Ultimately, one of the main purposes of a condo association is to ensure your safety and convenience, as well as that of the other unit owners and residents in your complex or building. Another objective is maintaining property values so the community continues to be a good investment.
Generally speaking, the declaration is the document that creates the inium. The bylaws spell out the day-to-day operations of the association. If your association is more than 10 years old and the bylaws have remained unchanged, board members may want to consider making updates.
The inium bylaws govern the structure and operation of the association. They contain information regarding board meetings, elections, board terms, voting procedures, and the like. The bylaws are more about the management of the association than the rules that govern it and its members.
The bylaws go into detail about individual roles, terms, how to elect the President, and may list board powers one by one. The Declarations define the use and occupancy rules of the units and common areas. Condo bylaws outline the remedies for breach of these rules.
On the other hand, condo owners are responsible for maintaining the interior of their units. This includes repairs to walls, floors, plumbing, electrical systems, and appliances within the unit itself. If applicable, condo owners should also maintain any private spaces, such as balconies.
Section 55-79.71 of the Virginia inium Act requires “two-thirds of the votes in the unit owner's association” to amend the Declaration, unless the Declaration requires a larger percentage.