Virginia Condominium Act

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The Virginia Condominium Act (the “Act”) found under the new Title 55.1, Chapter 19 (§§ 55.1-1900 through 55.1-1995) of the Code of Virginia, applies to “all condominiums and to all horizontal property regimes or condominium projects.

This chapter supersedes the Horizontal Property Act (§ 55.1-2000 et seq.), and no condominium shall be established under the Horizontal Property Act on or after July 1, 1974.” This new chapter takes effect on October 1, 2019, and repeals Title 55 as of said date. For more on the applicability of provisions of this chapter, please read § 55.1.1901 below.

The Act is broken down into the following five articles:

Article 1. General Provisions

Section Name Section Number Definitions§ 55.1-1900Application and construction of chapter§ 55.1-1901Variation by agreement§ 55.1-1902Separate assessments, titles, and taxation§ 55.1-1903Association charges§ 55.1-1904Local ordinances; nonconforming conversion condominiums; applicability of Uniform Statewide Building Code; other regulations§ 55.1-1905Eminent domain§ 55.1-1906

Article 2. Creation, Alteration, And Termination of Condominiums

Section Name Section Number How condominium may be created§ 55.1-1907Release of liens§ 55.1-1908Description of condominium units§ 55.1-1909Execution of condominium instruments§ 55.1-1910Recordation of condominium instruments§ 55.1-1911Construction of condominium instruments§ 55.1-1912Complementarity of condominium instruments; controlling construction§ 55.1-1913Validity of condominium instruments; discrimination prohibited§ 55.1-1914Compliance with condominium instruments§ 55.1-1915Contents of declaration§ 55.1-1916Allocation of interests in the common elements§ 55.1-1917Reallocation of interests in common elements§ 55.1-1918Assignments of limited common elements; conversion to common element§ 55.1-1919Contents of plats and plans§ 55.1-1920Bond to insure completion of improvements§ 55.1-1921Preliminary recordation of plats and plans§ 55.1-1922Easement for encroachments§ 55.1-1923Conversion of convertible lands§ 55.1-1924Conversion of convertible spaces§ 55.1-1925Expansion of condominium§ 55.1-1926Contraction of condominium§ 55.1-1927Easement to facilitate conversion and expansion§ 55.1-1928Easement to facilitate sales§ 55.1-1929Declarant's obligation to complete and restore§ 55.1-1930Alterations within units§ 55.1-1931Relocation of boundaries between units§ 55.1-1932Subdivision of units§ 55.1-1933Amendment of condominium instruments§ 55.1-1934Use of technology§ 55.1-1935Merger or consolidation of condominiums; procedure§ 55.1-1936Termination of condominium§ 55.1-1937Rights of mortgagees§ 55.1-1938Statement of unit owner rights§ 55.1-1939

Article 3. Management of Condominium

Section Name Section Number Bylaws to be recorded with declaration; contents; unit owners' association; executive board; amendment of bylaws§ 55.1-1940Amendment to condominium instruments; consent of mortgagee§ 55.1-1941Reformation of declaration; judicial procedure§ 55.1-1942Control of condominium by declarant§ 55.1-1943Deposit of funds§ 55.1-1944Books, minutes, and records; inspection§ 55.1-1945Management office§ 55.1-1946Transfer of special declarant rights§ 55.1-1947Declarants not succeeding to special declarant rights§ 55.1-1948Meetings of unit owners' association and executive board§ 55.1-1949Distribution of information by members§ 55.1-1950Display of the flag of the United States; necessary supporting structures; affirmative defense§ 55.1-1951Installation of solar energy collection devices§ 55.1-1951.1Meetings of unit owners' association and executive board; quorums§ 55.1-1952Meetings of unit owners' association and executive board; voting by unit owners; proxies§ 55.1-1953Officers§ 55.1-1954Upkeep of condominiums; warranty against structural defects; statute of limitations for warranty; warranty review committee§ 55.1-1955Control of common elements§ 55.1-1956Common elements; notice of pesticide application§ 55.1-1957Tort and contract liability; judgment lien§ 55.1-1958Suspension of services for failure to pay assessments; corrective action; assessment of charges for violations; notice; hearing; adoption and enforcement of rules and regulations§ 55.1-1959Limitation of occupancy of a unit§ 55.1-1960Limitation of smoking in condominium§ 55.1-1960.1Use of for sale sign in connection with resale§ 55.1-1961Designation of authorized representative§ 55.1-1962Electric vehicle charging stations permitted§ 55.1-1962.1Insurance§ 55.1-1963Liability for common expenses; late fees§ 55.1-1964Annual budget; reserves for capital components§ 55.1-1965Lien for assessments§ 55.1-1966Notice of sale under deed of trust§ 55.1-1967Bond to be posted by declarant§ 55.1-1968Restraints on alienation§ 55.1-1969

Article 4. Administration of Chapter; Sale, Etc., of Condominium Units

Section Name Section Number Common Interest Community Board§ 55.1-1970General powers and duties of the Common Interest Community Board§ 55.1-1971Exemptions from certain provisions of article§ 55.1-1972Rental of units§ 55.1-1973Limitations on dispositions of units§ 55.1-1974Application for registration; fee§ 55.1-1975Public offering statement; condominium securities§ 55.1-1976Inquiry and examination§ 55.1-1977Notice of filing and registration§ 55.1-1978Annual report by declarant§ 55.1-1979Annual report by unit owners' association§ 55.1-1980Termination of registration§ 55.1-1981Conversion condominiums; special provisions§ 55.1-1982Escrow of deposits§ 55.1-1983Declarant to deliver declaration to purchaser§ 55.1-1984Investigations and proceedings§ 55.1-1985Cease and desist orders§ 55.1-1986Revocation of registration§ 55.1-1987Judicial review§ 55.1-1988Penalties§ 55.1-1989