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<section number="13-316" name="Definitions" law="code" slug="sec-13-316" node_id="PTIITI17PULOLAPRGECOMA_SUBTITLE_13HOPRST_DIV11COOWCOPR_S13-316DE">
  <text>As used in this Division:</text>
  <level label="a">
    <text>Association Document means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The master deeds, declaration, incorporation documents, bylaws, and rules of any common ownership community;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Any written private agreement between any parties concerning the operation of the community or maintenance or control of common or limited common property; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any similar document concerning the operation or governance of a common ownership community.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Common area includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in a homeowners association, any real estate which is owned or leased by a homeowners association.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Common element includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in a condominium, all portions of the condominium except the units.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Cooperative project includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>in a cooperative all the real and personal property in the State of Maryland owned or leased by the cooperative housing corporation for the primary purpose of residential use.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Common Ownership Community means:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A condominium, as defined pursuant to state law;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A cooperative housing corporation, as defined pursuant to state law; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A homeowners association, as defined pursuant to state law.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <text>Community Association means the legal entity, incorporated or unincorporated, that is responsible for the governance or common property of a common ownership community.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>Director means the Director of the Office of Community Relations.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <text>Dispute means any disagreement between two (2) or more parties that involves:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>The authority of a governing body, under any law or association document, to:</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>Require any person to take any action, or not to take any action, involving a unit or common element;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="B">
        <text>Require any person to pay a fine related to a violation of the governing documents;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="C">
        <text>Spend association funds; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="D">
        <text>Alter or add to a common element; or</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The failure of a governing body, when required by law or an association document, to: (A) Properly conduct an election;</text>
      <level label="B">
        <text>Give adequate notice of a meeting or other action;(C)Properly conduct a meeting;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="D">
        <text>Properly adopt a budget or rules;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="E">
        <text>Maintain or audit books and records;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="F">
        <text>Allow inspection of books and records;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="G">
        <text>Maintain or repair a common element if the failure results in significant personal injury or property damage; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="H">
        <text>Exercise its judgment in good faith concerning the enforcement of the association documents against any person that is subject to those documents.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>Dispute does not include any disagreement that only involves:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Title to any unit or any common areas and/or common element;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The percentage interest or vote allocable to a unit;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The interpretation or enforcement of any warranty;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The collection of an assessment validly levied against a party; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>The exercise of a governing body's judgment or discretion in taking or deciding not to take any legally authorized action.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="j">
    <text>Governing body of a community association means the council of unit owners, board of directors, or any other body authorized by an association document to adopt binding rules or regulations.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="k">
    <text>Notice means a hearing examiner or the Director has provided the parties with the date, place and nature of the hearing; the right of a party to be represented, at the party's own expense, by an attorney or, if permitted by law, another representative; the right of a party to seek discovery; the right of a party to call witnesses and submit documents or other evidence; and, that failure to appear for the scheduled hearing may result in an adverse action against the party.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="l">
    <text>Office means the Office of Community Relations.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="m">
    <text>Owner includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A unit owner in a condominium;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A lot owner in a homeowners association; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>A member of a cooperative housing corporation.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="n">
    <text>Party includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>An Owner;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A Governing body; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An occupant of a dwelling unit in a common ownership community.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="o">
    <text>Unit or Lot includes:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Any physical portion of a common ownership community with distinct property boundaries that:</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>Provides complete, independent living facilities for one or more individuals;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="B">
        <text>Contains permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="C">
        <text>Is designated for exclusive ownership, control, or occupancy by those individuals; and</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>All legally enforceable rights and interests incidental to individual ownership of real property in a common ownership community.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
