Common Interest Development
Also known as: CID
A Common Interest Development (CID) is the California legal classification, defined in Civil Code Section 4100, for any residential development in which individual owners share ownership interests in common areas and are required to be members of a homeowners association. California law recognizes four distinct types of CIDs. A condominium project is one where owners hold title to an airspace unit and an undivided interest in common elements such as the building structure, roof, and shared amenities. A planned development is one where owners hold title to their individual lot and the association owns and maintains the common areas — this is the most common form for single-family home communities and townhouse developments. A stock cooperative is one where a corporation holds title to the real property and individual residents own shares in the corporation entitling them to occupy a specific unit. A community apartment project is one where owners hold an undivided interest in the entire property coupled with the exclusive right to occupy a designated unit — this form is relatively rare today. All four types of CIDs are governed by the Davis-Stirling Act and must comply with its requirements for board elections, open meetings, financial reporting, reserve studies, assessment collection, dispute resolution, and member access to records. CIDs differ from other property types (such as rental apartments or voluntary neighborhood associations) because membership in the HOA is mandatory and recorded against the title, meaning the obligation to pay assessments and follow the governing documents runs with the land and binds all future owners. California has over 50,000 CIDs housing approximately 6 million residents.
Example in Context
When the developer recorded the declaration and condominium plan with the county recorder, the 150-unit project became a common interest development under California law, triggering all Davis-Stirling Act requirements for governance, elections, and financial disclosures.
Related Terms
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a common interest development and a regular neighborhood with an HOA?
A common interest development has a recorded declaration (CC&Rs) that creates mandatory association membership, shared ownership of common areas, and legally binding obligations on all current and future property owners. A voluntary neighborhood association — sometimes seen in older subdivisions — does not have a recorded declaration, membership is optional, and the association has no legal authority to levy mandatory assessments or enforce rules against non-members. Only CIDs are governed by the Davis-Stirling Act.