Overview
Most California homeowners who live in a community association are part of a common interest development (CID). A CID is a type of residential community where each owner holds title to an individual unit or lot, while also sharing ownership or usage rights in common areas. California law recognizes four categories of CIDs: (a) condominiums; (b) planned unit developments (PUDs or “planned developments”); (c) stock cooperatives (or co-ops); and (d) community apartment projects. Each category has unique features, but they are all subject to the Davis–Stirling Common Interest Development Act.
Updated September 16, 2025 to add FAQs on what a CID is in the context of the Davis-Stirling Act.
Key Points
Understanding the four types of CIDs is important because it determines how ownership is structured, how common areas are managed, and what rights and obligations homeowners have under the Davis–Stirling Act.
- Condominiums. Each homeowner owns a unit within a building or complex, along with an undivided interest in the common areas such as roads, green belts, hallways, staircases, parking garages, or recreational facilities.
- Planned Unit Developments. Sometimes called “planned developments,” or PUDs, these are usually single-family home subdivisions, but not always. Planned developments can also include townhomes or mixed-use projects where owners hold title to their lot or unit while sharing access to parks, private roads, or amenities maintained by the HOA.
- Stock Cooperatives. In a co-op, homeowners do not own their individual unit directly. Instead, they own shares in a corporation that owns the property. Those shares give them the right to occupy a particular unit. Although California does have co-ops, they are much more common on the East Coast.
- Community Apartment Projects. An older form of ownership where each owner holds an undivided interest in the entire property plus the right to occupy a specific apartment unit. While less common today, they are still legally recognized as CIDs. You’ll typically find these in older communities with buildings that have been around for a very long time. For example, the City of Long Beach has several community apartment projects subject to the Davis-Stirling Act.
All four types of CIDs fall under the Davis–Stirling Act. While the ownership models differ, the legal framework of the Davis–Stirling Act governs how associations operate, what records must be provided, how elections are run, and how disputes are resolved. Knowing what type of CID you live in helps you understand your rights and obligations more clearly.
FAQs
What are the four types of CIDs in California?
California law recognizes four categories of CIDs: condominiums, planned unit developments (PUDs), stock cooperatives, and community apartment projects. Each has a different ownership structure but all are governed by the Davis-Stirling Act.
How does living in a CID affect my rights and obligations?
If you live in a CID, your community is subject to the Davis-Stirling Act, which regulates board elections, operating rules, records access, assessments, dispute resolution, and more. Your rights and obligations depend on both your ownership type and the Davis-Stirling Act’s requirements.
What is the difference between a condominium and a planned unit development (or PUD)?
In a condominium, you own your individual unit and a shared interest in the common areas. In a planned unit development, you usually own your lot or home directly while also sharing access to amenities or private roads maintained by the HOA. Single-family homes are examples of PUDs.
Are stock cooperatives and community apartment projects still used in California?
Yes, although they are less common than they are on the East Coast. Stock cooperatives are rare in California but do exist, while community apartment projects are an older ownership form still found in older communities such as Long Beach. Both are legally recognized as CIDs and subject to the Davis-Stirling Act.
Why is it important to know what type of CID I live in?
The type of CID determines how ownership is structured, how common areas are managed, and what rights you have under California law. It also affects how your HOA operates and what procedures apply to elections, records requests, and dispute resolution.
About MBK Chapman Fact Sheets
Homeowners searching for answers online will often come across articles that appear authoritative, but are actually written as search-engine marketing content rather than by an experienced HOA lawyer. These pieces tend to prioritize keyword density over clarity, accuracy, or legal context, which often leaves homeowners more confused than informed.
At MBK Chapman, our Fact Sheets are part of our HOA Law Library and are written by Michael Kushner, an HOA lawyer with decades of hands-on experience representing California homeowners. In fact, Michael Kushner is the HOA lawyer who pioneered the systems and strategies used by some of California’s most successful homeowner-side HOA law firms.
Each Fact Sheet is deliberately concise, statute-based, and designed as a quick-reference guide to help homeowners understand key HOA laws and enforcement rules at a glance.
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