If you own a condo, you know that there are some definite perks to condo life. Your weekends are free from mowing the lawn and taking care of the landscaping, you have access to some pretty sweet amenities, and you probably have some amazing neighbors.
Even with all the positive features associated with condo living, some owners still want to change things up within the walls of their unit. Taking down a wall, adding an architectural feature, or maybe just sprucing things up might be on your list of things to do. Before you even pick up a hammer, however, you may want to check with your Homeowner’s Association first about what you may need to do or permissions that may need to be granted before you may remodel it.
Condo Rules
Homeowner associations (HOAs) are responsible for managing condo communities. They take care of all of the common areas, the grounds, and the amenity areas. Most HOAs are responsible for any repairs needed on the outside of the unit building but are not for the interior of units. These HOAs have tight control over establishing rules that unit owners must follow, especially when it comes to remodeling.
Since your unit is probably attached to other condo units or apartments, you may need to check with your HOA about what rules apply to making changes. Not only structural issues will need to be addressed but also the noise and inconvenience that may be put upon your neighbors.
Before beginning any renovations, it is critical to examine your HOA’s condo renovation rules to see what is permissible. You can find these guidelines laid out in the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs).
Scope of Work
Making changes to your condo could range anywhere from switching out your fixtures or hardware, to taking down walls. While the latter is not something that you would usually need permission from the association, you will need to seek approval from the board for larger renovations within your unit.
The reasoning for this is that they need to affirm that the changes will not put the structure of the building at risk or cause a nuisance to neighbors. In general, if you are taking down a wall or changing the footprint or flow of your unit, you should confirm with the homeowners association that the removal of your interior walls won’t result in damage of the condo or the integrity of the building.
The Bottom Line
Have fun planning your renovation, but be sure to check with and gain the needed HOA approval before you begin any project within your unit. You may find the bylaws a good place to start when trying to determine which improvements need approval and which can be done independently.