Condominium Living

Ownership beyond your front door

A condominium combines individual ownership of a unit with an ownership interest in common elements. Common elements are condominium property outside the units; the declaration defines unit boundaries and interests. Some areas may be limited common elements reserved for particular units.

Your declaration, articles of incorporation, bylaws, and valid rules work alongside Florida law. They explain important aspects of ownership, maintenance, voting, use, and association operations.

Florida Statutes §718.103 — condominium definitions.

Shared costs are part of ownership

Assessments fund common expenses, such as association operations, maintenance, insurance, and other authorized costs. Reserves help prepare for future major repairs and replacements; special assessments may be needed when additional funding is required.

Owners remain responsible for assessments that come due during their ownership. Leaving a unit vacant or choosing not to use amenities generally does not eliminate the obligation. If you dispute a charge, pursue the appropriate review process rather than assuming you can stop paying.

§718.115 — Common expenses · §718.116 — Assessments.

Who does what?

In Century Village, clarify whether a concern belongs to your association, UCO, WPRF, a utility, or another provider before requesting service. Your association’s obligations remain important even when some services are handled elsewhere.

Maintenance and insurance need careful attention

Maintenance responsibility follows Florida law and the declaration. Insurance coverage and responsibility after a casualty can involve different rules from ordinary maintenance. Do not assume that everything inside a unit belongs to the owner to repair, or that association insurance covers all personal losses.

• Report leaks, unsafe conditions, and suspected damage promptly through the designated channel.
• Ask who is responsible before authorizing work affecting shared systems.
• Obtain required association approvals and permits before alterations.
• Review your own insurance with your agent, including contents, liability, loss of use, and loss-assessment coverage.
• Keep emergency contact information current and arrange for someone to check the unit during absences.

The association has a statutory right of necessary access in specified circumstances, including work on association-maintained property and preventing damage. Ask about the association’s access procedure and emergency arrangements.

§718.113 — Maintenance · §718.111 — Access and insurance.

Living well with neighbors

Shared walls, parking, laundry facilities, and outdoor spaces make consideration especially useful. Follow the applicable rules on noise, pets, smoking, guests, parking, and rentals. Make sure visitors and tenants understand the requirements that apply to them.

Call 911 for an immediate emergency. Routine rule concerns should go through the appropriate association or service channel.

Participation helps protect your home

Owners have rights to participate in association governance, subject to applicable procedures: attend meetings, vote when eligible, inspect accessible official records, and consider serving on the board or a committee.

Read notices, review financial information, ask specific questions, and support realistic maintenance planning. An effective board benefits from informed owners who contribute ideas and follow through on agreed responsibilities.

DBPR: unit owner rights and responsibilities. Read older publications alongside current law.

A practical new-owner checklist

1. Read your documents. Obtain the current declaration, amendments, bylaws, rules, and relevant community agreements.
2. Understand the finances. Review assessments, reserves, pending projects, and what each recurring charge covers.
3. Know your contacts. Save association, manager, utility, and emergency numbers. Confirm how to report a problem.
4. Plan maintenance and coverage. Identify owner obligations and review insurance with your agent.
5. Check approvals. Ask before renovations, rentals, or occupancy changes; understand move-in and contractor procedures.
6. Stay connected. Keep your mailing and emergency contacts updated, read notices, and attend meetings.

Learn more

DBPR condominium resources and educational programs provide additional starting points for owners and boards.

Reviewed October 17, 2026. General education for Florida condominium owners, with Century Village West Palm Beach context. Requirements depend on current law, governing documents, contracts, and the facts of each situation. Consult the relevant professional for individual legal, insurance, or financial questions.

Build a small owner reference file

Board Synergy recommended practice Keep the current governing documents, approved rules, assessment and recreation-charge information, insurance contact, maintenance and emergency procedures, and relevant approval records in one accessible place. Include a private copy of your own emergency contacts.

1. After moving in: confirm association approval, resident information, required age-verification records, WPRF ID, and gate credentials through their separate processes.
2. Before a project: determine responsibility, required association permission, contractor qualifications, insurance, and government permits.
3. Before an absence: arrange a trusted contact and an authorized access plan; report known leaks or equipment concerns.
4. When information changes: update the relevant office. A county address change, an association roster update, and a provider-account change are not the same transaction.

Knowing who handles a service helps avoid delays. Use the service-routing guide for association, UCO, WPRF, and provider questions, and the owner problem-solving guide when the correct first step is unclear.

Connected Board Synergy guides

• Owner rights responsibilities
• Have a problem? Start here
• Who manages what?
• Request for occupancy
• Water heater prevention program
• Homestead exemption

Independent educational guidance. Applicable law, governing documents, contracts, and operator procedures have different sources of authority. The checklists are recommended practices, not decisions on an individual dispute.