Section 3205 - Contents of declaration; all condominiums

68 PA Cons Stat § 3205 (2019) (N/A)
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The declaration for a condominium must contain:

(1) The name of the condominium which must include the word "condominium" or be followed by the words "a condominium."

(2) The name of every county in which any part of the condominium is situated.

(3) A legally sufficient description of the real estate included in the condominium.

(4) A description or delineation of the boundaries of each unit including the unit's identifying number.

(5) A statement of the maximum number of units that may be created by the subdivision or conversion of units owned by the declarant pursuant to section 3215(c) (relating to subdivision or conversion of units).

(6) A description of any limited common elements as provided in section 3209 (relating to limited common elements) and limited common expenses, if any, and how they are to be assessed.

(7) A description of any common elements not within the boundaries of any convertible real estate which may be allocated subsequently as limited common elements together with a statement that they may be so allocated and a description of the method by which the allocations are to be made.

(8) An allocation to each unit of an undivided interest in the common elements, a portion of the votes in the association and a percentage or fraction of the common expenses of the association (section 3208).

(9) Any restrictions created by the declarant on use, occupancy and alienation of the units.

(10) The recording data for recorded easements and licenses appurtenant to or included in the condominium or to which any portion of the condominium is or may become subject.

(11) If all or any of the units are or may be owned in time-share estates as defined in section 3403(a) (relating to public offering statement; time-share estates), which units may be owned in time-share estates and the maximum number of time-share estates that may be created in the condominium, it being intended that time-share estates shall not be permitted except if and to the extent expressly authorized by the declaration.

(12) If the declarant wishes to retain the special declarant right to cause section 3222 (relating to master associations) to become applicable to a condominium, then:

(i) an explicit reservation of such right;

(ii) a statement of the time limit upon which the option reserved under subparagraph (i) will lapse, together with a statement of any circumstances that will terminate the option before the expiration of the time limit. The time limit shall not exceed the later of:

(A) ten years after the recording of the declaration; or

(B) in the case of a preliminary plat calling for the installation of improvements in sections, 120 days after municipal approval or denial of each particular section's final plat which was filed prior to the deadline approved or modified by the municipal governing body pursuant to section 508(4)(v) of the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L.805, No.247), known as the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, or, in the event of an appeal from the municipal approval or denial of such final plat, 120 days after a final judgment on appeal; and

(iii) the information required to be included in the declaration by the provisions of section 3222.

(13) If the declarant wishes to retain the special declarant right to merge or consolidate the condominium pursuant to section 3223 (relating to merger or consolidation of condominiums), then:

(i) an explicit reservation of such right;

(ii) a statement of the time limit upon which any option reserved under subparagraph (i) will lapse, together with a statement of any circumstances that will terminate the option before the expiration of the time limit. The time limit shall not exceed the later of:

(A) ten years after the recording of the declaration; or

(B) in the case of a preliminary plat calling for the installation of improvements in sections, 120 days after municipal approval or denial of each particular section's final plat which was filed prior to the deadline approved or modified by the municipal governing body pursuant to section 508(4)(v) of the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code or, in the event of an appeal from the municipal approval or denial of such final plat, 120 days after a final judgment on appeal;

(iii) a statement of the name and location of each other condominium that may be subject to such a merger or consolidation if such other condominiums exist and if such other condominiums do not exist, then the declaration shall include the following:

(A) A statement of the extent to which the common element interest, relative voting strength in the association and share of common expense liability of each unit in the condominium at the time the merger or consolidation is effectuated may be increased or decreased by actions pursuant to any option reserved under subparagraph (i), including the formulas to be used for those reallocations.

(B) Legally sufficient descriptions of each portion of real estate which is part of any other condominiums which may be created and with which the condominium may merge or consolidate.

(C) If mergers or consolidations may be effectuated at different times, a statement to that effect together with:

(I) either a statement fixing the boundaries of those condominiums and regulating the order in which they may be merged or consolidated or a statement that no assurances are made in those regards; and

(II) a statement as to whether, if any other condominiums are merged or consolidated with the condominium, all or any of such condominiums must be merged or consolidated.

(D) A statement of:

(I) the maximum number of units that may be created within any such other condominiums, the boundaries of which are fixed pursuant to clause (C);

(II) how many of those units will be restricted exclusively to residential use; and

(III) the maximum number of units per acre that may be created within any such other condominiums, the boundaries of which are not fixed pursuant to clause (C).

(E) If any of the units that may be built within any such other condominiums are not to be restricted exclusively to residential use, a statement with respect to each portion of such other condominiums of the maximum percentage of the real estate areas and the maximum percentage of the floor areas of all units that may be created therein that are not restricted exclusively to residential use.

(F) A statement of the extent to which any buildings and units that may be part of such other condominiums will be compatible with the other buildings and units in the condominium in terms of architectural style, quality of construction, principal materials employed in construction and size or a statement that no assurances are made in those regards.

(G) A statement that all restrictions in the declaration affecting use, occupancy and alienation of units will apply to units created within any such other condominiums or a statement of any differentiations that may be made as to those units.

(H) General descriptions of all other improvements and limited common elements that may be made or created within such other condominiums or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard.

(I) A statement of any limitations as to the locations of any buildings or other improvements that may be made within such other condominiums or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard.

(J) A statement that any limited common elements created within any such other condominiums will be of the same general types and sizes as those within the condominium or a statement of any other assurances in that regard or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard.

(K) A statement that the proportion of limited common elements to units created within such other condominiums will be approximately equal to the proportion existing within the condominium or a statement of any other assurances in that regard or a statement that no assurances are made in that regard.

(L) A statement of the extent to which any assurances made in the declaration regarding such other condominiums pursuant to clauses (C) through (K) apply in the event any such condominiums are not merged or consolidated with the condominium or a statement that those assurances do not apply if the condominiums are not merged or consolidated with the condominium; and

(iv) a summary description of the other provisions which materially change any rights, obligations or liabilities that will be included in the agreement of merger or consolidation if such right is exercised.

(13.1) If the declaration provides that the association or a unit owner is or shall be responsible for operation and maintenance of storm water management facilities, a statement that upon approval of the permittee's notice of termination by the Department of Environmental Protection or by an authorized county conservation district, it shall be deemed that the association or unit owner, as applicable, agree to and shall become responsible for compliance with the storm water management facilities' permit terms and conditions, including long-term operation and maintenance of postconstruction storm water best management practices in accordance with applicable requirements. The declarant shall remain responsible for compliance with other obligations with respect to storm water management facilities as may be required by the approved subdivision and land development plans, the declaration or this subpart until such time as the obligations of the declarant may cease.

(14) Any other matters the declarant deems appropriate.

(Dec. 18, 1992, P.L.1279, No.168, eff. 45 days; July 2, 2013, P.L.204, No.37, eff. imd.; Oct. 19, 2018, P.L.551, No.84, eff. 60 days)

2018 Amendment. Act 84 added par. (13.1).

2013 Amendment. Act 37 amended pars. (12) and (13)(ii) and carried without amendment par. (13)(i). See section 2 of Act 37 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to applicability.

Cross References. Section 3205 is referred to in sections 3103, 3206, 3209, 3211, 3219, 3222, 3223, 3407, 3414 of this title.