner for his unit and its interest in the common elements, regardless of whether any common elements are acquired. On acquisition, unless the decree otherwise provides, that unit's allocated interests are automatically reallocated to the remaining units in proportion to the respective allocated interests of those units before the taking, and the association shall promptly prepare, execute and record an amendment to the declaration reflecting the reallocations. Any remnant of a unit remaining after part of a unit is taken under this subsection becomes a common element.

B. Except as provided in subsection A of this section, if part of a unit is acquired by eminent domain the award must compensate the unit owner for the reduction in value of the unit and its interest in the common elements, regardless of whether any common elements are acquired. On acquisition, unless the decree otherwise provides, all of the following apply:
  

1. 1. The unit's allocated interests are reduced in proportion to the reduction in the size of the unit or on any other basis specified in the declaration.
     
2. 2. The portion of the allocated interests divested from the partially acquired unit is automatically reallocated to that unit and the remaining units in proportion to the respective allocated interests of those units before the taking, with the partially acquired unit participating in the reallocation on the basis of its reduced allocated interests.

C. If part of the common elements is acquired by eminent domain, the portion of the award attributable to the common elements taken shall be paid to the association for the benefit of the unit owners. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, any portion of the award attributable to the acquisition of a limited common element shall be equally divided among the owners of the units to which that limited common element was allocated at the time of acquisition.

D. The court decree shall be recorded in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located.

E. If all of the units of the condominium are acquired by eminent domain, the condominium is terminated and the provisions of § 33-1228 apply.

F. This section does not restrict the rights of lessees, mortgagees, declarants or any other person holding an interest in a unit or its common elements from receiving separate compensation or a portion of the compensation payable, or both, pursuant to this section.
  

§33-1207 - Severability

If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this chapter are severable.

§33-1211 - Creation of condominium

A condominium may only be created pursuant to this chapter by recording a declaration in the same manner as a deed in each county in which any portion of the condominium is located. The declaration shall be indexed in the name of the condominium, the name of the association and otherwise as required by law.

§33-1212 - Unit boundaries

Except as provided by the declaration:

1. If walls, floors or ceilings are designated as boundaries of a unit, all lath, furring, wallboard, plasterboard, plaster, paneling, tiles, wallpaper, paint, finished flooring and any other materials constituting any part of the finished surfaces are a part of the unit, and all other portions of the walls, floors or ceilings are a part of the common elements.
     
2. If any chute, flue, duct, wire, conduit, bearing wall, bearing column or other fixture lies partially within and partially outside the designated boundaries of a unit, any portion serving only that unit is a limited common element allocated solely to that unit and any portion serving more than one unit or any portion of the common elements is a part of the common elements.
     
3. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 2, all spaces, interior partitions and other fixtures and improvements within the boundaries of a unit are a part of the unit.
     
4. Any shutters, awnings, window boxes, doorsteps, stoops, porches, balconies, entryways or patios, and all exterior doors and windows or other fixtures designed to serve a single unit, but located outside the unit's boundaries, are limited common elements allocated exclusively to that unit.

§33-1213 - Construction and validity of declaration and bylaws

A. All provisions of the condominium documents are severable.

B. The rule against perpetuities shall not be applied to defeat any provision of the condominium documents.

C. Except to the extent inconsistent with this chapter:

1. 1. If a conflict exists between the provisions of the declaration and the other condominium documents, the declaration prevails.
     
2. 2. If a conflict exists between the provisions of the articles of incorporation and the bylaws or rules, the articles of incorporation prevail.
     
3. 3. If a conflict exists between the provisions of the bylaws and the rules, the bylaws prevail.

D. Title to a unit and common elements is not rendered unmarketable or otherwise affected by reason of an insubstantial failure of any condominium documents to comply with this chapter.

§33-1214 - Description of units

A description of a unit which sets forth the name of the condominium, the recording data for the declaration, the county or counties in which the condominium is located and the identifying number of the unit is a sufficient legal description of that unit and all common elements, rights, obligations and interests appurtenant to that unit.

§33-1215 - Contents of declaration

A. The declaration shall contain:

1. The name of the condominium, which shall include the word "condominium" or be followed by the words "a condominium", and the name of the association.
     
2. The name of every county in which any portion of the condominium is located.
     
3. A legal description of the real estate included in the condominium.
     
4. A description of the boundaries of each unit created by the declaration, including each unit's identifying number.
     
5. A description of any limited common elements, other than those specified in § 33-1212, paragraphs 2 and 4, but the declaration shall contain a description of any porches, balconies, patios and entryways, if any, as provided in § 33-1219, subsection B, paragraph 11.
     
6. A description of any development rights and other special declarant rights, together with a legal description of the real estate to which each of those rights applies, any time limit within which each of those rights must be exercised and any other conditions or limitations under which the rights described in this paragraph may be exercised or will lapse.
     
7. An allocation to each unit of the allocated interests in the manner described in § 33-1217.
     
8. Any restrictions on use, occupancy and alienation of the units.
     
9. All matters required by §§ 33-1216, 33-1217, 33-1218, 33-1219 and 33-1226 and § 33-1243, subsection E.
     
10. A statement that the assessment obligation of the unit owner under § 33- 1255 is secured by a lien on the owner's unit in favor of the association pursuant to § 33-1256.
      
11. If the condominium is a conversion from multifamily rental to condominiums, a statement containing all of the following:

    (a) A statement that the property is a conversion from multifamily rental to condominiums.
    (b) The date original construction was completed.
    (c) The name and address of the original owner, builder, developer and general contractor as shown on the applicable city, town or county building permit.
    (d) The name and address of each subsequent owner as determined by a search of the county recorder's records in the county in which the property is located.
    (e) The subdivider's agreement to provide the following information on request:

    (i) The name and address of any builder, developer, general contractor, subcontractor, architect and engineer who designed or made improvements to the property immediately before the first condominium was sold.
    (ii) A specific description of all improvements made.

B. If a city, town or county is unable to produce a building permit as required in subsection A, paragraph 11, subdivision (c) of this section, the subdivider shall submit a letter from the applicable city, town or county stating that the information required by subsection A, paragraph 11, subdivision (c) of this section is not available.

C. The declaration may contain any other matters the declarant deems appropriate.
  

§33-1216 - Leasehold condominiums

A. Any lease, the expiration or termination of which may terminate the condominium or reduce its size, shall be recorded. Unless the lease otherwise specifically provides for the creation of a leasehold condominium and the rights and benefits set forth in this section, each lessor of those leases shall sign or otherwise consent to the provisions of the declaration. The declaration shall state all of the following:

1. The recording data for the lease.
     
2. The date on which the lease is scheduled to expire.
     
3. A legal description of the real estate subject to the lease.
     
4. Any right of the unit owners to acquire title to their units free of the lease or a statement that they do not have this right.|
     
5. Any right of the unit owners to remove any improvements within a reasonable time after the expiration or termination of the lease or that they do not have this right.
     
6. Any rights of the unit owners to renew the lease and the conditions of any renewal or that they do not have those rights.

B. After the declaration for a leasehold condominium is recorded, neither the lessor nor his successor in interest may terminate the leasehold interest of a unit owner who makes timely payment of his share of the rent and otherwise complies with all covenants which, if violated, would entitle the lessor to terminate the lease. A unit owner's leasehold interest is not affected by failure of any other person to pay rent or fulfill any other covenant.

C. Acquisition of the leasehold interest of any unit owner by the owner of the reversion or remainder does not merge the leasehold and fee simple interests unless the leasehold interests of all unit owners subject to that reversion or remainder are acquired.

D. If the expiration or termination of a lease decreases the number of units in a condominium, the allocated interests shall be reallocated in accordance with § 33-1206, subsection A as though those units had been taken by eminent domain.

§33-1217 - Allocation of common element interests, votes and common expense liabilities

A. The declaration shall allocate a fraction or percentage of undivided interests in the common elements and in the common expenses of the association, and a portion of the votes in the association, to each unit and state the formulas used to establish those allocations. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the allocations shall not discriminate in favor of units owned by the declarant.

B. If units may be added to or withdrawn from the condominium, the declaration must state the formulas to be used to reallocate the allocated interests among all units included in the condominium after the addition or withdrawal.

C. The declaration may provide:

1. That different allocations of votes shall be made to the units on particular matters specified in the declaration.
     
2. For cumulative voting only for the purpose of electing members of the board of directors.
     
3. For class voting on specified issues affecting the class if necessary to protect valid interests of the class.

D. Except for minor variations due to rounding, the sum of the undivided interests in the common elements and common expense liabilities allocated at any time to all the units must each equal one if stated as fractions or one hundred per cent if stated as percentages. If a discrepancy exists between an allocated interest and the result derived from application of the pertinent formula, the allocated interest prevails.

E. Except as otherwise permitted by the provisions of this chapter, the common elements are not subject to partition, and any purported conveyance, encumbrance, judicial sale or other voluntary or involuntary transfer of an undivided interest in the common elements made without the unit to which that interest is allocated is void.
  

§33-1218 - Limited common elements

A. Except for the limited common elements described in § 33-1212, paragraphs 2 and 4, other than porches, balconies, patios and entryways, the declaration shall specify to which unit or units each limited common element is allocated. The allocation shall not be altered without the consent of the unit owners whose units are affected.

B. Except as the declaration otherwise provides, a limited common element may be reallocated by an amendment to the declaration. The amendment shall be executed by the unit owners between or among whose units the reallocation is made, shall state the manner in which the limited common elements are to be reallocated and, before recording the amendment, shall be submitted to the board of directors. Unless the board of directors determines within thirty days that the proposed amendment is unreasonable, which determination shall be in writing and specifically state the reasons for disapproval, the association shall execute its approval and record the amendment.

C. A common element not previously allocated as a limited common element shall not be so allocated except pursuant to provisions in the declaration. The allocations shall be made by amendments to the declaration.

§33-1219 - Plat

A. The plat is a part of the declaration. The plat must be clear and legible.

B. The plat shall show:

1. The name of the condominium.
     
2. The boundaries of the condominium and a legal description of the real estate included in the condominium.
     
3. The extent of any encroachments on any portion of the condominium.
     
4. To the extent feasible, the location and dimensions of all easements serving or burdening any portion of the condominium.
     
5. The location and dimensions of the vertical boundaries of each unit, and each unit's identifying number.
     
6. Any horizontal unit boundaries, with reference to an established datum, and each unit's identifying number.
     
7. Any units with respect to which the declarant has reserved the right to create additional units or common elements, identified appropriately.
     
8. The location and dimensions of all real estate subject to the development right of withdrawal identified as such.
     
9. The location and dimensions of all real estate in which the unit owner will only own an estate for years labeled as a "leasehold condominium".
     
10. The distance between noncontiguous parcels of real estate comprising the condominium.
      
11. The location and dimensions of limited common elements, including porches, balconies, patios and entryways, other than the limited common elements described in § 33-1212, paragraphs 2 and 4.
      
12. Any other matters the declarant deems appropriate.

C. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, the horizontal boundaries of a part of a unit located outside of a building have the same elevation as the horizontal boundaries of the inside part and need not be depicted on the plat.

D. On exercising any development right, the declarant shall record a new plat conforming to the requirements of subsections A and B of this section. No new plat need be recorded if the development right exercised was clearly depicted on the original plat and a document is recorded which references the declaration and original plat and declares that the development right has been exercised.

§33-1220 - Exercise of development rights

A. To exercise a development right the declarant shall prepare, execute and record an amendment to the declaration which shall include a new plat conforming to the requirements of § 33-1219, subsections A and B, if the previously recorded plat does not show the boundaries of the parcel or parcels as to which the development right is exercised. The amendment to the declaration shall assign an identifying number to each new unit created and, except in the case of subdivision or conversion of units described in subsection C of this section, reallocate the allocated interests among all units. The amendment shall describe any common elements and any limited common elements created and, in the case of limited common elements, designate the unit to which each is allocated as required by § 33-1218.

B. Development rights may be reserved within any real estate added to the condominium if the amendment adding that real estate includes all matters required by § 33-1215 or 33-1216, whichever is applicable, and the plat includes all matters required by § 33-1219. This subsection does not extend any time limit on the exercise of development rights imposed by the declaration pursuant to § 33-1215, subsection A, paragraph 6.

C. Whenever a declarant exercises a development right to subdivide or convert a unit previously created into additional units or common elements, or both:

1. 1. If the declarant converts the unit entirely to common elements, the amendment to the declaration must reallocate all the allocated interests of that unit among the other units as if that unit had been taken by eminent domain.
     
2. 2. If the declarant subdivides the unit into two or more units, whether any part of the unit is converted into common elements, the amendment to the declaration shall reallocate all the allocated interests of the unit among the units created by the subdivision in any reasonable manner prescribed by the declarant.

D. If the declaration provides that all or a portion of the real estate is subject to the development right of withdrawal:

1. 1. If all the real estate is subject to withdrawal and the declaration does not describe separate portions of the real estate subject to that right, none of the real estate may be withdrawn after a unit has been conveyed to a purchaser without the written consent of all unit owners in the condominium and any mortgagees or beneficiaries of deeds of trust or sellers under a contract, as defined in § 33-741, for conveyance of real property encumbering the units.
     
2. 2. If a portion or portions are subject to withdrawal, a portion shall not be withdrawn after a unit in that portion has been conveyed to a purchaser without the written consent of all unit owners in the condominium and any mortgagees or beneficiaries of deeds of trust or sellers under contract, as defined in § 33-741, for conveyance of real property encumbering the units.

E. No development right shall be exercised in any manner which would eliminate or materially reduce in size any tennis court, swimming pool, clubhouse or other recreational facility which is part of the common elements and which was specified in the public report issued on the condominium by the commissioner of the state real estate department, unless the exercise of the development right is approved by an affirmative vote of the unit owners to which at least eighty per cent of the votes in the association are allocated.
  

§33-1221 - Alterations of units

Subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, a unit owner:

1. May make any improvements or alterations to his unit that do not impair the structural integrity or mechanical systems or lessen the support of any portion of the condominium.
     
2. Shall not change the appearance of the common elements, or the exterior appearance of a unit or any other portion of the condominium, without written permission of the association.
     
3. After acquiring an adjoining unit or, if the declaration expressly permits, an adjoining part of an adjoining unit, may remove or alter any intervening partition or create apertures in intervening partitions, even if the partition in whole or in part is a common element, if those acts do not impair the structural integrity or mechanical systems or lessen the support of any portion of the condominium. Removal of partitions or creation of apertures under this paragraph is not an alteration of boundaries.

§33-1222 - Relocation of boundaries between adjoining units

If the declaration expressly permits, the boundaries between or among adjoining units may be relocated by an amendment to the declaration. The owners of the units shall prepare an amendment to the declaration, including the plat, that identifies the units involved, specifies the altered boundaries of the units and their dimensions and includes the units' identifying numbers. If the owners of the adjoining units have specified a reallocation between their units of the allocated interests, the amendment shall state the proposed reallocation in a reasonable manner. The amendment shall be executed by the owners of those units, shall contain words of conveyance between or among them and, before recording the amendment, shall be submitted to the board of directors. Unless the board of directors determines within thirty days that the proposed amendment is unreasonable, which determination shall be in writing and specifically state the reasons for disapproval, the association shall execute its approval and record the amendment.

§33-1223 - Subdivision of units

If the declaration expressly permits, a unit may be subdivided into two or more units. A unit owner shall prepare an amendment to the declaration, including the plat, which identifies the unit involved, specifies the boundaries of each unit created and its dimensions, assigns an identifying number to each unit created and allocates the allocated interests formerly allocated to the subdivided unit to the new units in a reasonable manner. The amendment shall be executed by the owner of the unit to be subdivided and, before recording, submitted to the board of directors. Unless the board of directors determines within thirty days that the proposed amendment is unreasonable, which determination shall be in writing and specifically state the reasons for disapproval, the association shall execute its approval and record the amendment.

§33-1224 - Easement for encroachments

To the extent that any unit or common element encroaches on any other unit or common element as a result of original construction, shifting or settling, or alteration or restoration authorized by the declaration, a valid easement for the encroachment exists.

§33-1225 - Use for sale purposes

A declarant may maintain sales offices, management offices and models in units or on common elements in the condominium unless:

1. The declaration provides otherwise.
     
2. Such use is prohibited by another provision of law or local ordinances.

§33-1226 - Easement to facilitate exercise of special declarant rights

Subject to the provisions of the declaration, a declarant has an easement through the common elements as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of discharging a declarant's obligations or exercising special declarant rights, whether arising under this chapter or reserved in the declaration.

§33-1227 - Amendment of declaration

A. Except in cases of amendments that may be executed by a declarant under § 33-1220, by the association under § 33-1206 or § 33-1216, subsection D, or by certain unit owners under § 33-1218, subsection B, § 33-1222, § 33-1223 or § 33-1228, subsection B, and except to the extent permitted or required by other provisions of this chapter, the declaration, including the plat, may be amended only by a vote of the unit owners to which at least sixty-seven per cent of the votes in the association are allocated, or any larger majority the declaration specifies. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage only if all of the units are restricted exclusively to nonresidential use. The declaration may also provide that the consent of the declarant is required to an amendment during any period of declarant control pursuant to § 33-1243. Within thirty days after the adoption of any amendment pursuant to this subsection, the association shall prepare, execute and record a written instrument setting forth the amendment.

B. An action to challenge the validity of an amendment adopted by the association pursuant to this section shall not be brought more than one year after the amendment is recorded.

C. An amendment to the declaration shall be recorded in each county in which any portion of the condominium is located and is effective only on recordation in the same manner as required for the declaration under § 33-1211.

D. Except to the extent expressly permitted or required by other provisions of this chapter, an amendment shall not create or increase special declarant rights, increase the number of units or change the boundaries of any unit, the allocated interests of a unit or the uses to which any unit is restricted, in the absence of unanimous consent of the unit owners.

E. An amendment shall not terminate or decrease any unexpired development right, special declarant right or period of declarant control unless the declarant approves.

F. Amendments to the declaration required by this chapter to be executed by the association shall be executed on behalf of the association by any officer of the association designated for that purpose or, in the absence of designation, by the president of the association.
  

§33-1228 - Termination of condominium

A. Except in the case of a taking of all the units by eminent domain, a condominium may be terminated only by agreement of unit owners of units to which at least eighty per cent of the votes in the association are allocated, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage only if all of the units in the condominium are restricted exclusively to nonresidential uses.

B. An agreement to terminate shall be evidenced by the execution or ratifications of a termination agreement, in the same manner as a deed, by the requisite number of unit owners. The termination agreement shall specify a date after which the agreement will be void unless it is recorded before that date. A termination agreement and all ratifications of a termination agreement shall be recorded in each county in which a portion of the condominium is situated and is effective only on recordation.

C. A termination agreement may provide that all the common elements and units of the condominium shall be sold following termination. If, pursuant to the agreement, any real estate in the condominium is to be sold following termination, the termination agreement shall set forth the minimum terms of the sale.

D. The association, on behalf of the unit owners, may contract for the sale of real estate in the condominium, but the contract is not binding on the unit owners until approved pursuant to subsections A and B. If any real estate in the condominium is to be sold following termination, title to that real estate on termination vests in the association as trustee for the holders of all interest in the units. Thereafter, the association has all powers necessary and appropriate to effect the sale. Until the sale has been concluded and the proceeds of the sale distributed, the association continues in existence with all powers it had before termination. Proceeds of the sale shall be distributed to unit owners and lienholders as their interests may appear, in proportion to the respective interests of unit owners as provided in subsection G. Unless otherwise specified in the termination agreement, as long as the association holds title to the real estate, each unit owner and his successors in interest have an exclusive right to occupancy of the portion of the real estate that formerly constituted his unit. During the period of that occupancy, each unit owner and his successors in interest remain liable for all assessments and other obligations imposed on unit owners by this chapter or the declaration.

E. If the real estate constituting the condominium is not to be sold following termination, title to all the real estate in the condominium vests in the unit owners on termination as tenants in common in proportion to their respective interests as provided in subsection G, and liens on the units shift accordingly. While the tenancy in common exists, each unit owner and his successors in interest have an exclusive right to occupancy of the portion of the real estate that formerly constituted his unit.

F. Following termination of the condominium, the proceeds of any sale of real estate, together with the assets of the association, are held by the association as trustee for unit owners and holders of liens on the units as their interests may appear. Following termination, creditors of the association holding liens on the units which were recorded before termination may enforce those liens in the same manner as any lienholder.

G. The respective interests of unit owners referred to in subsections D, E and F are as follows:

1. Except as provided in paragraph 2, the respective interests of unit owners are the fair market values of their units, limited common elements and common element interests immediately before the termination, as determined by an independent appraiser selected by the association. The determination of the independent appraiser shall be distributed to the unit owners and becomes final unless disapproved within thirty days after distribution by unit owners of units to which fifty per cent of the votes in the association are allocated. The proportion of any unit owner's interest to that of all unit owners is determined by dividing the fair market value of that unit owner's unit and common element interest by the total fair market values of all the units and common elements.
     
2. If any unit or any limited common element is destroyed to the extent that an appraisal of the fair market value of the unit or element before destruction cannot be made, the interests of all unit owners are their respective common element interests immediately before the termination.

H. Except as provided in subsection I, foreclosure or enforcement of a lien or encumbrance against the entire condominium does not of itself terminate the condominium, and foreclosure or enforcement of a lien or encumbrance against a portion of the condominium does not withdraw that portion from the condominium. Foreclosure or enforcement of a lien or encumbrance against withdrawable real estate does not of itself withdraw that real estate from the condominium, but the person taking title may require from the association, on request, an amendment excluding the real estate from the condominium.

I. If a lien or encumbrance against a portion of the real estate comprising the condominium has priority over the declaration, and the lien or encumbrance has not been partially released, the parties foreclosing the lien or encumbrance may, on foreclosure, record an instrument excluding the real estate subject to that lien or encumbrance from the condominium.

J. The provisions of subsections C through I do not apply if the original declaration, an amendment to the original declaration recorded before the conveyance of any unit to an owner other than the declarant or an agreement by all of the unit owners contain provisions inconsistent with such subsections.
  

§33-1229 - Rights of secured lenders

The declaration may require that all or a specified number or percentage of the mortgagees, beneficiaries of deeds of trust or sellers under contracts, as defined in § 33-741, for conveyance of real property encumbering the units approve specified actions of the unit owners or the association as a condition to the effectiveness of those actions, but requirement for approval shall not operate to either:

1. 1. Deny or delegate control over the general administrative affairs of the association by the unit owners or the board of directors.
     
2. 2. Prevent the association or the board of directors from commencing, intervening in or settling any litigation or proceeding, or receiving and distributing any insurance proceeds pursuant to § 33-1253.

§33-1230 - Merger or consolidation of condominiums

A. Any two or more condominiums, by agreement of the unit owners as provided in subsection B, may be merged or consolidated into a single condominium. In the event of a merger or consolidation, unless the agreement otherwise provides, the resultant condominium is, for all purposes, the legal successor of all of the preexisting condominiums and the operations and activities of all associations of the preexisting condominiums shall be merged or consolidated into a single association which shall hold all powers, rights, obligations, assets and liabilities of all preexisting associations.

B. An agreement of two or more condominiums to merge or consolidate pursuant to subsection A shall be evidenced by an agreement prepared, executed, recorded and certified by the president of the association of each of the preexisting condominiums following approval by owners of units to which are allocated the percentage of votes in each condominium required to terminate that condominium. Any such agreement shall be recorded in each county in which a portion of the condominium is located and is not effective until recorded. A merger or consolidation of two or more condominiums shall be considered an amendment to the declaration of each of the condominiums merged or consolidated.

C. Every merger or consolidation agreement shall provide for the reallocation of the allocated interests in the new association among the units of the resultant condominium either by stating:

1. The reallocations or the formulas on which they are based.
     
2. The percentage of overall allocated interests of the new condominium which are allocated to all of the units comprising each of the preexisting condominiums, and providing that the portion of the percentages allocated to each unit formerly comprising a part of the preexisting condominium must be equal to the percentages of allocated interests allocated to that unit by the declaration of the preexisting condominiums.
     

§33-1241 - Organization of unit owners' association

A unit owners' association shall be organized no later than the date the first unit in the condominium is conveyed. The membership of the association at all times shall consist exclusively of all the unit owners or, following termination of the condominium, of all former unit owners entitled to distributions of proceeds under § 33-1228, or their heirs, successors or assigns. The association shall be organized as a profit or nonprofit corporation or as an unincorporated association.

§33-1242 - Powers of unit owners' association; notice to unit owner of violation

A. Subject to the provisions of the declaration, the association may:

1. Adopt and amend bylaws and rules.
2. Adopt and amend budgets for revenues, expenditures and reserves and collect assessments for common expenses from unit owners.
3. Hire and discharge managing agents and other employees, agents and independent contractors.
4. Institute, defend or intervene in litigation or administrative proceedings in its own name on behalf of itself or two or more unit owners on matters affecting the condominium.
5. Make contracts and incur liabilities.
6. Regulate the use, maintenance, repair, replacement and modification of common elements.
7. Cause additional improvements to be made as a part of the common elements.
8. Acquire, hold, encumber and convey in its own name any right, title or interest to real or personal property, except that common elements may be conveyed or subjected to a security interest only pursuant to § 33-1252.
9. Grant easements, leases, licenses and concessions through or over the common elements.
10. Impose and receive any payments, fees or charges for the use, rental or operation of the common elements other than limited common elements described in § 33-1212, paragraphs 2 and 4 and for services provided to unit owners.
11. Impose charges for late payment of assessments and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, impose reasonable monetary penalties upon unit owners for violations of the declaration, bylaws and rules of the association.
12. Impose reasonable charges for the preparation and recordation of amendments to the declaration or statements of unpaid assessments.
13. Provide for the indemnification of its officers and executive board of directors and maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance.
14. Assign its right to future income, including the right to receive common expense assessments, but only to the extent the declaration expressly provides.
15. Be a member of a master association or other entity owning, maintaining or governing in any respect any portion of the common elements or other property benefitting or related to the condominium or the unit owners in any respect.
16. Exercise any other powers conferred by the declaration or bylaws.
17. Exercise all other powers that may be exercised in this state by legal entities of the same type as the association.
18. Exercise any other powers necessary and proper for the governance and operation of the association.

B. A unit owner who receives a written notice that the condition of the property owned by the unit owner is in violation of a requirement of the condominium documents without regard to whether a monetary penalty is imposed by the notice may provide the association with a written response by sending the response by certified mail within ten business days after the date of the notice. The response shall be sent to the address contained in the notice or in the recorded notice prescribed by § 33-1256, subsection J.

C. Within ten business days after receipt of the certified mail containing the response from the unit owner, the association shall respond to the unit owner with a written explanation regarding the notice that shall provide at least the following information unless previously provided in the notice of violation:

1. The provision of the condominium documents that has allegedly been violated.
2. The date of the violation or the date the violation was observed.
3. The first and last name of the person or persons who observed the violation.
4. The process the unit owner must follow to contest the notice.

D. Unless the information required in subsection C, paragraph 4 of this section is provided in the notice of violation, the association shall not proceed with any action to enforce the condominium documents, including the collection of attorney fees, before or during the time prescribed by subsection C of this section regarding the exchange of information between the association and the unit owner. At any time before or after completion of the exchange of information pursuant to this section, the unit owner may petition for a hearing pursuant to § 41-2198.01 if the dispute is within the jurisdiction of the department of fire, building and life safety as prescribed in § 41-2198.01, subsection B.

§33-1243 - Board of directors and officers; conflict; powers; limitations; removal; annual audit; applicability

A. Except as provided in the declaration, the bylaws, subsection B or other provisions of this chapter, the board of directors may act in all instances on behalf of the association.

B. The board of directors shall not act on behalf of the association to amend the declaration, terminate the condominium, elect members of the board of directors or determine the qualifications, powers and duties or terms of office of board of directors members. The board of directors may fill vacancies in its membership for the unexpired portion of any term.

C. If any contract, decision or other action for compensation taken by or on behalf of the board of directors would benefit any member of the board of directors or any person who is a parent, grandparent, spouse, child or sibling of a member of the board of directors or a parent or spouse of any of those persons, that member of the board of directors shall declare a conflict of interest for that issue. The member shall declare the conflict in an open meeting of the board before the board discusses or takes action on that issue and that member may then vote on that issue. Any contract entered into in violation of this subsection is void and unenforceable.

D. Except as provided in the declaration, within thirty days after adoption of any proposed budget for the condominium, the board of directors shall provide a summary of the budget to all the unit owners. Unless the board of directors is expressly authorized in the declaration to adopt and amend budgets from time to time, any budget or amendment shall be ratified by the unit owners in accordance with the procedures set forth in this subsection. If ratification is required, the board of directors shall set a date for a meeting of the unit owners to consider ratification of the budget not fewer than fourteen nor more than thirty days after mailing of the summary. Unless at that meeting a majority of all the unit owners or any larger vote specified in the declaration rejects the budget, the budget is ratified, whether or not a quorum is present. If the proposed budget is rejected, the periodic budget last ratified by the unit owners shall be continued until such time as the unit owners ratify a subsequent budget proposed by the board of directors.

E. The declaration may provide for a period of declarant control of the association, during which period a declarant or persons designated by the declarant may appoint and remove the officers and members of the board of directors. Regardless of the period provided in the declaration, a period of declarant control terminates no later than the earlier of:

1. Ninety days after conveyance of seventy-five per cent of the units which may be created to unit owners other than a declarant.
2. Four years after all declarants have ceased to offer units for sale in the ordinary course of business.

F. A declarant may voluntarily surrender the right to appoint and remove officers and members of the board of directors before termination of the period prescribed in subsection E, but in that event the declarant may require, for the duration of the period of declarant control, that specified actions of the association or board of directors, as described in a recorded instrument executed by the declarant, be approved by the declarant before they become effective.

G. Not later than the termination of any period of declarant control the unit owners shall elect a board of directors of at least three members, at least a majority of whom must be unit owners. The board of directors shall elect the officers. The board members and officers shall take office upon election.

H. Notwithstanding any provision of the declaration or bylaws to the contrary, the unit owners, by a majority vote of members entitled to vote and voting on the matter at a meeting of the members called pursuant to this section at which a quorum is present, may remove any member of the board of directors with or without cause, other than a member appointed by the declarant. For purposes of calling for removal of a member of the board of directors, other than a member appointed by the declarant, the following apply:

1. 1. In an association with one thousand or fewer members, on receipt of a petition that calls for removal of a member of the board of directors and that is signed by the number of persons who are entitled to cast at least twenty-five per cent of the votes in the association or one hundred votes in the association, whichever is less, the board shall call and provide written notice of a special meeting of the association as prescribed by § 33-1248, subsection B.
2. 2. Notwithstanding § 33-1248, subsection B, in an association with more than one thousand members, on receipt of a petition that calls for removal of a member of the board of directors and that is signed by the number of persons who are entitled to cast at least ten per cent of the votes in the association or one thousand votes in the association, whichever is less, the board shall call and provide written notice of a special meeting of the association. The board shall provide written notice of a special meeting as prescribed by § 33-1248, subsection B.
3. 3. The special meeting shall be called, noticed and held within thirty days after receipt of the petition.
4. 4. For purposes of a special meeting called pursuant to this subsection, a quorum is present if the number of owners to whom at least twenty per cent of the votes or one thousand votes, whichever is less, are allocated is present at the meeting in person or as otherwise permitted by law.
5. 5. If a civil action is filed regarding the removal of a board member, the prevailing party in the civil action shall be awarded its reasonable attorney fees and costs.
6. 6. The board of directors shall retain all documents and other records relating to the proposed removal of the member of the board of directors for at least one year after the date of the special meeting and shall permit members to inspect those documents and records pursuant to § 33-1258.
7. 7. A petition that calls for the removal of the same member of the board of directors shall not be submitted more than once during each term of office for that member.

I. For an association in which board members are elected from separately designated voting districts, a member of the board of directors, other than a member appointed by the declarant, may be removed only by a vote of the members from that voting district, and only the members from that voting district are eligible to vote on the matter or be counted for purposes of determining a quorum.

J. Unless any provision in the condominium documents requires an annual audit by a certified public accountant, the board of directors shall provide for an annual financial audit, review or compilation of the association. The audit, review or compilation shall be completed no later than one hundred eighty days after the end of the association's fiscal year and shall be made available upon request to the unit owners within thirty days after its completion.

K. This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations, or the period of declarant control under timeshare instruments, that are subject to chapter 20 of this title. 

§33-1244 - Transfer of special declarant rights

A. A special declarant right created or reserved under this chapter shall not be transferred except by an instrument evidencing the transfer recorded in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located. The instrument is not effective unless executed by the transferee.

B. On transfer of any special declarant right, the liability of a transferor declarant is as follows:

1. A transferor is not relieved of any obligation or liability arising before the transfer.
2. If a transferor retains any special declarant right, the transferor is liable for any obligations or liabilities imposed on a declarant by this chapter or by the declaration relating to the retained special declarant rights and arising after the transfer.
3. A transferor has no liability for any act or omission or any breach of a contractual or warranty obligation arising from the exercise of a special declarant right by a successor declarant.

C. Unless otherwise provided in a mortgage or deed of trust, in case of foreclosure of a mortgage, tax sale, judicial sale, sale by a trustee under a deed of trust, forfeiture of interest of a purchaser under a contract for conveyance of real property or sale under bankruptcy code or receivership proceedings, of any units owned by a declarant or real estate in a condominium  subject to development rights, a person acquiring title to all the real estate being foreclosed or sold succeeds to all special declarant rights related to that real estate held by that declarant whether or not the judgment or instrument conveying title provides for transfer of the special declarant rights.

D. The liabilities and obligations of a person who succeeds to special declarant rights are as follows:

1. A successor to any special declarant right, other than a successor described in paragraph 2 of this subsection, is subject to all liabilities and obligations imposed by this chapter or the declaration:
   (a) On a declarant which relate to his exercise or nonexercise of special declarant rights.
   (b) On his transferor, other than:

   (i) Misrepresentations by any previous declarant.
   (ii) Warranty obligations on improvements made by any previous declarant or made before the condominium was created.
   (iii) Breach of any fiduciary obligation by any previous declarant or his appointees to the board of directors.
   (iv) Any liability or obligation imposed on the transferor as a result of the transferor's acts or omissions after the transfer.
     

2. A successor to special declarant rights under subsection C is subject to liability only for his own acts in the exercise of those special declarant rights.

§33-1245 - Termination of contracts and leases of declarant; applicability

A. A contract for any of the following, if entered into before the board of directors elected by the unit owners pursuant to § 33-1243, subsection G takes office, shall contain a provision in the contract that the contract may be terminated without penalty by the association at any time after the board of directors elected by the unit owners takes office:

1. 1. Any management contract or employment contract.
2. 2. Any other contract or lease between the association and a declarant or an affiliate of a declarant.
3. 3. Any contract or lease that is not bona fide or was unconscionable to the unit owners at the time entered into under the circumstances then prevailing.

B. The board of directors shall notify the appropriate contractual party of the termination at least thirty days before termination.

C. This section does not apply to any lease if the termination of the lease would terminate the condominium or reduce its size.

D. If a contract covered by this section fails to contain the provisions required by subsection A of this section, the contract is voidable at the option of the association.

E. This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title. 

§33-1246 - Bylaws

A. At the time the unit owners' association is organized, the association shall adopt bylaws which provide for each of the following:

1. The number of members of the board of directors and the titles of the officers of the association.
2. Election by the board of directors of a president, treasurer, secretary and any other officers of the association which the bylaws specify.
3. The qualifications, powers and duties, terms of office and manner of electing and removing board members and officers and filling vacancies.
4. Which, if any, of its powers the board of directors or officers may delegate to other persons or to a managing agent.
5. Which of its officers may execute, certify and record amendments to the declaration on behalf of the association.
6. The method of amending the bylaws.

B. Subject to the provisions of the declaration, the bylaws may provide for any other matters the association deems necessary and appropriate.
  

§33-1247 - Upkeep of the condominium

A. Except to the extent provided by the declaration, subsection C of this section or § 33-1253, subsection B, the association is responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement of the common elements and each unit owner is responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement of the unit. On reasonable notice, each unit owner shall afford to the association and the other unit owners, and to their agents or employees, access through the unit reasonably necessary for those purposes. If damage is inflicted on the common elements or any unit through which access is taken, the unit owner responsible for the damage, or the association if it is responsible, is liable for the prompt repair of the damage.

B. For any residential rental units that have been declared a slum property by the city or town pursuant to § 33-1905 and that are in the condominium complex, the association is responsible for enforcing any requirement for a licensed property management firm that is imposed by a city or town pursuant to § 33-1906.

C. In addition to the liability borne by the declarant as a unit owner under this chapter, the declarant alone is liable for the maintenance, repair and replacement of any portion of the common elements which the declarant reserves the right to withdraw from the condominium, as long as the unit owner maintains that right.
  

§33-1248 - Open meetings; exceptions

A. Notwithstanding any provision in the declaration, bylaws or other documents to the contrary, all meetings of the association and board of directors are open to all members of the association or any person designated by a member in writing as the member's representative and all members or designated representatives so desiring shall be permitted to attend and speak at an appropriate time during the deliberations and proceedings. The board may place reasonable time restrictions on those persons speaking during the meeting but shall permit a member or a member's designated representative to speak before the board takes formal action on an item under discussion in addition to any other opportunities to speak. The board shall provide for a reasonable number of persons to speak on each side of an issue. Any portion of a meeting may be closed only if that portion of the meeting is limited to consideration of one or more of the following:

1. Legal advice from an attorney for the board or the association. On final resolution of any matter for which the board received legal advice or that concerned pending or contemplated litigation, the board may disclose information about that matter in an open meeting except for matters that are required to remain confidential by the terms of a settlement agreement or judgment.
2. Pending or contemplated litigation.
3. Personal, health or financial information about an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor for the association, including records of the association directly related to the personal, health or financial information about an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor for the association.
4. Matters relating to the job performance of, compensation of, health records of or specific complaints against an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor of the association who works under the direction of the association.

B. Notwithstanding any provision in the condominium documents, all meetings of the association and the board shall be held in this state. A meeting of the association shall be held at least once each year. Special meetings of the association may be called by the president, by a majority of the board of directors or by unit owners having at least twenty-five per cent, or any lower percentage specified in the bylaws, of the votes in the association. Unless otherwise provided in the articles or the bylaws of the association, not fewer than ten nor more than fifty days in advance of any meeting of the unit owners, the secretary shall cause notice to be hand delivered or sent prepaid by United States mail to the mailing address of each unit or to any other mailing address designated in writing by the unit owner. The notice of any meeting of the unit owners shall state the time and place of the meeting. The notice of any special meeting of the unit owners shall also state the purpose for which the meeting is called, including the general nature of any proposed amendment to the declaration or bylaws, any changes in assessments that require approval of the unit owners and any proposal to remove a director or officer. The failure of any unit owner to receive actual notice of a meeting of the unit owners does not affect the validity of any action taken at that meeting.

C. Unless otherwise provided in the articles or bylaws of the association, for meetings of the board of directors that are held after the termination of declarant control of the association, notice to unit owners of meetings of the board of directors shall be given at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting by newsletter, conspicuous posting or any other reasonable means as determined by the board of directors. An affidavit of notice by an officer of the association is prima facie evidence that notice was given as prescribed by this section. Notice to unit owners of meetings of the board of directors is not required if emergency circumstances require action by the board before notice can be given. Any notice of a board meeting shall state the time and place of the meeting. The failure of any unit owner to receive actual notice of a meeting of the board of directors does not affect the validity of any action taken at that meeting.

D. This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title.

§33-1249 - Quorums; applicability

A. Unless the bylaws provide otherwise, a quorum is present throughout any meeting of the association if persons entitled to cast at least twenty-five per cent of the votes in the association are present in person or by proxy at the beginning of the meeting.

B. Unless the bylaws specify a larger percentage, a quorum is deemed present throughout any meeting of the board of directors if persons entitled to cast at least fifty per cent of the votes on that board are present at the beginning of the meeting.

C. This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title. 

§33-1250 - Voting; proxies; absentee ballots; applicability; definition

A. If only one of the multiple owners of a unit is present at a meeting of the association, the owner is entitled to cast all the votes allocated to that unit. If more than one of the multiple owners are present, the votes allocated to that unit may be cast only in accordance with the agreement of a majority in interest of the multiple owners unless the declaration expressly provides otherwise. There is majority agreement if any one of the multiple owners casts the votes allocated to that unit without protest being made promptly to the person presiding over the meeting by any of the other owners of the unit.

B. During the period of declarant control, votes allocated to a unit may be cast pursuant to a proxy duly executed by a unit owner. If a unit is owned by more than one person, each owner of the unit may vote or register protest to the casting of votes by the other owners of the unit through a duly executed proxy. A unit owner may not revoke a proxy given pursuant to this section except by actual notice of revocation to the person presiding over a meeting of the association. A proxy is void if it is not dated or purports to be revocable without notice. The proxy is revoked on presentation of a later dated proxy executed by the same unit owner. A proxy terminates one year after its date, unless it specifies a shorter term or unless it states that it is coupled with an interest and is irrevocable.

C. Notwithstanding any provision in the condominium documents, after termination of the period of declarant control, votes allocated to a unit may not be cast pursuant to a proxy. The association shall provide for votes to be cast in person and by absentee ballot and may provide for voting by some other form of delivery. Notwithstanding § 10-3708 or the provisions of the condominium documents, any action taken at an annual, regular or special meeting of the members shall comply with all of the following if absentee ballots are used:

1. The absentee ballot shall set forth each proposed action.
2. The absentee ballot shall provide an opportunity to vote for or against each proposed action.
3. The absentee ballot is valid for only one specified election or meeting of the members and expires automatically after the completion of the election or meeting.
4. The absentee ballot specifies the time and date by which the ballot must be delivered to the board of directors in order to be counted, which shall be at least seven days after the date that the board delivers the unvoted absentee ballot to the member.
5. The absentee ballot does not authorize another person to cast votes on behalf of the member.

D. Votes cast by absentee ballot or other form of delivery are valid for the purpose of establishing a quorum.

E. Notwithstanding subsection C of this section, an association for a timeshare plan as defined in § 32-2197 may permit votes by a proxy that is duly executed by a unit owner.

F. If the declaration requires that votes on specified matters affecting the condominium be cast by lessees rather than unit owners of leased units all of the following apply:

1. The provisions of subsections A and B of this section apply to lessees as if they were unit owners.
2. Unit owners who have leased their units to other persons shall not cast votes on those specified matters.
3. Lessees are entitled to notice of meetings, access to records and other rights respecting those matters as if they were unit owners. Unit owners shall also be given notice, in the manner prescribed in § 33-1248, of all meetings at which lessees may be entitled to vote.

G. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, votes allocated to a unit owned by the association shall not be cast.

H. This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title. 

§33-1251 - Tort and contract liability

A. An action alleging a wrong done by the association shall be brought against the association and not against any unit owner.

B. A statute of limitation affecting any right of action of the association against the declarant is tolled until the period of declarant control terminates.

C. A unit owner is not precluded from bringing an action against the association because he is a unit owner or a member or officer of the association.

D. Liens resulting from judgments against the association are governed by § 33-1256.

§33-1252 - Conveyance or encumbrance of common elements

A. Portions of the common elements may be conveyed or subjected to a mortgage, deed of trust or security interest by the association if persons entitled to cast at least eighty per cent of the votes in the association, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies, agree to that action in the manner prescribed in subsection B, except that all the owners of units to which any limited common element is allocated must agree in order to convey that limited common element or subject it to a mortgage, deed of trust or security interest. The declaration may specify a smaller percentage only if all of the units in the condominium are restricted exclusively to nonresidential uses. Proceeds of the sale or encumbrance of the common elements are an asset of the association.

B. An agreement to convey common elements or subject them to a mortgage, deed of trust or security interest shall be evidenced by the execution of an agreement, or ratifications of the agreement, in the same manner as a deed, by the requisite number of unit owners. The agreement shall specify a date after which the agreement will be void unless previously recorded. The agreement and all ratifications of the agreement shall be recorded in each county in which a portion of the condominium is situated and are effective only on recordation.

C. The association, on behalf of the unit owners, may contract to convey common elements or subject them to a mortgage, deed of trust or security interest, but the contract is not enforceable against the association until approved pursuant to subsections A and B. Thereafter, the association has all powers necessary and appropriate to effect the conveyance or encumbrance, including the power to execute deeds or other instruments.

D. Except as permitted in this chapter, any purported conveyance, encumbrance, judicial sale or other voluntary transfer of common elements is void.

E. A conveyance or encumbrance of common elements pursuant to this section does not deprive any unit of its rights of access and support.

F. A conveyance or encumbrance of common elements pursuant to this section does not affect the priority or validity of preexisting encumbrances

§33-1252-01 - Conveyance of certain real property

A. Real property that is held as an asset of the association and that is not held as a common element of the condominium may be conveyed by the association if persons entitled to cast at least eighty per cent of the votes in the association, or any larger percentage the declaration specifies, agree to the conveyance in the manner prescribed in subsection B.

B. An agreement to convey real property that is held as an asset of the association and that is not held as a common element of the condominium shall be evidenced by the execution of an agreement, or ratifications of the agreement, in the same manner as a deed and by the requisite number of unit owners. The agreement shall specify a date after which the agreement will be void unless previously recorded. The agreement and all ratifications of the agreement shall be recorded in each county in which a portion of the condominium is situated and are effective only on recordation.

C. The association, on behalf of the unit owners, may contract to convey the real property but the contract is not enforceable against the association until approved pursuant to subsections A and B. Thereafter, the association has all powers necessary and appropriate to effect the conveyance, including the power to execute deeds or other instruments.

D. Except as permitted in this chapter, any purported conveyance or other voluntary transfer of real property is void.

E. A conveyance of real property pursuant to this section does not affect the priority or validity of preexisting encumbrances.

F. Property an association acquires in an assessment lien foreclosure action shall not be considered real property held as an asset of the association for the purpose of this section.

§33-1253 - Insurance

A. Commencing not later than the time of the first conveyance of a unit to a person other than a declarant, the association shall maintain, to the extent reasonably available, both:

1. Property insurance on the common elements insuring against all risks of direct physical loss commonly insured against or, as determined by the board of directors against fire and extended coverage perils. The total amount of insurance after application of any deductibles shall be not less than eighty per cent of the actual cash value of the insured property at the time the insurance is purchased and at each renewal date, exclusive of land, excavations, foundations and other items normally excluded from property policies.
2. Liability insurance in an amount determined by the board of directors but not less than any amount specified in the declaration, covering all occurrences commonly insured against for death, bodily injury and property damage arising out of or in connection with the use, ownership or maintenance of the common elements.

B. To the extent available, the insurance maintained under subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section, if determined by the board, includes the units or any portion of those units but need not include improvements and betterments installed by unit owners or the personal property of unit owners.

C. If the insurance described in subsection A of this section is not reasonably available, the association promptly shall cause notice of that fact to be hand-delivered or sent prepaid by United States mail to all unit owners. The declaration may require the association to carry any other insurance, and the association in any event may carry any other insurance it deems appropriate to protect the association or the unit owners.

D. Insurance policies carried pursuant to subsection A of this section shall provide the following:

1. Each unit owner is an insured person under the policy with respect to liability arising out of his interest in the common elements or membership in the association.
2. The insurer waives its right to subrogation under the policy against any unit owner or members of his household.
3. No act or omission by any unit owner, unless acting within the scope of his authority on behalf of the association, will void the policy or be a condition to recovery under the policy.
4. If, at the time of a loss under the policy, there is other insurance in the name of a unit owner covering the same property covered by the policy, the association's policy provides primary insurance.

E. Any loss covered by the property policy under subsection A, paragraph 1 and subsection B of this section shall be adjusted with the association, but the insurance proceeds for that loss are payable to any insurance trustee designated for that purpose, or otherwise to the association, and not to any mortgagee or beneficiary under a deed of trust. The insurance trustee or the association shall hold any insurance proceeds in trust for unit owners and lienholders as their interest may appear. Subject to the provisions of subsection H of this section, the proceeds shall be disbursed first for the repair or restoration of the damaged property, and unit owners and lienholders are not entitled to receive payment of any portion of the proceeds unless there is a surplus of proceeds after the property has been completely repaired or restored, or the condominium is terminated.

F. An insurance policy issued to the association does not prevent a unit owner from obtaining insurance for his own benefit.

G. An insurer that has issued an insurance policy under this section shall issue certificates or memoranda of insurance to the association and, on written request, to any unit owner, mortgagee or beneficiary under a deed of trust. The insurer issuing the policy shall not cancel or refuse to renew it until thirty days after notice of the proposed cancellation or nonrenewal has been mailed to the association, each unit owner and each mortgagee or beneficiary under a deed of trust to whom a certificate or memorandum of insurance has been issued at their respective last known addresses.

H. Any portion of the condominium for which insurance is required under this section which is damaged or destroyed shall be repaired or replaced promptly by the association unless any of the following apply:

1. The condominium is terminated.
2. Repair or replacement would be illegal under any state or local health or safety statute or ordinance.
3. Eighty per cent of the unit owners, including every owner of a unit or allocated limited common element which will not be rebuilt, vote not to rebuild.

I. The cost of repair or replacement in excess of insurance proceeds and reserves is a common expense. If the entire condominium is not repaired or replaced:

1. The insurance proceeds attributable to the damaged common elements in proportion to their common element interests or as otherwise provided in the declaration shall be used to restore the damaged area to a condition compatible with the remainder of the condominium.
2. The insurance proceeds attributable to units and allocated limited common elements which are not rebuilt shall be distributed in proportion to their common element interests or as otherwise provided in the declaration to the owners of those units and the owners of the units to which those limited common elements were allocated, or to lienholders as their interests may appear.
3. 3. The remainder of the proceeds shall be distributed to all the unit owners or lienholders as their interests may appear in proportion to the common element interests of all the units.

J. If the unit owners vote not to rebuild any unit, that unit's allocated interests are automatically reallocated on the vote as if the unit had been condemned under § 33-1206, subsection A, and the association promptly shall prepare, execute and record an amendment to the declaration reflecting the reallocations.

K. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections H, I and J of this section, § 33-1228 governs the distribution of insurance proceeds if the condominium is terminated.

L. If all units are restricted to nonresidential use, the provisions of a subsection or paragraph of this section do not apply if the declaration, articles of incorporation or amended bylaws contain provisions inconsistent with such subsection or paragraph.

M. This section does not prohibit the declaration from requiring additional or greater amounts of insurance coverage or does not prohibit the board of directors from acquiring additional or greater amounts of coverage as it reasonably deems appropriate.

§33-1254 - Surplus monies

Unless otherwise provided in the declaration, any surplus monies of the association remaining after payment of or provision for common expenses and any prepayment of reserves shall be paid to the unit owners in proportion to their common expense liabilities or credited to them to reduce their future common expense assessments.

§33-1255 - Assessments for common expenses; applicability

A. Until the association makes a common expense assessment, the declarant shall pay all common expenses. After any assessment has been made by the association, assessments shall be made at least annually, based on a budget adopted at least annually by the association.

B. Except for assessments under subsections C, D, E and F of this section, all common expenses shall be assessed against all the units in accordance with the allocations set forth in the declaration pursuant to § 33-1217, subsection A. Any past due common expense assessment or installment bears interest at the rate established by the board subject to the condominium documents.

C. Unless otherwise provided for in the declaration all of the following apply:

1. 1. Any common expense associated with the maintenance, repair or replacement of a limited common element shall be equally assessed against the units to which the limited common element is assigned.
2. 2. Any common expense or portion of a common expense benefitting fewer than all of the units shall be assessed exclusively against the units benefitted.

D. Assessments to pay a judgment against the association may be made only against the units in the condominium at the time the judgment was entered, in proportion to their common expense liabilities.

E. If any common expense is caused by the misconduct of any unit owner, the association may assess that expense exclusively against that unit.

F. If the declaration so provides, the common expense assessment for any unit on which construction has not been substantially completed may be an amount which is not less than twenty-five per cent of the common expense assessment for units which have been substantially completed. However, this reduced common expense assessment shall not be permitted, unless the declarant is obligated under the declaration to pay to the association any deficiency in monies due to the declarant having paid a reduced common assessment and necessary for the association to be able to timely pay all common expenses.

G. If common expense liabilities are reallocated, common expense assessments and any installment on the assessments not yet due shall be recalculated in accordance with the reallocated common expense liabilities.

H. This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title. 

§33-1256 - Lien for assessments; priority; mechanics' and materialmen's liens; applicability

A. The association has a lien on a unit for any assessment levied against that unit from the time the assessment becomes due. The association's lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments may be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage on real estate but may be foreclosed only if the owner has been delinquent in the payment of monies secured by the lien, excluding reasonable collection fees, reasonable attorney fees and charges for late payment of and costs incurred with respect to those assessments, for a period of one year or in the amount of one thousand two hundred dollars or more, whichever occurs first. Fees, charges, late charges, monetary penalties and interest charged pursuant to § 33-1242, subsection A, paragraphs 10, 11 and 12, other than charges for late payment of assessments, are not enforceable as assessments under this section. If an assessment is payable in installments, the full amount of the assessment is a lien from the time the first installment of the assessment becomes due. The association has a lien for fees, charges, late charges, other than charges for late payment of assessments, monetary penalties or interest charged pursuant to § 33-1242, subsection A, paragraphs 10, 11 and 12 after the entry of a judgment in a civil suit for those fees, charges, late charges, monetary penalties or interest from a court of competent jurisdiction and the recording of that judgment in the office of the county recorder as otherwise provided by law. The association's lien for monies other than for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments may not be foreclosed and is effective only on conveyance of any interest in the real property.

B. A lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments under this section is prior to all other liens, interests and encumbrances on a unit except:

1. Liens and encumbrances recorded before the recordation of the declaration.
2. A recorded first mortgage on the unit, a seller's interest in a first contract for sale pursuant to chapter 6, article 3 of this title  on the unit recorded prior to the lien arising pursuant to subsection A of this section or a recorded first deed of trust on the unit.
3. Liens for real estate taxes and other governmental assessments or charges against the unit.

C. Subsection B of this section does not affect the priority of mechanics' or materialmen's liens or the priority of liens for other assessments made by the association. The lien under this section is not subject to chapter 8 of this title.

D. Unless the declaration otherwise provides, if two or more associations have liens for assessments created at any time on the same real estate, those liens have equal priority.

E. Recording of the declaration constitutes record notice and perfection of the lien for assessments, for charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments. Further recordation of any claim of lien for assessments under this section is not required.

F. A lien for unpaid assessments is extinguished unless proceedings to enforce the lien are instituted within three years after the full amount of the assessments becomes due.

G. This section does not prohibit actions to recover sums for which subsection A of this section creates a lien or does not prohibit an association from taking a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

H. A judgment or decree in any action brought under this section shall include costs and reasonable attorney fees for the prevailing party.

I. The association on written request shall furnish to a lienholder, escrow agent, unit owner or person designated by a unit owner a statement setting forth the amount of unpaid assessments against the unit. The statement shall be furnished within fifteen days after receipt of the request and the statement is binding on the association, the board of directors and every unit owner if the statement is requested by an escrow agency that is licensed pursuant to title 6, chapter 7.  Failure to provide the statement to the escrow agent within the time provided for in this subsection shall extinguish any lien for any unpaid assessment then due.

J. The association shall record in the office of the county recorder in the county in which the condominium is located a notice stating the name of the association or designated agent or management company for the association, the address for the association and the telephone number of the association or its designated agent or management company. The notice shall include the name of the condominium community, the date of the recording and the recorded instrument number or book and page for the main document that constitutes the declaration. If an association's address, designated agent or management company changes, the association shall amend its notice or record a new notice within ninety days after the change.

K. Notwithstanding any provision in the condominium documents or in any contract between the association and a management company, unless the member directs otherwise, all payments received on a member's account shall be applied first to any unpaid assessments, for unpaid charges for late payment of those assessments, for reasonable collection fees and for unpaid attorney fees and costs incurred with respect to those assessments, in that order, with any remaining amounts applied next to other unpaid fees, charges and monetary penalties or interest and late charges on any of those amounts.

L. This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title. 

§33-1257 - Other liens affecting the condominium

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, a legally recorded judgment for money against the association is not a lien on the common elements but is a lien in favor of the judgment lienholder against all of the units in the condominium at the time the judgment was entered. Other property of a unit owner is not subject to the claims of creditors of the association.

B. If the association has granted a mortgage, deed of trust or security interest in the common elements to a creditor of the association pursuant to § 33-1252, the holder of that security interest must exercise its right against the common elements before its judgment lien on any unit may be enforced.

C. Whether perfected before or after the creation of the condominium, if a lien other than a deed of trust or mortgage becomes effective against two or more units, the unit owner of an affected unit may pay to the lienholder the amount of the lien attributable to his unit, and the lienholder, on receipt of payment, shall promptly deliver a release of the lien covering that unit. The amount of the payment shall be proportionate to the ratio which that unit owner's common expense liability bears to the common expense liabilities of all unit owners whose units are subject to the lien. After payment, the association shall not assess or have a lien against that unit owner's unit for any portion of the common expenses incurred in connection with that lien.

D. A judgment against the association shall be indexed in the name of the condominium and the association and shall include the legal description of the unit subject to the lien. When so indexed, the judgment is notice of the lien against the units.

§33-1258 - Association financial and other records; applicability

A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, all financial and other records of the association shall be made reasonably available for examination by any member or any person designated by the member in writing as the member's representative. The association shall not charge a member or any person designated by the member in writing for making material available for review. The association shall have ten business days to fulfill a request for examination. On request for purchase of copies of records by any member or any person designated by the member in writing as the member's representative, the association shall have ten business days to provide copies of the requested records. An association may charge a fee for making copies of not more than fifteen cents per page.

B. Books and records kept by or on behalf of the association and the board may be withheld from disclosure to the extent that the portion withheld relates to any of the following:

1. Privileged communication between an attorney for the association and the association.
2. Pending litigation.
3. Meeting minutes or other records of a session of a board meeting that is not required to be open to all members pursuant to § 33-1248.
4. Personal, health or financial records of an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor for the association, including records of the association directly related to the personal, health or financial information about an individual member of the association, an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor for the association.
5. Records relating to the job performance of, compensation of, health records of or specific complaints against an individual employee of the association or an individual employee of a contractor of the association who works under the direction of the association.

C. The association shall not be required to disclose financial and other records of the association if disclosure would violate any state or federal law.

D. This section does not apply to an association for a timeshare plan that is subject to chapter 20 of this title.

§33-1259 - Association as trustee

With respect to a third person dealing with the association in the association's capacity as a trustee, the existence of trust powers and their proper exercise by the association may be assumed without inquiry. A third person is not bound to inquire whether the association has power to act as trustee or is properly exercising trust powers. A third person, without actual knowledge that the association is exceeding or improperly exercising its powers, is fully protected in dealing with the association as if it possessed and properly exercised the powers it purports to exercise. A third person is not bound to assure the proper application of trust assets paid or delivered to the association in its capacity as trustee.

§33-1260 - Resale of units; information required; applicability; definition

A. For condominiums with fewer than fifty units, a unit owner shall mail or deliver to a purchaser within ten days after receipt of a written notice of a pending sale of the unit, and for condominiums with fifty or more units, the association shall mail or deliver to a purchaser within ten days after receipt of a written notice of a pending sale that contains the name and address of the purchaser, all of the following:

1. A copy of the bylaws and the rules of the association.
2. A copy of the declaration.
3. A dated statement containing:

   (a) The telephone number and address of a principal contact for the association, which may be an association manager, an association management company, an officer of the association or any other person designated by the board of directors.
   (b) The amount of the common expense assessment for the unit and any unpaid common expense assessment, special assessment or other assessment, fee or charge currently due and payable from the selling unit owner.
   (c) A statement as to whether a portion of the unit is covered by insurance maintained by the association.
   (d) The total amount of money held by the association as reserves.
   (e) If the statement is being furnished by the association, a statement as to whether the records of the association reflect any alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration. The association is not obligated to provide information regarding alterations or improvements that occurred more than six years before the proposed sale. Nothing in this subdivision relieves the seller of a unit from the obligation to disclose alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration, nor precludes the association from taking action against the purchaser of a unit for violations that are apparent at the time of purchase and that are not reflected in the association's records.
   (f) If the statement is being furnished by the unit owner, a statement as to whether the unit owner has any knowledge of any alterations or improvements to the unit that violate the declaration.
   (g) A statement of case names and case numbers for pending litigation with respect to the unit filed by the association against the unit owner or filed by the unit owner against the association. The unit owner or the association shall not be required to disclose information concerning the pending litigation that would violate any applicable rule of attorney-client privilege under Arizona law.
   (h) A statement that provides "I hereby acknowledge that the declaration, bylaws and rules of the association constitute a contract between the association and me (the purchaser). By signing this statement, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the association's contract with me (the purchaser). I also understand that as a matter of Arizona law, if I fail to pay my association assessments, the association may foreclose on my property." The statement shall also include a signature line for the purchaser and shall be returned to the association within fourteen calendar days.
     

4. A copy of the current operating budget of the association.
5. A copy of the most recent annual financial report of the association. If the report is more than ten pages, the association may provide a summary of the report in lieu of the entire report.
6. A copy of the most recent reserve study of the association, if any.

B. A purchaser or seller who is damaged by the failure of the unit owner or the association to disclose the information required by subsection A of this section may pursue all remedies at law or in equity against the unit owner or the association, whichever failed to comply with subsection A of this section, including the recovery of reasonable attorney fees.

C. The association may charge the unit owner a reasonable fee to compensate the association for the costs incurred in the preparation of a statement furnished by the association pursuant to this section. The association shall make available to any interested party the amount of any fee established from time to time by the association.

D. A sale in which a public report is issued pursuant to §§ 32-2183 and 32-2197.02 or a sale pursuant to § 32-2181.02 is exempt from this section.

E. This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title.

F. For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise requires, "unit owner" means the seller of the condominium unit title and excludes any real estate salesperson or real estate broker who is licensed under title 32, chapter 20  and who is acting as a salesperson or broker and also excludes a trustee of a deed of trust who is selling the property in a trustee's sale pursuant to chapter 6.1 of this title. 

§33-1261 - Flag display; for sale signs; applicability

A. Notwithstanding any provision in the condominium documents, an association shall not prohibit the outdoor display of any of the following:

1. 1. The American flag or an official or replica of a flag of the United States army, navy, air force, marine corps or coast guard by a unit owner on that unit owner's property if the American flag or military flag is displayed in a manner consistent with the federal flag code (P.L. 94-344; 90 Stat. 810; 4 United States Code §§ 4 through 10).
2. 2. The POW/MIA flag.
3. 3. The Arizona state flag.
4. 4. An Arizona Indian nations flag.

B. The association shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations regarding the placement and manner of display of the American flag, the military flag, the POW/MIA flag, the Arizona state flag or an Arizona Indian nations flag. The association rules may regulate the location and size of flagpoles but shall not prohibit the installation of a flagpole.

C. Notwithstanding any provision in the condominium documents, an association shall not prohibit the indoor or outdoor display of a for sale sign and a sign rider by a unit owner on that owner's property, including a sign that indicates the unit owner is offering the property for sale by owner. The size of a sign offering a property for sale shall be in conformance with the industry standard size sign, which shall not exceed eighteen by twenty-four inches, and the industry standard size sign rider, which shall not exceed six by twenty-four inches.

D. [Effective September 26, 2008] Notwithstanding any provision in the condominium documents, an association shall not prohibit but may reasonably regulate the circulation of political petitions, including candidate nomination petitions or petitions in support of or opposition to an initiative, referendum or recall or other political issue on property dedicated to the public within the association.  A condominium is not required to comply with this section if the condominium restricts vehicular or pedestrian access to the condominium. Nothing in this section requires a condominium to make its common elements available for the circulation of political petitions to anyone who is not an owner or resident of the community.

D. [Re-lettered to subsection “E” effective September 26, 2008] This section does not apply to timeshare plans or associations that are subject to chapter 20 of this title. 

§33-1270 - Department of real estate; enforcement

A. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to increase or decrease or otherwise affect any rights or powers granted to the commissioner of the department of real estate under title 32, chapter 20  with respect to the issuance of public reports.

B. The commissioner of the department of real estate shall require compliance with § 33-1215 and § 33-1219 in connection with the administration of the subdivision laws of this state under title 32, chapter 20, article 4. The commissioner shall not be required to administer or enforce any other provisions of this chapter.

Chapter 24 - General Provisions

Chapter 25 - Incorporation

Chapter 26 - Purposes and Powers

Chapter 28 - Office and Agent

Chapter 29 - Members and Membership

Chapter 30 - Members’ Meetings and Voting

Chapter 31 - Directors and Officers

Chapter 33 - Amendment of Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

Chapter 36 - Distributions

Chapter 39 - Records & Reports

Chapter 40 - Transition Provisions

§33-420 - False documents; liability; special action; damages; violation; classification

A. A person purporting to claim an interest in, or a lien or encumbrance against, real property, who causes a document asserting such claim to be recorded in the office of the county recorder, knowing or having reason to know that the document is forged, groundless, contains a material misstatement or false claim or is otherwise invalid is liable to the owner or beneficial title holder of the real property for the sum of not less than five thousand dollars, or for treble the actual damages caused by the recording, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney fees and costs of the action.

B. The owner or beneficial title holder of the real property may bring an action pursuant to this section in the superior court in the county in which the real property is located for such relief as is required to immediately clear title to the real property as provided for in the rules of procedure for special actions. This special action may be brought based on the ground that the lien is forged, groundless, contains a material misstatement or false claim or is otherwise invalid. The owner or beneficial title holder may bring a separate special action to clear title to the real property or join such action with an action for damages as described in this section. In either case, the owner or beneficial title holder may recover reasonable attorney fees and costs of the action if he prevails.

C. A person who is named in a document which purports to create an interest in, or a lien or encumbrance against, real property and who knows that the document is forged, groundless, contains a material misstatement or false claim or is otherwise invalid shall be liable to the owner or title holder for the sum of not less than one thousand dollars, or for treble actual damages, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney fees and costs as provided in this section, if he wilfully refuses to release or correct such document of record within twenty days from the date of a written request from the owner or beneficial title holder of the real property.

D. A document purporting to create an interest in, or a lien or encumbrance against, real property not authorized by statute, judgment or other specific legal authority is presumed to be groundless and invalid.

E. A person purporting to claim an interest in, or a lien or encumbrance against, real property, who causes a document asserting such claim to be recorded in the office of the county recorder, knowing or having reason to know that the document is forged, groundless, contains a material misstatement or false claim or is otherwise invalid is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

§33-439 - Restrictions on installation or use of solar energy devices invalid; exception

A. Any covenant, restriction or condition contained in any deed, contract, security agreement or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of, or any interest in, real property which effectively prohibits the installation or use of a solar energy device as defined in section 44-1761 is void and unenforceable.

B. A deed, contract, security agreement or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of, or any interest in, real property entered into before April 17, 1980 shall not be subject to the provisions of this section.

§33-440 - Enforceability of private covenants; definitions

A. An owner of real property may enter into a private covenant regarding that real property and the private covenant is valid and enforceable according to its terms if all of the following apply:

1. The private covenant is not prohibited by any other existing private covenant or declaration affecting the real property and does not violate any statute governing the subject matter of the private covenant that is in effect before the effective date of this section.
2. The owner of the real property affected by the private covenant and any person on whom the private covenant imposes any liability or obligation have consented to the private covenant.
3. Any consent requirements contained in the express provisions of any existing private covenant or declaration affecting the real property have been met.

B. A private covenant is deemed not to constitute an amendment to any existing private covenant or declaration unless the private covenant expressly violates an express provision of the existing private covenant or declaration.

C. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Declaration" has the same meaning prescribed in section 33-1802.
2. "Private covenant" means any uniform or nonuniform covenant, restriction or condition regarding real property that is contained in any deed, contract, agreement or other recorded instrument affecting real property.

§33-441 - For sale signs; restrictions unenforceable

A. A covenant, restriction or condition contained in any deed, contract, security agreement or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of any interest in real property shall not be applied to prohibit the indoor or outdoor display of a for sale sign and a sign rider by a property owner on that person's property, including a sign that indicates the person is offering the property for sale by owner. The size of a sign offering a property for sale shall be in conformance with the industry standard size sign, which shall not exceed eighteen by twenty-four inches, and the industry standard size sign rider, which shall not exceed six by twenty-four inches.

B. This section applies to any covenant, restriction or condition without regard to the date the covenant, restriction or condition was created, signed or recorded. This section does not apply to timeshare property and timeshare interest as defined in section 33-2202.

C. This section does not apply to a covenant, restriction or condition in a deed, contract, security agreement or other instrument affecting the transfer or sale of an interest in real property that does not prohibit or restrict the display of a for sale sign or a sign rider on the real property.

§33-442 - Prohibition on transfer fees; exceptions; definitions

A.  A provision in a declaration, covenant or any other document relating to real property in this state is not binding or enforceable against the real property or against any subsequent owner, purchaser, lienholder or other claimant on the property if it purports to do both of the following:

1. Bind successors in title to the specified real property.
2. Obligate the transferee or transferor of all or part of the property to pay a fee or other charge to a declarant or a third person on transfer of an interest in the property or in consideration for permitting such a transfer.  Regularly scheduled fees or charges shall not be considered payable on transfer of an interest if the fees or charges will be payable by the owner of the property regardless of whether or not the property is transferred, even if the obligation to pay does not commence until the trustee, declarant, builder or developer first conveys the property to a retail purchaser.

B.  A transfer fee provision prescribed by subsection a is unenforceable whether or not recorded and does not create a lien right and any lien purportedly arising out of an unenforceable provision prescribed by subsection a is invalid and unenforceable.

C.  This section does not apply to any of the following:

1. Any provision of a purchase contract, option, mortgage, security agreement, real property listing agreement or other agreement that obligates one party to the agreement to pay the other party as full or partial consideration for the agreement or for a waiver of rights under the agreement if the amount to be paid is:

   (a)  A loan assumption fee or similar fee charged by a lender that holds a lien on the property.
   (b)  A fee or commission paid to a licensed real estate broker for brokerage services rendered in connection with the transfer of the property for which the fee or commission is paid.
     

2. Any provision in a deed, memorandum or other document recorded for the purpose of providing record notice of an agreement prescribed in paragraph 1, subdivision (a) of this subsection.
3. Any provision of a document that requires payment of a fee or charge to an association to be used exclusively for the purpose authorized in the document if both of the following apply:

   (a)  The fee being charged touches and concerns the land.
   b)  No portion of the charge or fee is required to be passed through to a third party or declarant designated or identifiable by description in the document or in another document that is referenced in the document unless the third party is authorized in the document to manage real property within the association or was part of an approved development plan.
     

4. Any rent, reimbursement, charge, fee or other amount payable by a lessee to a lessor under a lease, including any fee payable to the lessor for consenting to an assignment, sublease, encumbrance or transfer of the lease.
5. Any consideration payable to the holder of an option to purchase an interest in the real property or to the holder of a right of first refusal or first offer to purchase an interest in real property and paid for waiving, releasing or not exercising the option or right on transfer of the property to another person.
6. Any fee, charge, assessment, dues, contribution or other amount relating to the purchase or transfer of a club membership related to the real property owner by the transferor.
7. Any fee or charge that is imposed by a document and that is payable to a nonprofit corporation for the sole purpose of supporting recreational activities within the association.
8. Any fee, tax, assessment or other charge imposed by a governmental authority pursuant to applicable laws, ordinances or regulations.
9. Any consideration payable by the transferee to the transferor for the interest in real property being transferred including any subsequent additional consideration for the property payable by the transferee based on any subsequent appreciation, development or sale of the property.

D.  Notwithstanding any provision in the document or purported lien, a transfer fee covenant or other document prescribed by subsection A or a lien purporting to secure payment under a transfer fee covenant or document prescribed by subsection A that is executed after the effective date of this section is not binding or enforceable.  This section shall not be construed to imply that a transfer fee covenant or other document prescribed by subsection A that is executed before the effective date of this section is enforceable or valid.

E.  For the purposes of this section:

1. "Association" means a nonprofit mandatory membership organization that is created pursuant to a declaration, covenant or other applicable law and that is comprised of the owners of homes, condominiums, cooperatives or manufactured homes or any other interest in real property.
2. "Transfer" means the sale, gift, conveyance, assignment, inheritance or other transfer of an interest in real property located in this state.

§33-2001 - Definitions

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Community documents" means condominium documents as defined in section 33-1202 or community documents as defined in section 33-1802.
2. "Dwelling" means a newly constructed single family or multifamily unit designed for residential use and property and improvements that are either owned by a homeowners' association or jointly by all of the members of a homeowners' association. Dwelling includes the systems, other components and improvements that are part of a newly constructed single family or multifamily unit at the time of construction.
3. "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned.
4. "Homeowners' association" means an association as defined in section 33-1202 or 33-1802.
5. "Homeowners' association dwelling action" means any action filed by a homeowners' association against the seller of a dwelling arising out of or related to the design, construction, condition or sale of the dwelling.
6. "Seller" means any of the following:

   (a) Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization that is engaged in the business of building or selling dwellings.
   (b) Any person, firm, partnership, corporation, association or other organization that performs functions relating to or furnishes the design, specifications, surveying, planning, supervising, testing, constructing or observation of the constructing of a dwelling.
   (c) A real estate broker or salesperson as defined in section 32-2101.

§33-2002 - Homeowners' association dwelling actions; conditions

A. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in title 10, chapter 39 or chapters 9 and 16 of this title and in addition to any requirements prescribed in the community documents of a homeowners' association, a homeowners' association may file a homeowners' association dwelling action only after all of the following have occurred:

1. The board of directors has provided full disclosure in writing to all members of the association of all material information relating to the filing of the action. The material information shall include a statement that describes the manner in which the action will be funded and a statement describing any demands, notices, offers to settle or responses to offers to settle made either by the association or the seller. The material information described by this paragraph shall be distributed to all members before the meeting described in paragraph 2 occurs.
2. The association has held a meeting of its members and board of directors for which reasonable and adequate notice was provided to all members in the manner prescribed in section 33-1248 or 33-1804, as applicable.
3. The board of directors of the homeowners' association authorizes the filing of the action.

B. If the notice required by subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section is provided to the homeowners' association's members less than sixty days before the expiration of a statute of limitations affecting the right of the association to bring a homeowners' association dwelling action, the statute of limitations is tolled for sixty days. The homeowners' association may meet the remaining requirements of subsection A of this section during the tolling period.

C. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in title 10, chapter 39 or in chapters 9 and 16 of this title and in addition to any requirements prescribed in the community documents of a homeowners' association, the board of directors of a homeowners' association or its authorized representative shall disclose in writing to the members of the association a plan that describes the manner in which the proceeds of a homeowners' association dwelling action, whether obtained by way of judgment, settlement or other means, have been or will be allocated. The plan shall be disclosed within thirty days after the association receives the proceeds of any homeowners' association dwelling action. The plan is not binding on the homeowners' association, but the board of directors or its authorized representative must disclose any material changes to the plan to the members of the association within thirty days of making the changes.

D. A homeowners' association shall prepare and preserve for a period of five years records that are adequate to demonstrate its compliance with this section.

E. A director who acts in good faith pursuant to this chapter is not liable for any act or failure to act pursuant to this chapter. In any action filed against a director arising out of any act or failure to act pursuant to this chapter, a director is presumed in all cases to have acted in good faith. The burden is on the party challenging a director's conduct to establish by clear and convincing evidence facts that rebut the good faith presumption.

§33-2003 - Applicability

A. This chapter applies only to homeowners' association dwelling actions. This chapter does not apply to:

1. Actions filed by individual members of a homeowners' association against a seller.
2. Claims for personal injury, death or damage to property other than a dwelling.
3. Common law fraud claims.
4. Proceedings brought pursuant to title 32, chapter 10, whether filed by a homeowners' association or by individual members of a homeowners' association.

B. A homeowners' association dwelling action is also subject to title 12, chapter 8, article 14.