# California Condo Windows & Doors: Who Pays to Replace Them? | Who Pays the Repair?

> California condo windows and doors are exclusive use common area (Civ. Code 4145): the owner maintains, the HOA repairs and replaces, unless the CC&Rs flip it.

**Who pays:** shared

California condo windows and sliding doors are "exclusive use common area", the owner maintains them but the HOA is responsible for repair and replacement by default, though CC&Rs very commonly flip replacement onto the owner.

**Boundary:** Windows, exterior doors, doorframes and their hardware are, by statute, exclusive use common area (Civil Code § 4145): they serve one unit but are legally common area. Civil Code § 4775(c) splits the duty, the owner maintains the exclusive use common area appurtenant to the unit, and the association repairs and replaces it, unless the declaration provides otherwise.

**Property owner:** Routine maintenance and cleaning of the window/door serving the unit. Note: CC&Rs frequently reassign full replacement to owners, read the declaration.

**City / agency:** By statutory default the association repairs and replaces the exclusive use common area. Per Civil Code § 4775(c): "the association is responsible for repairing and replacing the exclusive use common area."

**Exceptions:** The CC&Rs may reassign window/door replacement to the owner; Facade-affecting replacements usually route through the association architectural process

## Sources
- [California Civil Code § 4145 (exclusive use common area)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=4145&lawCode=CIV) — "a portion of the common area designated by the declaration for the exclusive use of one or more, but fewer than all, of the owners... shutters, awnings, window boxes, doorsteps, stoops, porches, balconies, patios, exterior doors, doorframes, and hardware incident thereto, screens and windows." (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [California Civil Code § 4775(c)](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=4775&lawCode=CIV) — "the owner of each separate interest is responsible for maintaining the exclusive use common area appurtenant to that separate interest and the association is responsible for repairing and replacing the exclusive use common area." (accessed 2026-09-11)

_Last verified 2026-09-27. Source: Who Pays the Repair? — https://whopaystherepair.com/rules/california-condo-who-pays-window-replacement/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._