Which document primarily governs the ongoing rules and restrictions residents must follow in a community association?

• A. Public offering statement
• B. Declaration, CC&Rs, or master deed
• C. Articles of incorporation
• D. Bylaws

Answer: (B)

The document that primarily governs ongoing rules and restrictions residents must follow in a community association is the declaration, CC&Rs, or master deed. These records are usually recorded in the land records and bind every current and future owner, laying out what is allowed and not allowed, including use restrictions, architectural controls, and rules for common areas. They also specify the association’s powers, such as levying assessments and enforcing rules, and they are typically enforceable against all property in the community, often running with the land so they endure through ownership transfers.

In contrast, bylaws describe how the association is governed—how meetings are conducted, how officers and board members are elected, and other internal procedures. Articles of incorporation establish the legal entity of the association, the framework under which it can operate. A public offering statement is a disclosure document for prospective buyers that outlines facts about the project, finances, and potential risks, rather than the ongoing restrictions residents must follow. So the declaration and its CC&Rs or master deed provide the primary, long-lasting rules residents live under.