Alterations of units; access to units.
1. Except as otherwise provided in this section and subject to the provisions of the declaration and other provisions of law, a unit’s owner:
(a) May make any improvements or alterations to his unit that do not impair the structural integrity or mechanical systems or lessen the support of any portion of the common-interest community;
(b) May not change the appearance of the common elements, or the exterior appearance of a unit or any other portion of the common-interest community, without permission of the association; and
(c) After acquiring an adjoining unit or an adjoining part of an adjoining unit, may remove or alter any intervening partition or create apertures therein, even if the partition in whole or in part is a common element, if those acts do not impair the structural integrity or mechanical systems or lessen the support of any portion of the common-interest community. Removal of partitions or creation of apertures under this paragraph is not an alteration of boundaries.
2. An association may not:
(a) Unreasonably restrict, prohibit or otherwise impede the lawful rights of a unit’s owner to have reasonable access to his unit.
(b) Unreasonably restrict, prohibit or withhold approval for a unit’s owner to add to a unit:
(1) Improvements such as ramps, railings or elevators that are necessary to improve access to the unit for any occupant of the unit who has a disability;
(2) Additional locks to improve the security of the unit; or
(3) Shutters to improve the security of the unit or to aid in reducing the costs of energy for the unit.
(c) With regard to approving or disapproving any improvement or alteration made to a unit, act in violation of any state or federal law.
3. Any improvement or alteration made pursuant to subsection 2 that is visible from any other portion of the common-interest community must be installed, constructed or added in accordance with the procedures set forth in the governing documents of the association and must be selected or designed to the maximum extent practicable to be compatible with the style of the common-interest community.
Last modified: February 27, 2006