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Lawrence W. Stirling
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Common interest developments were first regulated in California in 1963 with the passage of the California Condominium Act. However, the laws affecting homeowners associations were scattered throughout the Corporations Code and the Civil Code and did not adequately address the unique issues posed by community associations.
Through the efforts of Assemblyman Lawrence Stirling and law professor Katherine Rosenberry, a comprehensive body of law governing common interest developments was drafted in 1985. Assemblyman Gray Davis was chairman of the Housing Committee and added his name and support to the legislation, which became known as the Davis-Stirling Act, which went into effect January 1986 as Civil Code ยงยง1350-1378.
The Davis-Stirling Act applies to all common interest developments in California. Nahrstedt v. Lakeside Village Condominium Assn. This includes any that were in existence prior to the Act. Villa De Las Palmas Homeowners Assn. v. Terifaj.
Community association law has been one of the most active areas of the law with a large number of bills introduced into the legislature each year. See history of changes.