HOA glossaryProperty & Architecture

What is Limited Common Element?

A limited common element is common property reserved for the exclusive use of one or a few units, such as an assigned parking space, balcony, or patio.

Limited common elements sit between private units and general common areas. The owner has exclusive use, but the association usually retains structural maintenance responsibility — a balcony slab is repaired by the association while the owner keeps the surface clean.

The split of responsibility and cost is defined in the declaration and can vary widely: some documents charge the repair cost of a limited common element back to the benefiting owner rather than spreading it across all owners.

Common examples: balconies, patios, assigned parking stalls, storage lockers, HVAC condensers serving one unit, and entry doors.

Related terms

Common AreaCommon area is the property owned or maintained by the association for the shared use of all owners — streets, pools, clubhouses, landscaping, and open space.Maintenance ResponsibilityMaintenance responsibility is the allocation, defined in the governing documents, of which repairs the association pays for and which the owner pays for.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 Limited Common Element means in your community — citing the exact page of your CC&Rs, budget, or rules.