A planned development (PD) is a category of common-interest developments under the Davis-Stirling Act. Some governing documents use the term "planned unit development" (PUD) and "planned residential development" (PRD). California's Attorney General issued an opinion about the legal structure of planned developments that helped to define them:
Unlike the condominium project, which is essentially a creature of statutory origin, the planned development uses traditional real property concepts. In a planned development, ownership includes an individual interest in a parcel of land, usually a subdivision lot, and the structural improvements situated on the lot. In contrast, the condominium owner received title primarily to a cube of airspace [citation] without receiving undivided ownership of any underlying land or structural improvements as part of the individual ownership... (85 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 162, p. 3.)
Planned Development Common Areas
In condominium developments, members own air space (their unit) plus an undivided interest in the structure surrounding their airspace (the common areas). In a planned development, members typically own a "lot" (described on a tract map) and some or all improvements on the lot. As provided for in Civil Code § 4175, a planned development is defined as having either or both of the following:
(a) Common area that is owned either by an association or in common by the owners of the separate interests who possess appurtenant rights to the beneficial use and enjoyment of the common area.
(b) Common area and an association that maintains the common area with the power to levy assessments that may become a lien upon the separate interests in accordance with Article 2 (commencing with Section 5650) of Chapter 8.
The association's common areas will often consist of amenities such as private streets, greenbelts/parks, clubhouses, swimming pools, golf course, equestrian facilities, tennis courts, lakes, hiking trails, front gate facilities, perimeter fencing.
Common area may also consist of mutual or reciprocal easement rights appurtenant to the separate interests. (Civ. Code § 4095(b).) An easement is an interest in the land of another, created by grant or prescription, which entitles the owner of the easement to a limited use or enjoyment of the other's land.
See: Committee to Save Beverly Highlands v. Beverly Highlands for a discussion of common interest developments.
Planned Development Forms of Development
The layout of single-family homes in a planned development takes two forms.
1. Free-Standing Homes
The first form of construction is free-standing homes on lots.
2. Townhouses
The second form of construction for planned developments is townhouses where two or more are separated by party walls. With townhouse construction, owners might own a traditional looking lot with fenced front and back yards or they may own a "footprint" lot, i.e., the dirt upon which the structure sits and nothing more.
3. Mobilehome Parks
Mobilehome parks can be structures as planned developments. As with single-family homes, the lot upon which the mobilehome is parked is owned by the homeoner, not by the park. The amenities and streets (if gated) are owned in common by the members.
Planned Development Maintenance Requirements
Maintenance responsibilities in planned developments can vary considerably. See Planned Development Maintenance Responsibilities.
Annexations. For more information, see Annexations.
Related Information
See related information about common interest developments:
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