The Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act is the main body of statutory law that applies to residential common interest developments in California.

We strongly recommend that you access the State of California website instead of any private websites in order to make certain you are reading the most current law. The law changes from time to time and since not every private website is updated timely, you will always be safe in reading the law as published by the State of California. The link is at the top of this page.

The David-Stirling Act is the commonly used name for Sections 4,000 to 4,150 of the California Civil Code. The act was originally approved by the state legislature in 1985 and became effective on January 1, 1986. It has been modified and added to numerous times.

The Davis-Stirling Act defines a common interest development as any of the following:

1. A Community Apartment Project,
2. A Condominium Project,
3. A Planned Development, or
4. A Stock Cooperative.

Note that a townhome or townhouse is an architectural design, not a form of ownership. In California, most townhomes or townhouses are condominiums. Likewise, a detached home can be part of a planned development or it can be a condominium.

The Davis-Stirling Act applies to all residential common interest developments in California, including those in existence prior to the adoption of the law. A different body of laws applies to commercial condominiums.

 

While the Davis-Stirling Act is the main body of statutory law that applies to common interest developments in California, there are many other Civil Code sections that apply to common interest developments including:

• Civil Code Section 1134. Disclosure of Defects to Purchaser

• Civil Code Section 1098. Deed-based Transfer Fees

• Civil Code Section 1098.6. Transfer Fees Prohibited

• Civil Code Section 1708.8. Invasion of Privacy

• Civil Code Section 1788.2. Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; Definitions

• Civil Code Sections 1788-10-1788.18. Debt Collector Responsibilities

• Civil Code Section 1940.10. Personal Agriculture Definitions; Tenant Protections

• Civil Code Section 1940.20. Clotheslines and Drying Racks; Tenant Protections

• Civil Code Section 1940.4. Display of Political Signs; Tenant Protections

• Civil Code Section 1940.45. Display of Religious Items on Doors

• Civil Code Sections 2295-2300. Definition of Agency

• Civil Code Section 2924. Power of Sale Foreclosure

• Civil Code Section 2924.1. Recordation, Foreclosure

• Civil Code Section 3479. "Nuisance" Defined

• Civil Code Section 51. Unruh Civil Rights Act

• Civil Code Section 51.3. Senior Citizen Housing Developments

• Civil Code Section 51.10. - 51.12. Senior Citizen Housing Developments; Riverside County

• Civil Code Section 712.-713. Real Estate Signs

• Civil Code Section 714.-714.1. Restrictions on Solar Energy Systems

• Civil Code Section 714.5. Restrictions on Manufactured Housing

• Civil Code Section 8119. Association as Agent of CID Owners

• Civil Code Section 84. Party Walls

 

In addition, other California Codes apply:

• Business & Professions Code

• Code of Regulations

• Corporations Code

• Government Code

• Health & Safety Code

• Penal Code

• Revenue & Tax Code

• Vehicle Code

 

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