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What is CC&Rs?

Also called: Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions

CC&Rs are the recorded legal document that sets the binding rules for what owners can and cannot do with their property in a community association.

CC&Rs — short for Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions — are recorded against the land with the county, which means they run with the property and bind every future owner automatically. When you buy into an HOA, you agree to the CC&Rs whether or not you read them. They are the highest-authority rules document most communities have, sitting above board-adopted rules and below state law and the recorded plat or declaration of condominium.

Typical CC&R content includes permitted property uses, architectural approval requirements, pet and vehicle restrictions, leasing and rental limits, maintenance responsibility splits between the owner and the association, and the association's power to levy assessments and enforce compliance.

Because CC&Rs are recorded, they are harder to change than day-to-day rules. Amending them usually requires a supermajority owner vote — often 60% to 75% — plus recording the amendment with the county. That is why boards frequently adopt supplemental rules and regulations instead: those can be changed at a board meeting, but they cannot contradict the CC&Rs.

  • Recorded with the county and binding on all current and future owners.
  • Outrank board rules and policies, but are subordinate to state and federal law.
  • Amending them normally requires a supermajority owner vote, not just a board vote.
  • If a rule and the CC&Rs conflict, the CC&Rs generally control.

Common questions

Where do I get a copy of my CC&Rs?

Your closing packet, the association's owner portal, or the county recorder's office — CC&Rs are public records. Communities using an AI assistant can simply ask and get the exact clause with a citation.

Can the board change the CC&Rs on its own?

Almost never. Amendments typically require an owner vote at the threshold written into the document, followed by recording the amendment with the county.

Go deeper

How to find your HOA rules The 20 most common HOA rule questions

Related terms

BylawsBylaws are the association's internal operating manual — they govern how the board is elected, how meetings run, and how the corporation makes decisions.Rules and RegulationsRules and regulations are board-adopted policies that add day-to-day detail to the CC&Rs, such as pool hours, guest parking limits, and trash placement times.Governing DocumentsGoverning documents are the full set of records that control an association: the declaration/CC&Rs, bylaws, articles of incorporation, plat, and board-adopted rules.DeclarationThe declaration is the founding recorded instrument that creates the association, defines the property it covers, and imposes the covenants on every lot or unit.

Answers straight from your own documents

Melo tells residents what CC&Rs means in your community — citing the exact page of your CC&Rs, budget, or rules.