California · Ley Davis-Stirling

La única elección que no puede ser electrónica.

Una junta puede subir las cuotas ordinarias un 20 por ciento, y girar cuotas especiales hasta el 5 por ciento de los gastos presupuestados, por sí sola. Más allá necesita un voto de los miembros — una elección por boleta secreta, en papel, con un quórum de más de la mitad.

Artículo Civ. Code §§ 5600–5625 Capítulo 8, Cuotas · Artículo 1 Secciones 6 Texto verificado 2026-10-11

Un suelo y un techo en dos frases

El § 5600(a) convierte el girar cuotas en un deber: la asociación girará cuotas ordinarias y especiales suficientes para cumplir sus obligaciones. La letra (b) la limita por el otro lado: no impondrá ni cobrará cuota o cargo que exceda lo necesario para sufragar aquello por lo que se gira. La asociación que infradota y la que sobrecobra incumplen el mismo artículo.

20 por ciento, 5 por ciento, y lo que hay más allá

El § 5605(b) fija la autoridad propia de la junta, no obstante limitaciones más restrictivas de los documentos rectores. Sin voto de los miembros la junta no puede:

imponer una cuota ordinaria más de un 20 por ciento superior a la del ejercicio anterior; ni
imponer cuotas especiales que en conjunto superen el 5 por ciento de los gastos brutos presupuestados de la asociación para ese ejercicio.

Y la letra (a) añade una condición que casi ninguna junta comprueba: no puede imponerse ningún aumento anual de cuotas ordinarias salvo que la junta haya cumplido siete de los doce puntos del informe anual de presupuesto — los apartados (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7) y (8) del § 5300(b) — para ese ejercicio. Si falla el informe, se pierde el aumento.

Aquí se cruzan tres leyes, y entre las tres lo deciden todo

Es una elección. § 5100(a)(1): las elecciones sobre cuotas que legalmente requieren voto se celebrarán por boleta secreta bajo el artículo electoral — de modo que exigen reglas operativas electorales y un inspector de elecciones independiente.

No puede ser electrónica. El § 5105(i) permite la boleta secreta electrónica salvo para una elección relativa a cuotas ordinarias o especiales, conforme al Capítulo 8 — este capítulo. Cualquier otra votación de la asociación puede pasar a internet; esta se queda en papel.

Y el quórum es más alto. El § 5605(d)(3) define quórum, para este artículo, como más del 50 por ciento de los miembros. No el 20 por ciento al que el § 5115 permite caer a una elección de directores reconvocada. Más de la mitad de la membresía tiene que devolver una boleta de papel, o el aumento decae.

Las excepciones

El § 5610 levanta los topes en caso de emergencia, y define emergencia de forma estrecha: gasto extraordinario ordenado por un tribunal; gasto necesario para operar, reparar o mantener el desarrollo; o gasto que no podía preverse razonablemente al preparar el presupuesto — este último exige acuerdo de la junta con constancia en el acta.

El § 5605(c) va en sentido contrario, y es nuevo. AB 572 añadió un techo ligado al coste de la vida para los aumentos cobrados a unidades de vivienda asequible — pero solo en asociaciones que inscribieron su declaración original a partir del 1 de enero de 2025, y no cuando las unidades asequibles con restricción registral superan la proporción indicada, ni en desarrollos de 20 unidades o menos.

Aviso, y dos cosas que una cuota no es

§ 5615: aviso individual de cualquier aumento, no menos de 30 ni más de 60 días antes de que sea exigible. Otra ventana, no una fecha límite — avisar con 90 días no cumple.

El § 5620 exime a las cuotas ordinarias de ejecución o embargo, salvo gravámenes consentidos y aprobados por mayoría de un quórum conforme al § 4070. Y el § 5625 prohíbe girar cuotas sobre el valor fiscal de un interés separado — salvo que la asociación ya lo hiciera antes del 31 de diciembre de 2009 conforme a sus documentos rectores. Una regla congelada en una fecha, y por eso se lee rara.

Civil Code § 5600 — el texto, en inglés

The Duty to Levy, and the Ceiling on What May Be Levied
Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. (AB 805) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2014, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 180.

El texto va en inglés porque así está promulgado: la versión inglesa es la que tiene fuerza de ley. La explicación de esta página está en español; si algo en ella difiere del texto, vale el texto.

(a)Except as provided in Section 5605, the association shall levy regular and special assessments sufficient to perform its obligations under the governing documents and this act.

(b)An association shall not impose or collect an assessment or fee that exceeds the amount necessary to defray the costs for which it is levied.

Reproducido literalmente del texto publicado por el Legislative Counsel de California y verificado palabra por palabra contra una segunda fuente (leginfo (Legislative Counsel official bulk code database, LAW_SECTION_TBL) · California Public Law (Public.Law)). Las leyes de California son actos de gobierno y no tienen derechos de autor. Esta es una reproducción no oficial — la versión oficial la publica el Legislative Counsel en leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, y esa versión es la que rige.
Legible por máquina: /data/5600.json — el mismo texto con sus anclas, fechas y fuentes.

Civil Code § 5605 — el texto, en inglés

The 20 Percent and 5 Percent Caps, and the Vote to Exceed Them
Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 745, Sec. 1. (AB 572) Effective January 1, 2024.

(a)Annual increases in regular assessments for any fiscal year shall not be imposed unless the board has complied with paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) of subdivision (b) of Section 5300 with respect to that fiscal year, or has obtained the approval of a majority of a quorum of members, pursuant to Section 4070, at a member meeting or election.

(b)Notwithstanding more restrictive limitations placed on the board by the governing documents, the board may not impose a regular assessment that is more than 20 percent greater than the regular assessment for the association’s preceding fiscal year or impose special assessments which in the aggregate exceed 5 percent of the budgeted gross expenses of the association for that fiscal year without the approval of a majority of a quorum of members, pursuant to Section 4070, at a member meeting or election.

(c)(1)(A)For an association that records its original declaration on or after January 1, 2025, notwithstanding more restrictive limitations placed on the board by the governing documents, except as provided in paragraph (3), the board shall not impose a regular assessment against an owner of a deed-restricted affordable housing unit that is more than 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, not to exceed 10 percent greater than the preceding regular assessment.

(c)(1)(B)For purposes of this paragraph, “percentage change in the cost of living” means the percentage change from April 1 of the prior year to April 1 of the current year in the regional Consumer Price Index for the region where the residential real property is located, as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. If a regional index is not available, the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for all items, as determined by the Department of Industrial Relations, shall apply.

(c)(2)For an association that records its original declaration on or after January 1, 2025, notwithstanding any other law, except as provided in paragraph (3), the board may impose an assessment against an owner of a deed-restricted affordable housing unit that is lower than the assessment imposed against other owners according to the proportional ownership of total subdivision interests subject to assessments.

(c)(3)This subdivision does not apply to any of the following:

(c)(3)(A)A development where the percentage of the units, exclusive of a manager’s unit or units, that are deed-restricted affordable housing units exceeds the percentage required by an applicable zoning ordinance in effect at the time the development received final approval.

(c)(3)(B)A development that is located within a city, county, or city and county that does not have an applicable zoning ordinance requiring a percentage of deed-restricted affordable housing units and meet either of the following conditions:

(c)(3)(B)(i)The percentage of the units, exclusive of a manager’s unit or units, that are deed-restricted affordable housing exceeds 10 percent of the total number of units in the development at the time the development received final approval.

(c)(3)(B)(ii)If the development met the requirements described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 65912.122 of the Government Code and was approved pursuant to Section 65912.124 of the Government Code, the percentage of the units, exclusive of a manager’s unit or units, that are deed-restricted affordable housing exceeds 15 percent of the total number of units in the development at the time the development received final approval.

(c)(3)(C)A development of 20 units or fewer.

(d)For the purposes of this section, all of the following definitions apply:

(d)(1)“Affordable housing unit” means a unit occupied by, or available at affordable housing cost to, lower income and moderate-income households, as defined by Sections 50079.5 and 50052.5, respectively, of the Health and Safety Code.

(d)(2)“Final approval” has the same meaning as defined in clause (ii) of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (o) of Section 65589.5 of the Government Code.

(d)(3)“Quorum” means more than 50 percent of the members.

Las fuentes difieren. Text taken verbatim from the Legislative Counsel of California official code database and checked word for word against an independent publisher. The two sources disagree on one word: the official database reads “as defined by Sections 50079.5 and 50052.5” where california.public.law reads “Section”. The plural is what the Legislative Counsel publishes and is what two citations require. The same substitution appears at §§ 4210, 5310, 5350 and 5375 — in every case immediately before a list of two or more section numbers and nowhere else, which is where the second source's own citation-linking rewrites the word.

Qué decía antes este artículo

Leída comparando las publicaciones bienales del código del Legislative Counsel, una por sesión. La más antigua es la de 2013–2014, que ya trae la Ley con su numeración actual, así que los cambios se registran desde la publicación siguiente en adelante. Importa más allá del registro: el § 5145 da un año para impugnar una elección, y rige el texto vigente el día en que se celebró, no el de hoy.

AB 572en vigor 2024-01-01

Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 745, Sec. 1. (AB 572) Effective January 1, 2024.

14 subdivisiones cambiadas
Ver qué cambió
1. (c)~~For the purposes of this section, “quorum” means more than 50 percent of the members.~~
2. (c)(1)(A)For an association that records its original declaration on or after January 1, 2025, notwithstanding more restrictive limitations placed on the board by the governing documents, except as provided in paragraph (3), the board shall not impose a regular assessment against an owner of a deed-restricted affordable housing unit that is more than 5 percent plus the percentage change in the cost of living, not to exceed 10 percent greater …
3. (c)(1)(B)For purposes of this paragraph, “percentage change in the cost of living” means the percentage change from April 1 of the prior year to April 1 of the current year in the regional Consumer Price Index for the region where the residential real property is located, as published by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. If a regional index is not available, the California Consumer Price Index for All …
4. (c)(2)For an association that records its original declaration on or after January 1, 2025, notwithstanding any other law, except as provided in paragraph (3), the board may impose an assessment against an owner of a deed-restricted affordable housing unit that is lower than the assessment imposed against other owners according to the proportional ownership of total subdivision interests subject to assessments.
5. (c)(3)This subdivision does not apply to any of the following:
6. (c)(3)(A)A development where the percentage of the units, exclusive of a manager’s unit or units, that are deed-restricted affordable housing units exceeds the percentage required by an applicable zoning ordinance in effect at the time the development received final approval.
7. (c)(3)(B)A development that is located within a city, county, or city and county that does not have an applicable zoning ordinance requiring a percentage of deed-restricted affordable housing units and meet either of the following conditions:
8. (c)(3)(B)(i)The percentage of the units, exclusive of a manager’s unit or units, that are deed-restricted affordable housing exceeds 10 percent of the total number of units in the development at the time the development received final approval.
9. (c)(3)(B)(ii)If the development met the requirements described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 65912.122 of the Government Code and was approved pursuant to Section 65912.124 of the Government Code, the percentage of the units, exclusive of a manager’s unit or units, that are deed-restricted affordable housing exceeds 15 percent of the total number of units in the development at the time the development received final …
10. (c)(3)(C)A development of 20 units or fewer.
11. (d)For the purposes of this section, all of the following definitions apply:
12. (d)(1)“Affordable housing unit” means a unit occupied by, or available at affordable housing cost to, lower income and moderate-income households, as defined by Sections 50079.5 and 50052.5, respectively, of the Health and Safety Code.
13. (d)(2)“Final approval” has the same meaning as defined in clause (ii) of subparagraph (D) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (o) of Section 65589.5 of the Government Code.
14. (d)(3)“Quorum” means more than 50 percent of the members.

Reproducido literalmente del texto publicado por el Legislative Counsel de California y verificado palabra por palabra contra una segunda fuente (leginfo (Legislative Counsel official bulk code database, LAW_SECTION_TBL) · California Public Law (Public.Law)). Las leyes de California son actos de gobierno y no tienen derechos de autor. Esta es una reproducción no oficial — la versión oficial la publica el Legislative Counsel en leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, y esa versión es la que rige.
Legible por máquina: /data/5605.json — el mismo texto con sus anclas, fechas y fuentes.

Civil Code § 5610 — el texto, en inglés

Emergency Increases Outside the Caps
Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 288, Sec. 3. (SB 900) Effective January 1, 2025.

Section 5605 does not limit assessment increases necessary for emergency situations. For purposes of this section, an emergency situation is any one of the following:

(a)An extraordinary expense required by an order of a court.

(b)An extraordinary expense necessary to operate, repair, or maintain the common interest development or any part of it for which the association is responsible where a threat to personal health or safety or another hazardous condition or circumstance on the property is discovered.

(c)An extraordinary expense necessary to repair or maintain the common interest development or any part of it for which the association is responsible that could not have been reasonably foreseen by the board in preparing and distributing the annual budget report under Section 5300. However, before the imposition or collection of an assessment under this subdivision, the board shall pass a resolution containing written findings as to the necessity of the extraordinary expense involved and why the expense was not or could not have been reasonably foreseen in the budgeting process, and the resolution shall be distributed to the members with the notice of assessment.

Qué decía antes este artículo

SB 900en vigor 2025-01-01

Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 288, Sec. 3. (SB 900) Effective January 1, 2025.

2 subdivisiones cambiadas
Ver qué cambió
1. (b)An extraordinary expense necessary to ~~repair~~ operate, repair, or maintain the common interest development or … is responsible where a threat to personal health or safety or another hazardous condition or circumstance on the property is discovered.
2. (c)… annual budget report under Section 5300. However, ~~prior to~~ before the imposition or collection of an assessment …

Reproducido literalmente del texto publicado por el Legislative Counsel de California y verificado palabra por palabra contra una segunda fuente (leginfo (Legislative Counsel official bulk code database, LAW_SECTION_TBL) · California Public Law (Public.Law)). Las leyes de California son actos de gobierno y no tienen derechos de autor. Esta es una reproducción no oficial — la versión oficial la publica el Legislative Counsel en leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, y esa versión es la que rige.
Legible por máquina: /data/5610.json — el mismo texto con sus anclas, fechas y fuentes.

Civil Code § 5615 — el texto, en inglés

Notice of an Increase — 30 to 60 Days Before It Is Due
Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. (AB 805) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2014, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 180.

The association shall provide individual notice pursuant to Section 4040 to the members of any increase in the regular or special assessments of the association, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the increased assessment becoming due.

Reproducido literalmente del texto publicado por el Legislative Counsel de California y verificado palabra por palabra contra una segunda fuente (leginfo (Legislative Counsel official bulk code database, LAW_SECTION_TBL) · California Public Law (Public.Law)). Las leyes de California son actos de gobierno y no tienen derechos de autor. Esta es una reproducción no oficial — la versión oficial la publica el Legislative Counsel en leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, y esa versión es la que rige.
Legible por máquina: /data/5615.json — el mismo texto con sus anclas, fechas y fuentes.

Civil Code § 5620 — el texto, en inglés

Regular Assessments Are Exempt From Execution
Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. (AB 805) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2014, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 180.

(a)Regular assessments imposed or collected to perform the obligations of an association under the governing documents or this act shall be exempt from execution by a judgment creditor of the association only to the extent necessary for the association to perform essential services, such as paying for utilities and insurance. In determining the appropriateness of an exemption, a court shall ensure that only essential services are protected under this subdivision.

(b)This exemption shall not apply to any consensual pledges, liens, or encumbrances that have been approved by a majority of a quorum of members, pursuant to Section 4070, at a member meeting or election, or to any state tax lien, or to any lien for labor or materials supplied to the common area.

Reproducido literalmente del texto publicado por el Legislative Counsel de California y verificado palabra por palabra contra una segunda fuente (leginfo (Legislative Counsel official bulk code database, LAW_SECTION_TBL) · California Public Law (Public.Law)). Las leyes de California son actos de gobierno y no tienen derechos de autor. Esta es una reproducción no oficial — la versión oficial la publica el Legislative Counsel en leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, y esa versión es la que rige.
Legible por máquina: /data/5620.json — el mismo texto con sus anclas, fechas y fuentes.

Civil Code § 5625 — el texto, en inglés

No Assessment on the Taxable Value of a Separate Interest
Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. (AB 805) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2014, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 180.

(a)Except as provided in subdivision (b), notwithstanding any provision of this act or the governing documents to the contrary, an association shall not levy assessments on separate interests within the common interest development based on the taxable value of the separate interests unless the association, on or before December 31, 2009, in accordance with its governing documents, levied assessments on those separate interests based on their taxable value, as determined by the tax assessor of the county in which the separate interests are located.

(b)An association that is responsible for paying taxes on the separate interests within the common interest development may levy that portion of assessments on separate interests that is related to the payment of taxes based on the taxable value of the separate interest, as determined by the tax assessor.

Reproducido literalmente del texto publicado por el Legislative Counsel de California y verificado palabra por palabra contra una segunda fuente (leginfo (Legislative Counsel official bulk code database, LAW_SECTION_TBL) · California Public Law (Public.Law)). Las leyes de California son actos de gobierno y no tienen derechos de autor. Esta es una reproducción no oficial — la versión oficial la publica el Legislative Counsel en leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, y esa versión es la que rige.
Legible por máquina: /data/5625.json — el mismo texto con sus anclas, fechas y fuentes.

Relacionados § 5100 · § 5105 · Informes anuales · Reservas Próxima revisión trimestral