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HomeCivil CodeDiv. 4Pt. 5Ch. 10Art. 4§ 5980 Association Litigation Authority

§ 5980 Association Litigation Authority

Civil Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 5980 Association Litigation Authority

Key Takeaways

  • •A group (like a homeowners association) can go to court or solve problems without needing all members to join in.
  • •They can do this for things like fixing broken rules, damage to shared spaces (like a park or pool), or damage to things they are supposed to take care of.
  • •They can also step in if damage to one person's property is connected to damage in shared spaces.

Example

A tree in the shared courtyard of a condo building falls and smashes a resident's balcony.

The homeowners association can take legal action or fix the problem without needing every resident to agree or join in, because the balcony damage is connected to the shared courtyard.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5980 Association Litigation Authority

An association has standing to institute, defend, settle, or intervene in litigation, arbitration, mediation, or administrative proceedings in its own name as the real party in interest and without joining with it the members, in matters pertaining to the following: (a) Enforcement of the governing documents. (b) Damage to the common area. (c) Damage to a separate interest that the association is obligated to maintain or repair. (d) Damage to a separate interest that arises out of, or is integrally related to, damage to the common area or a separate interest that the association is obligated to maintain or repair. (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

standinggoverning documentscommon areaseparate interest

Related Statutes

  • § 6858 Association Litigation Authority
  • § 5975 Enforcement Of Community Rules
  • § 4285 Condominium Plan Requirements
  • § 4610 Condominium Project Partition Rules
  • § 6624 Condominium Plan Requirements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 5980.
View Official Source