A condominium is a single unit of real estate—usually a home or residence—in a multi-unit residential development in which each owner of a unit has both a separate ownership interest (often everything inside the front door)—and a common ownership interest (with other unit owners) in the common areas of the property outside the front door—such as roofs, hallways, driveways, walkways, stairways, stucco, brick, paint, stone, and landscaping.

A condominium development is usually governed by a homeowners’ association (HOA) through its board of directors, elected by the homeowners as provided by the HOA’s declaration and bylaws. Unit owners or homeowners in the association are required to pay monthly HOA dues for the maintenance and repair of the common areas of the property and its insurance.

In South Carolina, condominiums are regulated under the South Carolina Horizontal Property Act. This act defines a condominium as a property with individually owned units and shared common areas. Each unit owner has an exclusive ownership interest in their unit and a shared interest in the common areas such as roofs, hallways, and landscaping. The governance of these condominiums is typically handled by a homeowners' association (HOA), which operates under a set of bylaws and a declaration that outlines the rules for the community. The HOA is managed by a board of directors, which is elected by the unit owners. Unit owners are required to pay monthly dues to the HOA for the upkeep, maintenance, and insurance of the common areas. These regulations ensure that the shared property is managed fairly and that the responsibilities for its care are clearly defined among the unit owners.