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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76143</law_id><section_number>55.1-1901</section_number><catch_line>Application and construction of chapter</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-1982</reference><reference>55.1-2003</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Common Interest Communities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="19">Virginia Condominium Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> This chapter applies to all <span class="dictionary">condominiums</span> and to all horizontal property regimes or <span class="dictionary">condominium</span> projects. This chapter supersedes the Horizontal Property Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/55.1-2000/">55.1-2000</a> et seq.), and no <span class="dictionary">condominium</span> shall be established under the Horizontal Property Act on or after July 1, 1974. This chapter shall not be construed to affect the validity of any provision of any <span class="dictionary">condominium</span> instrument recorded prior to July 1, 1974. For the purposes of this chapter, as used in the Horizontal Property Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/55.1-2000/">55.1-2000</a> et seq.):
			&#x201C;Apartment&#x201D; corresponds to the term &#x201C;unit.&#x201D;
			&#x201C;Co-owner&#x201D; corresponds to the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">unit owner</span>.&#x201D;
			&#x201C;Council of co-owners&#x201D; corresponds to the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">unit owners</span>&#x2019; association.&#x201D;
			&#x201C;Developer&#x201D; corresponds to the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">declarant</span>.&#x201D;
			&#x201C;General <span class="dictionary">common elements</span>&#x201D; corresponds to the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">common elements</span>.&#x201D;
			&#x201C;Horizontal property regime&#x201D; and &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">condominium</span> project&#x201D; correspond to the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">condominium</span>.&#x201D;
			&#x201C;Master deed&#x201D; and &#x201C;master lease&#x201D; correspond to the term &#x201C;declaration&#x201D; and are included in the term &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">condominium</span> instruments.&#x201D; <a id="paragraph-273296" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1901/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> This chapter does not apply to <span class="dictionary">condominiums</span> located outside the Commonwealth. Sections <a class="law" title="General powers and duties of the Common Interest Community Board" href="/55.1-1971/">55.1-1971</a>, <a class="law" title="Limitations on dispositions of units" href="/55.1-1974/">55.1-1974</a> through <a class="law" title="Conversion condominiums; special provisions" href="/55.1-1982/">55.1-1982</a>, and <a class="law" title="Investigations and proceedings" href="/55.1-1985/">55.1-1985</a> through <a class="law" title="Penalties" href="/55.1-1989/">55.1-1989</a> apply to all <span class="dictionary">contracts</span> for the <span class="dictionary">disposition</span> of <span class="dictionary">condominium units</span> signed in the Commonwealth by any <span class="dictionary">person</span>, unless exempt under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Exemptions from certain provisions of article" href="/55.1-1972/">55.1-1972</a>. <a id="paragraph-273297" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1901/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Upkeep of condominiums; warranty against structural defects; statute of limitations for warranty; warranty review committee" href="/55.1-1955/">55.1-1955</a> and &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Conversion condominiums; special provisions" href="/55.1-1982/">55.1-1982</a> do not apply to the <span class="dictionary">declarant</span> of a <span class="dictionary">conversion condominium</span> if that <span class="dictionary">declarant</span> is a proprietary lessees&#x2019; association that, immediately before the creation of the condominium, owned fee simple title to or a fee simple reversionary interest in the real estate described pursuant to subdivision A 3 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Contents of declaration" href="/55.1-1916/">55.1-1916</a>. <a id="paragraph-273298" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1901/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1974, c. 416, &#xA7; 55-79.40; 1982, c. 545; 1989, c. 63; 2006, c. 646; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
