68 Pa.C.S. § 3103
Definitions
definitionsfundamentals
Plain-English summary
Defines the terms used throughout the Uniform Condominium Act, including association, common elements, common expenses, condominium, declarant, declaration, executive board, special declarant rights, unit, and unit owner.
Not legal advice. Statute reference is for education only. Confirm citations on official sources and consult a Pennsylvania attorney familiar with community associations.
Statutory text
§ 3103. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subpart and in the declaration and bylaws shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless specifically provided otherwise or unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Additional real estate." Real estate that may be added to a flexible condominium.
"Affiliate of a declarant." Any person who controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with a declarant.
A person "controls" a declarant if the person:
(i) is a general partner, officer, director or employer of the declarant;
(ii) directly or indirectly or acting in concert with one or more other persons, or through one or more subsidiaries, owns, controls, holds with power to vote, or holds proxies representing, more than 20% of the voting interests of the declarant;
(iii) controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors of the declarant; or
(iv) has contributed more than 20% of the capital of the declarant.
A person "is controlled by" a declarant if the declarant:
(i) is a general partner, officer, director or employee of the person;
(ii) directly or indirectly or acting in concert with one or more other persons, or through one or more subsidiaries, owns, controls, holds with power to vote, or holds proxies representing, more than 20% of the voting interests of the person;
(iii) controls in any manner the election of a majority of the directors of the person; or
(iv) has contributed more than 20% of the capital of the person.
Control does not exist if the powers described in paragraphs
and
are held solely as security for an obligation and are not exercised.
"Alternative dispute resolution." A procedure for settling a dispute by means other than litigation, such as arbitration or mediation.
"Association" or "unit owners' association." The unit owners' association organized under section 3301 (relating to organization of unit owners' association).
"Common elements." All portions of a condominium other than the units.
"Common expenses." Expenditures made or liabilities incurred by or on behalf of the association, together with any allocations to reserves, including general common expenses and limited common expenses.
"Common expense liability." The liability for common expenses allocated to each unit pursuant to section 3208 (relating to allocation of common element interests, votes and common expense liabilities).
"Condominium." Real estate, portions of which are designated for separate ownership and the remainder of which is designated for common ownership solely by the owners of those portions. Real estate is not a condominium unless the undivided interests in the common elements are vested in the unit owners.
"Conversion building." A building that, at any time before the conversion notice date with respect to the condominium in which the building is located, was occupied wholly or partially by persons other than purchasers and persons who occupy with the consent of purchasers.
"Conversion notice." The notice required to be given to tenants or subtenants by the terms of section 3410(a) (relating to condominiums containing conversion buildings).
"Conversion notice date." The date on which the conversion notice is placed in the United States mail, in the case of mailed notices, or delivered to the unit leased by the recipient, in the case of hand-delivered notices.
"Convertible real estate." A portion of a flexible condominium not within a building containing a unit, within which additional units or limited common elements, or both, may be created.
"Declarant."
If the condominium has been created, "declarant" means:
(i) any person who has executed a declaration, or an amendment to a declaration to add additional real estate, other than persons holding interests in the real estate solely as security for an obligation, persons whose interests in the real estate will not be conveyed to unit owners, or, in the case of a leasehold condominium, a lessor who possesses no special declarant rights and who is not an affiliate of a declarant who possesses special declarant rights; or
(ii) any person who succeeds under section 3304 (relating to transfer of special declarant rights) to any special declarant rights.
If the condominium has not yet been created, "declarant" means any person who offers to dispose of or disposes of his interest in a unit to be created and not previously disposed of.
If a declaration is executed by a trustee of a land trust, "declarant" means the beneficiary of the trust.
"Dispose" or "disposition." A voluntary transfer of any legal or equitable interest in a unit or a proposed unit, other than as security for an obligation.
"Executive board." The body, regardless of name, designated in the declaration to act on behalf of the association.
"Flexible condominium." A condominium containing withdrawable or convertible real estate, a condominium to which additional real estate may be added, or a combination thereof.
"Identifying number." A symbol that identifies only one unit in a condominium.
"Immediate family." A parent, spouse, child, brother or sister.
"Independent reviewer." A person who is selected by the executive board of a condominium and satisfies all of the following:
Holds a certificate issued by the Commonwealth as a certified public accountant, is licensed to practice law in this Commonwealth or is a vote management system.
Is not a unit owner, directly or indirectly.
Has no immediate family relationship with the declarant, a unit owner or the condominium manager.
Has no financial interest shared with the declarant, a unit owner or the condominium manager.
If compensated by the declarant, a director, the association or the condominium manager, has disclosed the terms of the compensation to all unit owners at a scheduled meeting.
"Installment sales contract." An executory contract for the purchase and sale of a unit or interest in a unit whereby the purchaser is obligated to make six or more installment payments to the seller after the execution of the contract and before the time appointed for the conveyance of title to the unit or interest in the unit.
"Leasehold condominium." A condominium in which all or a portion of the real estate is subject to a lease the expiration or termination of which will terminate the condominium or reduce its size.
"Limited common element." A portion of the common elements allocated by or pursuant to the declaration or by operation of section 3202
or
(relating to unit boundaries) for the exclusive use of one or more but fewer than all of the units.
"Limited common expenses." All expenses identified as such pursuant to section 3314(c) (relating to assessments for common expenses).
"Master association." An organization described in section 3222 (relating to master associations), whether or not it is an association described in section 3301 (relating to organization of unit owners' association).
"Offer" or "offering." Any advertisement, inducement, solicitation or attempt to encourage any person to acquire any interest in a unit, other than as security for an obligation. An advertisement in a newspaper or other periodical of general circulation, or in any broadcast medium to the general public, of a condominium not located in this Commonwealth, is not an offer or offering if the advertisement states that an offer or offering may be made only in compliance with the law of the jurisdiction in which the condominium is located.
"Original lease termination date." The date on which the lease or sublease of a residential tenant or subtenant in possession of a unit in a conversion building will expire by the terms of such lease or sublease, after taking into account any renewal or extension rights that may have been exercised prior to the conversion notice date.
"Person." A natural person, corporation, partnership, association, trust, other entity or any combination thereof.
"Purchaser." Any person, other than a declarant, who by means of a disposition acquires a legal or equitable interest in a unit, other than:
a leasehold interest (including renewal options) of less than 20 years, but a person who will become a unit owner in a leasehold condominium upon consummation of the disposition shall be deemed to be a purchaser; or
as security for an obligation.
"Real estate." Any fee, leasehold or other estate or interest in, over or under land, including structures, fixtures and other improvements and interests which by custom, usage or law pass with a conveyance of land though not described in the contract of sale or instrument of conveyance. "Real estate" includes parcels with or without upper or lower boundaries, and spaces that may be filled with air or water.
"Residential tenant" or "residential subtenant." A tenant or subtenant, respectively, who is a natural person lawfully occupying real estate for residential use.
"Special declarant rights." Rights reserved for the benefit of a declarant to:
Complete improvements indicated on plats and plans filed with the declaration (section 3210).
Convert convertible real estate in a flexible condominium (section 3211).
Add additional real estate to a flexible condominium (section 3211).
Withdraw withdrawable real estate from a flexible condominium (section 3212).
Convert a unit into two or more units, common elements, or into two or more units and common elements (section 3215).
Maintain offices, signs and models (section 3217).
Use easements through the common elements for the purpose of making improvements within the condominium or within any convertible or additional real estate (section 3218).
Cause the condominium to be merged or consolidated with another condominium (section 3223).
Make the condominium subject to a master association (section 3222).
Appoint or remove any officer of the association or any master association or any executive board member during any period of declarant control (section 3303(c)).
"Unit." A portion of the condominium designated for separate ownership, the boundaries of which are described pursuant to section 3205
(relating to contents of declaration; all condominiums).
"Unit owner." A declarant who owns a unit, a person to whom ownership of a unit has been conveyed, or a lessee of a unit in a leasehold condominium whose lease expires simultaneously with any lease the expiration or termination of which will remove the unit from the condominium. "Unit owner" does not include a person having an interest in a unit solely as security for an obligation.
"Unit owner in good standing." A unit owner who is current in payment of assessments and fines, unless the assessments or fines are directly related to a complaint filed with the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of Attorney General regarding section 3308 (relating to meetings), 3309 (relating to quorums), 3310 (relating to voting; proxies) or 3316 (relating to association records).
"Vote management system." A third-party vendor who operates a digital or subscription service that securely manages the conduct of elections and voting procedures.
"Withdrawable real estate." Real estate that may be withdrawn from a flexible condominium.
Synced from the Florida Legislature’s official site. Verify the current version before citing.
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Reference only. Not legal advice. Verify current text at the official state legislature website before citing. Printed from Common Elements (July 14, 2026).