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CHAPTER 1. 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Preliminary Provisions
6500 Title
6502 Effect of Headings
6505 Continuation of Prior Law
6510 Effect of Zoning Ordinances
6512 Delivery of Documents to Association
6514 Delivery of Documents to Members
6518 Time of Delivery
6520 Electronic Delivery
6522 Approval by Majority of Members
6524 Approval by Majority of Quorum
Article 2. Definitions
6526 Application of Definitions
6528 “Association” Defined
6530 “Board” Defined
6531 “Commercial or Industrial CID” Defined
6532 “Common Area” Defined
6534 “Common Interest Development” Defined
6540 “Condominium Plan” Defined
6542 “Condominium Project” Defined
6544 “Declarant” Defined
6546 “Declaration” Defined
6548 “Director” Defined
6550 “Exclusive Use Common Area” Defined
6552 “Governing Documents” Defined
6553 “Individual Notice” Defined
6554 “Member” Defined
6560 “Person” Defined
6562 “Planned Development” Defined
6564 “Separate Interest” Defined
6566 “Stock Cooperative” Defined
CHAPTER 2.
APPLICATION OF ACT
6580 Creation of Commercial or Industrial CID
6582 Application of Act; Common Area Required
CHAPTER 3.
GOVERNING DOCUMENTS
Article 1. General Provisions
6600 Hierarchy of Documents and Law
6602 Liberally Construed
6604 Unit Boundaries
6606 Unlawful Restrictive Covenants
6608 Deletion of Developer Provisions
6610 Correction of Statutory Cross-References
Article 2. Declaration
6614 Contents of Declaration
6616 Amendments Authorized
6618 Extending Term of Declaration
6620 Amendment Procedure
Article 3. Articles of Incorporation
6622 Content of Articles of Incorporation
Article 4. Condominium Plan
6624 Contents of Condominium Plan
6626 Recordation of Condominium Plan
6628 Amending or Revoking Condominium Plan
Article 5. Operating Rules
6630 “Operating Rule” Defined
6632 Requirements for Validity and Enforceability
CHAPTER 4.
OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER OF INTERESTS
Article 1. Ownership Rights and Interests
6650 Ownership of Common Area
6652 Ingress, Egress and Support
6654 No Denial of Access to Property
Article 2. Restrictions on Transfer
6656 Partition of Condominium Project
6658 Mechanics Liens for Labor and Materials
6660 Notice of Mechanics Lien to Members
Article 3. Transfer of Separate Interest
6662 Condominium Project
6664 Planned Development
6666 Stock Cooperative
6668 Transfer of Exclusive Use Common Area
6670 Restrictions upon Severability
CHAPTER 5.
PROPERTY USE AND MAINTENANCE
Article 1. Protected Uses
6700 Scope of Article
6702 Display of United States Flag
6704 Display of Signs, Posters, Flags and Banners
6706 Pet Restrictions
6708 Television Antennas; Satellite Dishes
6710 Marketing Restrictions
6712 Low Water-Using Plants
6713 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
Article 2. Modification of Separate Interest
6714 Improvements to Separate Interest; Modifications for Handicapped
Article 3. Maintenance
6716 Maintenance Obligations
6718 Wood-Destroying Pests and Organisms
6720 Temporary Removal of Occupants
6722 Access to Telephone Wiring
CHAPTER 6.
ASSOCIATION GOVERNANCE
Article 1. Association Existence and Powers
6750 Managed by the Association
6752 Corporate Powers
Article 2. Record Keeping
6756 Requests to Change Member Information
Article 3. Conflicts of Interest
6758 Prohibited Actions by Directors and Committee Members
Article 4. Government Assistance
6760 Required Filings with Secretary of State
CHAPTER 7.
ASSESSMENTS AND COLLECTION
Article 1. Imposition of Assessments
6800 Duty to Levy Assessments
6804 Assessments Exempt from Creditors
Article 2. Assessment Payment and Delinquency
6808 Assessments are Debt of Owner
6810 Receipt for Payment
6812 Pre-Lien Notice
6814 Notice of Delinquent Assessment
6816 Lien Priority
6818 Lien Release; Lien Errors
6819 Failure to Comply with Procedures
Article 3. Assessment Collection
6820 Enforcement of Lien
6822 Trustee Sale Procedure
6824 Reimbursement Assessments and Monetary Penalties
6826 No Assignment of Right to Collect
6828 Liens Created After January 1, 2014
CHAPTER 8.
INSURANCE AND LIABILITY
6840 Limitations on Member Liability; Insurance Requirements
CHAPTER 9.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ENFORCEMENT
Article 1. Disciplinary Action
6850 Schedule of Monetary Penalties
6854 Authority to Impose Penalties
Article 2. Civil Action
6856 Enforcement of CC&Rs
6858 Standing in Legal Proceedings
6860
 
Comparative Fault
 
CHAPTER 10.
CONSTRUCTION DEFECT LITIGATION
6874 Notice of Settlement Agreement
6876 Notice to Members Before Filing Lawsuit


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NOTEMixed use projects that include both commercial and residential elements continue to be governed by the Davis-Stirling Act.

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ANALYSIS OF THE ACT


Effective January 1, 2014, commercial and industrial CIDs ceased to be part of the Davis-Stirling Act. They were moved under a new Commercial and Industrial Common Interest Development Act ("Commercial CID Act").

Delivering Documents to the Association. The DS Act and Commercial CID Act have near identical provisions for delivering documents to their associations. C-I CIDs need not prepare annual policy statements required by D-S associations.

Individual Delivery and Notice to Members. Both the new D-SAct and C-I CID Act adopted similar provisions for “individual delivery” and “individual notice” to members, respectively. Both acts provide for individual delivery of documents or individual notices. For the purposes of the Commercial CID Act, “individual delivery” and “individual notice” reference only a few specific types of documents or notice: (i) Delivery of (1) a copy of all amendments to the governing documents to remove only certain developer language and (2) the related notice of the meeting to consider same; (ii) Delivery of a proposed amendment to the CC&Rs to the membership; (iii) Delivery of notices to the owner regarding the temporary, summary removal of occupants for termite treatment, and (iv) Distribution of a schedule of monetary penalties.

Secondary Address. The Commercial CID Act discontinued the requirements of former regarding secondary addresses for members.

Time of Delivery. Both the new Davis-Stirling and the Commercial CID Act adopted identical new provisions defining when a document is deemed delivered: (i) delivery by mail is deemed to be completed on deposit into the United States mail; and (ii) electronic delivery is complete at the time of transmission. Regrettably, neither act addresses when delivery by overnight delivery by an express service carrier is completed. The best answer for that is upon actual delivery to the address of the recipient.

Electronic Delivery. Both the new Davis-Stirling and the Commercial CID Act also adopted new provisions comparable to certain portions of Corporations Code § 20 and § 21 regarding conditions of electronic delivery.

Right to Attorney’s Fees. The Commercial CID Act discontinued the right of prevailing parties recovering attorney’s fees and costs in actions for the enforcement of governing documents . 

Petition to Amend CC&Rs. The Commercial CID Act does not allow the association the right to petition the court to allow a majority vote to be sufficient when a supermajority is required by the CC&Rs.

Rental Prohibitions. Rental prohibitions in commercial and industrial CIDs may be applied to all owners at the time of adoption.

Budgets and Financial Disclosures. Commercial and industrial CIDs have no obligation to prepare a budget or make financial or real estate disclosures as required by the DS Act.

Reserves. Commercial and industrial CIDs are not required to perform reserve studies. 

Parliamentary Procedures. The Commercial CID Act discontinued the requirement of conducting meetings under a parliamentary procedures.

Access to Records. The statutes allowing membership access to records and providing recordkeeping requirements no longer apply to commercial and industrial CIDs. Record access is once again limited to Corporations Code § 8330, et seq. and the association’s governing documents. 

Fines and Discipline. The statutory fine and discipline procedure has been jettisoned. This does not suggest that commercial CIDs may disregard due process entirely. It only means that any reasonable procedure giving notice and an opportunity to be heard may be adopted in your governing documents and implemented.

Election Rules. The election procedures statute and its companion on campaign funding  were not continued in the Commercial CID Act. 

Open Meeting Act. Another casualty of the Commercial CID Act is the Open Meeting Act. The provision of Civil Code § 1363.05 are not part of the Commercial CID Act. However, an open meeting is still required for the consideration and deliberation by the board to adopt and amendment to remove certain developer language from the governing documents. Members are entitled to make comments at such meeting. Otherwise, commercial and industrial CIDs, among other things:

  • Are subject to Corporations Code § 7211 and their governing documents for board meetings.
  • Need not give notice of regular or special board meetings to its membership.
  • Need not distribute board meeting agendas to its membership.
  • Need not allow its members to attend board meetings.
  • May consider any matters in executive session (assuming it allowed an open meeting to start).
  • May again take actions by written consent as allowed by Corporations Code § 7211(b).

Transfer of Common Area to a Member. The requirement of former Civil Code § 1363.07 requiring member consent to transfer common area to a member for his or her exclusive use no longer applies to commercial or industrial CIDs.

Managing Agent Disclosures and Duties. The disclosure requirements and duties of managing agents provided for in former Civil Code § 1363.1 and § 1363.2 were discontinued in the Commercial CID Act.

Insurance Requirements. The requirements and protections of former Civil Code § 1365.7 as to directors and officers insurance no longer apply to commercial and industrial CIDs. Regardless, directors and officers insurance coverage is highly recommended for any CID board.

Assessments. Prior to the Commercial CID Act, the only difference between residential and commercial CIDs regarding assessments was that commercial CIDs were not bound by former Civil Code § 1366(b) which (1) limited the amount of annual increases to regular assessments, (2) limited the amount an association could impose for a special assessment and (3) restricted the circumstances under which an emergency assessment could be imposed. The Commercial CID Act continues as before in that regard, but eliminates the requirements of Civil Code § 1366(d),(e)&(f) as well. Subject to a commercial or industrial association’s governing documents:

  • It no longer must give notice of an assessment increase between 30 and 60 days before it becomes due. Now, a shorter or longer period would be acceptable.
  • The 15 day minimum before assessments are in default no longer applies. Assessments may be in default after a shorter period.
  • The 10% or $10 limit on late fees no longer applies. Larger late fees may be imposed.
  • The delay of 30 days before interest accrues on delinquent assessments no longer applies. Interest may now commence immediately upon delinquency.
  • The Constitutional exemption allowing them to charge 12% interest on delinquent accounts no longer applies. Commercial and industrial CIDs are now limited to collecting no more than 10% interest on unpaid assessments.

Excessive Fees. Former Civil Code § 1366.1, which prohibits residential associations imposing or collecting an assessment or fee that exceeds the amount necessary to defray the costs for which it is levied, continues to be inapplicable to commercial and industrial associations under the Commercial CID Act.

Recording Management Information. The recording rights of former Civil Code § 1366.2 were discontinued under the Commercial CID Act.

Basing Assessments on Taxable Value. The prohibitions of former Civil Code § 1366.4 to basing assessments on taxable values are not part of the Commercial CID Act.

Lien Procedures. Prior to the Commercial CID Act, lien procedures between the residential and commercial CIDs were identical. But now, the Commercial CID Act changes it to the following:

  • The Commercial CID Act lien provisions apply only to liens created on or after January 1, 2014. Liens created before then follow the law that existed at the time of their creation. (Civ. Code § 6828.) The consequence  is that commercial and industrial CIDs now have four different bodies of law for liens depending on when they were created:

    Before January 1, 1986 (such statutory and case law that might have existed then). January 1, 1986 through December 31, 2002 (former Civ. Code § 1367).  January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2013 (former Civ. Code § 1367.1).  January 1, 2014 until the next change) (Commercial CID Act).

    Pre-lien letters no long need to include the former requirements of Civil Code § 1367.1(a)(4)-(6) stating that a member has the right to request a meeting with the board to discuss payments plans, request IDR, request ADR,

    Commercial and industrial CIDs are no longer required to apply payments to assessments first as previously required by former Civil Code § 1367.1(b).
     
  • Commercial and industrial CIDs need no longer participate in IDR, ADR or discuss payment plans as previously required by former Civil Code § 1367.1(c).
     
  • The foreclosure restrictions of former Civil Code § 1367.4 (requiring an assessment to be delinquent for 12 months or in an amount of $1,800 or more) no longer apply to commercial or industrial CIDs.
     
  • If it is determined that a commercial or industrial CID has recorded a lien for a delinquent assessment in error, it is no longer required to reverse all late charges, fees, interest, attorney’s fees, costs of collection, costs imposed as previously provided for in former Civil Code § 1367.5. It need only record a lien release or notice of rescission and provide the owner of the separate interest with a declaration that the lien filing or recording was in error and a copy of the lien release or notice of rescission. (Civ. Code § 6818.) But, an association that fails to comply with proper lien procedures shall, prior to recording a lien, recommence the required notice process. Any costs associated with recommencing the notice process shall be borne by the association and not by the owner of a separate interest. (Civ. Code § 6819.) So, the association need not reverse prior charges, but cannot charge the member again for the same pre-lien costs.
     
  • Members may no long pay assessments to commercial or industrial CIDs under protest as previously allowed under Civil Code § 1367.6.

Real Estate Disclosures. Disclosures to prospective purchasers do not apply to commercial or industrial CIDs. In addition, the related form disclosing charges for such disclosures was discontinued in the Commercial CID Act.

IDR and ADR. The IDR and ADR requirements have been discontinued in their entirety in the Commercial CID Act.