{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/55.1-2000.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/55.1-2000.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/55.1-2000.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/55.1-2000.html"}],"law_id":82636,"edition_id":1,"section_id":82636,"structure_id":16706,"section_number":"55.1-2000","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"1962, c. 627, \u00a7 2, \u00a7 55-79.2; 1966, c. 683; 1972, c. 450; 2009, c. 557; 2019, c. 712.","full_text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Apartment” means a dwelling that is an enclosed space consisting of one or more rooms occupying all or part of one or more floors in a building of one or more floors regardless of whether it is designed or used for residence, for office, for the operation of any industry or business, or for any other type of independent use, or combination of uses, provided that the dwelling has a direct exit to a thoroughfare or to a given common space leading to a thoroughfare. “Apartment” also includes such accessories as may be appurtenant to such dwelling.\n\t\t“Condominium” means the ownership of a single unit in a multiple-unit structure with common elements in a condominium project.\n\t\t“Condominium project” means a plan or project whereby four or more apartments, rooms, office spaces, or other units existing or proposed, whether the unit involves a single structure, attached to or detached from other units, or is in one or more multiple-unit structures, on contiguous parcels of real estate are offered or proposed to be offered for sale.\n\t\t“Co-owner” means a person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust, or other legal entity, or any combination thereof, that owns an apartment within the building.\n\t\t“Council of co-owners” means all of the co-owners acting as a group in accordance with the bylaws of the horizontal property regime.\n\t\t“Developer” means a person that undertakes to develop a real estate condominium project.\n\t\t“General common elements,” unless otherwise provided in the master deed or lease, means and includes:\n\n1\n\nThe land, whether leased or in fee simple, on which the building stands;2\n\nThe foundations, main walls, roofs, halls, lobbies, stairways, and entrances and exits or communication ways;3\n\nThe basements, flat roofs, yards, and gardens, except as otherwise provided or stipulated;4\n\nThe premises for the lodging of janitors or persons in charge of the building, except as otherwise provided or stipulated;5\n\nThe compartments or installations of central services, including power, light, gas, cold and hot water, refrigeration, reservoirs, water tanks, and pumps;6\n\nThe elevators, garbage incinerators, and all other devices or installations existing for common use; and7\n\nAll other elements of the property rationally of common use or necessary to its existence, upkeep, and safety.\n\t\t\t“Limited common elements” means those common elements that are agreed upon by all of the co-owners to be reserved for the use of a certain number of apartments to the exclusion of the other apartments, including special corridors, stairways and elevators, and sanitary services common to the apartments of a particular floor.\n\t\t\t“Majority of co-owners” means more than 50 percent of the votes of the co-owners computed in accordance with the bylaws of the horizontal property regime.\n\t\t\t“Master deed” or “master lease” means the deed or lease recording the property of the horizontal property regime.\n\t\t\t“Person” means an individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.\n\t\t\t“Property” means the land, whether leased or in fee simple, the building, all improvements and structures on such land, and all easements, rights, and appurtenances belonging to such land.\n\t\t\t“To record” means to record pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth relating to the recordation of deeds.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":296076,"text":"As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Apartment” means a dwelling that is an enclosed space consisting of one or more rooms occupying all or part of one or more floors in a building of one or more floors regardless of whether it is designed or used for residence, for office, for the operation of any industry or business, or for any other type of independent use, or combination of uses, provided that the dwelling has a direct exit to a thoroughfare or to a given common space leading to a thoroughfare. “Apartment” also includes such accessories as may be appurtenant to such dwelling.\n\t\t“Condominium” means the ownership of a single unit in a multiple-unit structure with common elements in a condominium project.\n\t\t“Condominium project” means a plan or project whereby four or more apartments, rooms, office spaces, or other units existing or proposed, whether the unit involves a single structure, attached to or detached from other units, or is in one or more multiple-unit structures, on contiguous parcels of real estate are offered or proposed to be offered for sale.\n\t\t“Co-owner” means a person, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust, or other legal entity, or any combination thereof, that owns an apartment within the building.\n\t\t“Council of co-owners” means all of the co-owners acting as a group in accordance with the bylaws of the horizontal property regime.\n\t\t“Developer” means a person that undertakes to develop a real estate condominium project.\n\t\t“General common elements,” unless otherwise provided in the master deed or lease, means and includes:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":296077,"text":"The land, whether leased or in fee simple, on which the building stands;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":296078,"text":"The foundations, main walls, roofs, halls, lobbies, stairways, and entrances and exits or communication ways;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":296079,"text":"The basements, flat roofs, yards, and gardens, except as otherwise provided or stipulated;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":296080,"text":"The premises for the lodging of janitors or persons in charge of the building, except as otherwise provided or stipulated;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":296081,"text":"The compartments or installations of central services, including power, light, gas, cold and hot water, refrigeration, reservoirs, water tanks, and pumps;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":296082,"text":"The elevators, garbage incinerators, and all other devices or installations existing for common use; and","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":296083,"text":"All other elements of the property rationally of common use or necessary to its existence, upkeep, and safety.\n\t\t\t“Limited common elements” means those common elements that are agreed upon by all of the co-owners to be reserved for the use of a certain number of apartments to the exclusion of the other apartments, including special corridors, stairways and elevators, and sanitary services common to the apartments of a particular floor.\n\t\t\t“Majority of co-owners” means more than 50 percent of the votes of the co-owners computed in accordance with the bylaws of the horizontal property regime.\n\t\t\t“Master deed” or “master lease” means the deed or lease recording the property of the horizontal property regime.\n\t\t\t“Person” means an individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.\n\t\t\t“Property” means the land, whether leased or in fee simple, the building, all improvements and structures on such land, and all easements, rights, and appurtenances belonging to such land.\n\t\t\t“To record” means to record pursuant to the laws of the Commonwealth relating to the recordation of deeds.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16706,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12915,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:34:22","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:34:22","permalink":{"id":247017,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16706,"identifier":"1","token":"55.1\/IV\/20\/1","url":"\/55.1\/IV\/20\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12915,"edition_id":1,"name":"Horizontal Property Act","identifier":"20","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12914,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","permalink":{"id":247015,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12915,"identifier":"20","token":"55.1\/IV\/20","url":"\/55.1\/IV\/20\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12914,"edition_id":1,"name":"Common Interest Communities","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12707,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","permalink":{"id":246473,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12914,"identifier":"IV","token":"55.1\/IV","url":"\/55.1\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12707,"edition_id":1,"name":"Property and Conveyances","identifier":"55.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:49","permalink":{"id":244769,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12707,"identifier":"55.1","token":"55.1","url":"\/55.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":82636,"structure_id":16706,"section_number":"55.1-2000","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/55.1-2000\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/20\/1\/55.1-2000","metadata":false},{"id":84704,"structure_id":16706,"section_number":"55.1-2001","catch_line":"Property taxes assessed on individual apartments","url":"\/55.1-2001\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/20\/1\/55.1-2001","metadata":false},{"id":75469,"structure_id":16706,"section_number":"55.1-2002","catch_line":"Chapter additional and supplemental","url":"\/55.1-2002\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/20\/1\/55.1-2002","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":84704,"structure_id":16706,"section_number":"55.1-2001","catch_line":"Property taxes assessed on individual apartments","url":"\/55.1-2001\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/20\/1\/55.1-2001","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/55.1-2000\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1962. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 627 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1962 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 683; in 1972, chapter 450; in 2009, chapter 557<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":75080,"section_number":"13.1-501","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/13.1-501\/"},{"id":63788,"section_number":"16.1-228","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-228\/"},{"id":56536,"section_number":"18.2-248.02","catch_line":"Allowing a minor or incapacitated person to be present during manufacture or attempted manufacture of methamphetamine or fentanyl prohibited; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-248.02\/"},{"id":75637,"section_number":"43-3","catch_line":"Lien for work done and materials furnished; waiver of right to file or enforce lien","order_by":null,"url":"\/43-3\/"},{"id":73192,"section_number":"46.2-102","catch_line":"Enforcement by law-enforcement officers; officers to be uniformed; officers to be paid fixed salaries","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-102\/"},{"id":57036,"section_number":"46.2-1216","catch_line":"Removal or immobilization of motor vehicles, vehicles, and trailers against which there are outstanding parking violations; ordinances","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1216\/"},{"id":68405,"section_number":"46.2-1231","catch_line":"Ticketing, removal, or immobilization of trespassing vehicles by owner or operator of parking or other lot or building; charges","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1231\/"},{"id":69434,"section_number":"46.2-1232","catch_line":"Localities may regulate removal or immobilization of trespassing vehicles","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1232\/"},{"id":76143,"section_number":"55.1-1901","catch_line":"Application and construction of chapter","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1901\/"},{"id":64581,"section_number":"55.1-1982","catch_line":"Conversion condominiums; special provisions","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-1982\/"},{"id":56514,"section_number":"55.1-2207","catch_line":"Time-sharing permitted","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2207\/"},{"id":85397,"section_number":"55.1-2307","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/55.1-2307\/"},{"id":72379,"section_number":"63.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-100\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":247019,"object_type":"law","relational_id":82636,"identifier":"55.1-2000","token":"55.1\/IV\/20\/1\/55.1-2000","url":"\/55.1-2000\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/55.1-2000\/","token":"55.1\/IV\/20\/1\/55.1-2000","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 55.1-2000","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Apartment<\/span>” means a dwelling that is an enclosed space consisting of one or more rooms occupying all or part of one or more floors in a building of one or more floors regardless of whether it is designed or used for residence, for office, for the operation of any industry or business, or for any other type of independent use, or combination of uses, provided that the dwelling has a direct exit to a thoroughfare or to a given common space leading to a thoroughfare. “Apartment<\/span>” also includes such accessories as may be appurtenant to such dwelling.\n\t\t“Condominium” means the ownership of a single unit in a multiple-unit structure with common elements in a condominium project<\/span>.\n\t\t“Condominium project<\/span>” means a plan or project whereby four or more apartments<\/span>, rooms, office spaces, or other units existing or proposed, whether the unit involves a single structure, attached to or detached from other units, or is in one or more multiple-unit structures, on contiguous parcels of real estate are offered or proposed to be offered for sale.\n\t\t“Co-owner<\/span>” means a person<\/span>, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust, or other legal entity, or any combination thereof, that owns an apartment<\/span> within the building.\n\t\t“Council of co-owners<\/span>” means all of the co-owners acting as a group in accordance with the bylaws of the horizontal property<\/span> regime.\n\t\t“Developer<\/span>” means a person<\/span> that undertakes to develop a real estate condominium project<\/span>.\n\t\t“General common elements,” unless otherwise provided in the master deed<\/span> or lease, means and includes:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The land, whether leased or in fee simple, on which the building stands; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> The foundations, main walls, roofs, halls, lobbies, stairways, and entrances and exits or communication ways; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> The basements, flat roofs, yards, and gardens, except as otherwise provided or stipulated; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> The premises for the lodging of janitors or persons<\/span> in charge of the building, except as otherwise provided or stipulated; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> The compartments or installations of central services, including power, light, gas, cold and hot water, refrigeration, reservoirs, water tanks, and pumps; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> The elevators, garbage incinerators, and all other devices or installations existing for common use; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> All other elements of the property<\/span> rationally of common use or necessary to its existence, upkeep, and safety.\n\t\t\t“Limited common elements<\/span>” means those common elements that are agreed upon by all of the co-owners to be reserved for the use of a certain number of apartments<\/span> to the exclusion of the other apartments<\/span>, including special corridors, stairways and elevators, and sanitary services common to the apartments<\/span> of a particular floor.\n\t\t\t“Majority of co-owners<\/span>” means more than 50 percent of the votes of the co-owners computed in accordance with the bylaws of the horizontal property<\/span> regime.\n\t\t\t“Master deed<\/span>” or “master lease<\/span>” means the deed or lease recording the property<\/span> of the horizontal property<\/span> regime.\n\t\t\t“Person<\/span>” means an individual, firm, corporation, partnership, association, trust, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.\n\t\t\t“Property<\/span>” means the land, whether leased or in fee simple, the building, all improvements and structures on such land, and all easements, rights, and appurtenances belonging to such land.\n\t\t\t“To record<\/span>” means to record<\/span> pursuant to the laws<\/span> of the Commonwealth relating to the recordation of deeds. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 55.1-2000)\n\nAs used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Apartment” means a dwelling that is an enclosed space consisting\nof one or more rooms occupying all or part of one or more floors in a building\nof one or more floors regardless of whether it is designed or used for\nresidence, for office, for the operation of any industry or business, or for any\nother type of independent use, or combination of uses, provided that the\ndwelling has a direct exit to a thoroughfare or to a given common space leading\nto a thoroughfare. “Apartment” also includes such accessories as may\nbe appurtenant to such dwelling.\n\t\t“Condominium” means the ownership of a single unit in a\nmultiple-unit structure with common elements in a condominium project.\n\t\t“Condominium project” means a plan or project whereby four or\nmore apartments, rooms, office spaces, or other units existing or proposed,\nwhether the unit involves a single structure, attached to or detached from other\nunits, or is in one or more multiple-unit structures, on contiguous parcels of\nreal estate are offered or proposed to be offered for sale.\n\t\t“Co-owner” means a person, firm, corporation, partnership,\nassociation, trust, or other legal entity, or any combination thereof, that owns\nan apartment within the building.\n\t\t“Council of co-owners” means all of the co-owners acting as a\ngroup in accordance with the bylaws of the horizontal property regime.\n\t\t“Developer” means a person that undertakes to develop a real\nestate condominium project.\n\t\t“General common elements,” unless otherwise provided in the\nmaster deed or lease, means and includes:\n\n1. The land, whether leased or in fee simple, on which the building stands;\n\n2. The foundations, main walls, roofs, halls, lobbies, stairways, and entrances\nand exits or communication ways;\n\n3. The basements, flat roofs, yards, and gardens, except as otherwise provided\nor stipulated;\n\n4. The premises for the lodging of janitors or persons in charge of the\nbuilding, except as otherwise provided or stipulated;\n\n5. The compartments or installations of central services, including power,\nlight, gas, cold and hot water, refrigeration, reservoirs, water tanks, and\npumps;\n\n6. The elevators, garbage incinerators, and all other devices or installations\nexisting for common use; and\n\n7. All other elements of the property rationally of common use or necessary to\nits existence, upkeep, and safety.\n\t\t\t“Limited common elements” means those common elements that are\nagreed upon by all of the co-owners to be reserved for the use of a certain\nnumber of apartments to the exclusion of the other apartments, including special\ncorridors, stairways and elevators, and sanitary services common to the\napartments of a particular floor.\n\t\t\t“Majority of co-owners” means more than 50 percent of the votes\nof the co-owners computed in accordance with the bylaws of the horizontal\nproperty regime.\n\t\t\t“Master deed” or “master lease” means the deed or\nlease recording the property of the horizontal property regime.\n\t\t\t“Person” means an individual, firm, corporation, partnership,\nassociation, trust, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.\n\t\t\t“Property” means the land, whether leased or in fee simple, the\nbuilding, all improvements and structures on such land, and all easements,\nrights, and appurtenances belonging to such land.\n\t\t\t“To record” means to record pursuant to the laws of the\nCommonwealth relating to the recordation of deeds.\n\nHISTORY: 1962, c. 627, \u00a7 2, \u00a7 55-79.2; 1966, c. 683; 1972, c. 450; 2009, c.\n557; 2019, c. 712.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}