§ 4505 Common Area Access Rights

Civil Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

Key Takeaways

•If you own a home in a shared community (like condos or apartments), you have the right to walk through common areas like hallways or yards.
•You can also get support (like for pipes or walls) through these common areas if needed.
•This rule applies to places where common areas are owned together by all homeowners or by the homeowners' association.

Example

You live in a condo building and need to fix a leaky pipe that runs through the shared basement.

You can go into the basement (common area) to fix the pipe because the law says you have the right to access and use these shared spaces when necessary.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 4505 Common Area Access Rights

Unless the declaration otherwise provides: (a) In a community apartment project and condominium project, and in those planned developments with common area owned in common by the owners of the separate interests, there are appurtenant to each separate interest nonexclusive rights of ingress, egress, and support, if necessary, through the common area. The common area is subject to these rights. (b) In a stock cooperative, and in a planned development with common area owned by the association, there is an easement for ingress, egress, and support, if necessary, appurtenant to each separate interest. The common area is subject to these easements. (Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. (AB 805) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2014, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 180.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

nonexclusive rights ingress egress support common area easement separate interest

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 4505.

§ 4505 Common Area Access Rights

Civil Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 4505 Common Area Access Rights

Key Takeaways

•If you own a home in a shared community (like condos or apartments), you have the right to walk through common areas like hallways or yards.
•You can also get support (like for pipes or walls) through these common areas if needed.
•This rule applies to places where common areas are owned together by all homeowners or by the homeowners' association.

Example

You live in a condo building and need to fix a leaky pipe that runs through the shared basement.

You can go into the basement (common area) to fix the pipe because the law says you have the right to access and use these shared spaces when necessary.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 4505 Common Area Access Rights

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Key Terms

nonexclusive rights ingress egress support common area easement separate interest

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 4505.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References