Title 35 — Title 35

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Alabama Uniform Condominium Act of 1991.” History: (Acts 1990, No. 90-551, p. 858, §1-101.)

(a) This chapter applies to all condominiums created within this state after January 1, 1991. Sections 35-8A-104 (Variation by agreement), 35-8A-105 (Separate titles and taxation), 35-8A-106 (Applicability of local ordinances, regulations, and building codes), 35-8A-107 (Eminent …

In the declaration and bylaws, unless specifically provided otherwise or the context otherwise requires, and in this chapter, the following terms are defined as set forth below: (1) AFFILIATE OF A DECLARANT. Any person who controls, is controlled by, or is under common control wi…

Except as expressly provided in this chapter, provisions of this chapter may not be varied by agreement, and rights conferred by this chapter may not be waived. A declarant may not act under a power of attorney, or use any other device, to evade the limitations or prohibitions of…

(a) If there is any 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) If there is any unit owner other than a declarant, each unit must be separ…

(a) A building code may not impose any requirements upon any structure in a condominium which it would not impose upon a physically identical structure under a different form of ownership. (b) No zoning, subdivision, or other real estate use law, ordinance, or regulation may proh…

(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 the unit …

The principles of law and equity, including the law of corporations, the law of real property and the law relative to capacity to contract, principal and agent, eminent domain, estoppel, fraud, misrepresentation, duress, coercion, mistake, receivership, substantial performance, o…

This chapter being a general act intended as a unified coverage of its subject matter, no part of it shall be construed to be impliedly repealed by subsequent legislation if that construction can reasonably be avoided. History: (Acts 1990, No. 90-551, p. 858, §1-109).

(a) Notwithstanding a finding that this chapter is in derogation of the common law, it should be liberally construed to effectuate its purpose of encouraging development and construction of condominium property under the provisions of this chapter. The remedies provided by this c…

(a) A condominium may be created pursuant to this chapter only by filing a declaration executed in the same manner as a deed with the judge of probate in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located. (b) The judge of probate shall index the declaration of condo…

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 finishe…

(a) All provisions of the declaration and bylaws are severable. (b) The rule against perpetuities may not be applied to defeat any provision of the declaration, bylaws, rules, or regulations adopted pursuant to section 35-8A-302(a) (1). (c) In the event of a conflict between the …

A description of a unit which sets forth the name of the condominium, the recording data for the declaration, the county in which the condominium is located, and the identifying number of the unit, is a sufficient legal description of that unit and all rights, obligations, and in…

(a) The declaration for a condominium must contain: (1) The name of the condominium, which must 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 part of the condominium is situat…

(a) Any lease the expiration or termination of which may terminate the condominium or reduce its size shall be recorded. Every lessor of those leases must sign the declaration, and the declaration must state: (1) The recording data for the lease, the date of the lease, and the da…

Liabilities. (a) The declaration must allocate to each unit in a condominium a fraction or percentage of undivided interests in the common elements and in the common expenses of the association specified in section 35-8A-315(a), and a portion of the votes in the association, to e…

(a) Except for the limited common elements described in Section 35-8A-202(2) and (4), the declaration must specify to which unit or units each limited common element is allocated. An allocation may not be altered without the consent of the association and the unit owners whose un…

(a) A clear and legible plat of the condominium property and plans, if required under subsection (d), shall be recorded in the office of the judge of probate in every county in which any portion of the condominium is located and shall contain a certification that the plat and pla…

(a) To exercise any development right reserved under Section 35-8A-205(a)(8), the declarant shall prepare, execute, and record an amendment to the declaration as specified in Section 35-8A-217 and comply with Section 35-8A-209. The declarant is the unit owner of any units thereby…

Subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, a unit owner: (1) May make any improvements or alterations to his or her unit that do not impair the structural integrity, or mechanical systems, or lessen the support of any portion of the condominium; (2)…

(a) Subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, the boundaries between adjoining units may be relocated by an amendment to the declaration upon application to the association by the owners of those units. If the owners of the adjoining units have spe…

(a) If the declaration expressly so permits, a unit may be subdivided into two or more units. Subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, upon application of a unit owner to subdivide a unit, the association shall prepare, execute, and record an amen…

The existing physical boundaries of a unit or the physical boundaries of a unit reconstructed in substantial accordance with the original plats and plans thereof become its boundaries rather than the metes and bounds expressed in the deed or plat or plan, regardless of settling o…

A declarant may maintain sales offices, management offices, and models in units or on common elements in the condominium only if the declaration so provides and specifies the rights of a declarant with regard to the number, size, location, and relocation thereof. Any sales office…

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 …

(a) Except in cases of amendments that may be executed by a declarant under Section 35-8A-209(f) or 35-8A-210; the association under Section 35-8A-107, 35- 8A-206(d), 35-8A-208(c), 35-8A-212(a), or 35-8A-213; or by certain unit owners under Section 35-8A-208(b), 35-8A-212(a), 35-…

(a) Except in the case of a taking of all the units by eminent domain specified in Section 35-8A-107, a condominium may be terminated only by agreement of unit owners of units to which at least 80 percent of the votes in the association are allocated, or any larger percentage the…

The declaration may require that all or a specified number or percentage of the mortgagees or beneficiaries of deeds of trust encumbering the units approve specified actions of the unit owners or the association as a condition to the effectiveness of those actions, but no require…

(a) If the declaration for a condominium provides that any of the powers described in Section 35-8A-302 are to be exercised by or may be delegated to a profit or nonprofit corporation which exercises those or other powers on behalf of one or more condominiums or for the benefit o…

(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 purp…

A unit owners’ association must 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 owne…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), and subject to the provisions of the declaration, the association may: (1) Adopt and amend bylaws and rules and regulations; (2) Adopt and amend budgets for revenues, expenditures, and reserves and impose and collect assessments for commo…

(a) Except as provided in the declaration, the bylaws, the articles of incorporation in subsection (b), or other provisions of this chapter, the board may act in all instances on behalf of the association. In the performance of their duties, the officers and members of the board …

(a) No special declarant right specified in Section 35-8A-103(24) created or reserved under this chapter may 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…

If entered into before the board elected by the unit owners pursuant to Section 35- 8A-303(f) takes office: (i) any management contract, employment contract, or lease of recreational or parking areas or facilities; (ii) any other contract or lease between the association and a de…

(a) The bylaws of the association must provide for: (1) The number of members of the board and the titles of the officers of the association; (2) Election by the board of a president, treasurer, secretary, and any other officers of the association the bylaws specify; (3) The qual…

(a) Except to the extent provided by the declaration, subsection (b), or Section 35- 8A-313(h), 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 his or he…

A meeting of the association must be held at least once each year. Special meetings of the association may be called by the president, a majority of the board or by unit owners having 20 percent, or any lower percentage specified in the bylaws, of the votes in the association. No…

(a) Unless the bylaws provide otherwise, a quorum is present throughout any meeting of the association if persons entitled to cast 20 percent of the votes which may be cast for election of the board are present in person or by proxy at the beginning of the meeting. (b) Unless the…

(a) If only one of the multiple owners of a unit is present at a meeting of the association, he or she 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 wi…

Neither the association, any association mortgagee, nor any unit owner except the declarant is liable for that declarant’s torts in connection with any part of the condominium which that declarant has the responsibility to maintain. Otherwise, an action alleging a wrong done by t…

(a) In a condominium portions of the common elements may be conveyed or subjected to a security interest by the association if persons entitled to cast at least 80 percent of the votes in the association, including 80 percent of the votes allocated to units not owned by a declara…

(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: (1) Property insurance on the common elements insuring against all risks of direct physical loss common…

Unless otherwise provided in the declaration or bylaws, any surplus funds of the association remaining after payment of or provision for common expenses and any prepayment of reserves must be paid to the unit owners in proportion to their common expense liabilities or credited to…

(a) Until the association makes a common expense assessment, the declarant must pay all common expenses. After any assessment has been made by the association, assessments must be made at least annually, based on a budget adopted at least annually by the association. (b) Except f…

(a) The association has a lien on a unit for any assessment and any other moneys due the association for special assessments or services or charges, such as water or repairs, levied against that unit or fines imposed against its unit owner from the time the assessment or fine bec…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a judgment for money against the association if recorded 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. No other pr…

The association shall keep financial records sufficiently detailed to enable the association to comply with Section 35-8A-409. All financial and other records shall be made reasonably available for examination by any unit owner and his or her authorized agents and such records sh…

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 po…