Glossary
Limited common element
A portion of a common interest development that is common but assigned for the exclusive use of one or more owners, such as a balcony, parking space, or storage locker.
Why it matters
Limited common elements sit between a separate interest and general common area: the association
owns or controls them, but a specific owner has exclusive use. This matters for installations —
a roof or parking space that is a limited common element may be treated differently from general
common area under state statutes (for example, California Civil Code section 714.1's treatment of
an exclusive-use garage or carport).
What to check
How the governing documents allocate the area in question, and what the state statute says about
installations in limited common elements versus general common areas.
Jurisdictional variation
Definitions and allocation rules come from the state's statutes and the recorded declaration, and
vary by state and community.