Community association glossary

60 of 60 terms

ACM Roles

Assistant community manager; supports the manager with work orders, letters and meetings.

Amendment Documents

A formal change to the governing documents, usually by owner vote.

Annual meeting Meetings

Yearly owners' meeting where directors are elected.

ARC / ACC Rules

Architectural review (or control) committee that approves exterior changes.

Articles of incorporation Documents

Filing that creates the association as a (usually nonprofit) corporation.

Assessment Money

Regular dues owners pay to fund the budget.

Board of directors Roles

Owner-elected body that sets policy, budget and contracts.

Business judgment rule Governance

Courts generally defer to informed, good-faith board decisions.

Bylaws Documents

Rules for how the association operates: elections, officers, meetings.

CAI Industry

Community Associations Institute, the main industry body.

CAM Roles

Community association manager.

CC&Rs / Declaration Documents

Recorded covenants, conditions and restrictions binding all owners.

CIC / CID Types

Common interest community (development in California): umbrella legal term.

Civic association Types

Often voluntary neighborhood group without mandatory dues.

CMCA Industry

Certified Manager of Community Associations, entry credential from CAMICB.

Commercial owners association Types

Association for business parks, office or industrial condos.

Common area / common elements Property

Property shared by all owners.

Condominium / COA Types

Owners hold units plus a share of common elements; run by a unit owners' association.

Co-op Types

Corporation owns the building; residents hold shares and a proprietary lease.

D&O insurance Money

Covers directors and officers for their decisions.

Declarant Roles

The developer who created the community.

Delinquency Money

An unpaid owner balance.

Estoppel / resale certificate Money

Statement for a sale of what the seller owes and key association facts.

Executive session Meetings

Closed board session for narrow private topics.

Fidelity insurance Money

Coverage against theft of association funds.

Fiduciary duty Governance

Directors' duty of care and loyalty to the association.

HOA Types

Homeowners association: owners hold lots; association holds common areas.

Horizontal property regime Types

Older statutory name for a condominium (e.g., South Carolina).

Lien Money

Legal claim on a property for unpaid amounts.

Limited common element Property

Shared property reserved for one unit, like a balcony.

Maintenance matrix Property

Chart of who repairs what.

Manufactured housing community Types

Community where residents often own homes but rent lots.

Master association Types

Top-level association over sub-associations in a large development.

Minutes Meetings

Official record of decisions at a meeting.

Mixed-use Types

Community combining residential with retail or office.

Officers Roles

President, vice president, secretary, treasurer.

Onsite manager Roles

Manager dedicated to one large community or building.

POA Types

Property owners association; Texas and Georgia statutory term.

Portfolio manager Roles

Manager covering several communities.

Proxy Meetings

Written authorization for someone else to vote for an owner.

PUD / planned community Types

Lots plus shared common areas under one association.

Quorum Meetings

Minimum attendance needed to act.

Reserve study Money

Inventory and funding plan for major replacements.

Reserves Money

Savings for big, predictable replacements.

Rules and regulations Documents

Board-adopted day-to-day rules.

Self-managed Roles

Association run by volunteers without a management company.

Special assessment Money

One-time extra charge to owners.

Sub-association Types

Village or neighborhood association inside a master.

Timeshare / vacation ownership Types

Owners buy time intervals in a resort property.

Turnover Governance

Developer hands board control to owners.

Violation Rules

A breach of the rules, handled with notice and a hearing.

55+ / age-restricted Types

Housing for older persons; federal exemption requires 80% of occupied units with a resident 55+.

Resolution Governance

A formal board decision, often adopting a policy.

Due process Rules

Notice and a fair chance to respond before a penalty.

Hearing Rules

The owner's chance to be heard before a fine or suspension.

Selective enforcement Rules

Enforcing rules against some owners but not others.

Work order Property

A tracked request for repair or service.

Inspection Property

A walk or drive of the community to spot issues.

Board package Meetings

Reports sent to directors before a board meeting.

Plat / plan Documents

Recorded map of lots or units.