South Mountain Ranch

What South Mountain Ranch's governing documents say

South Mountain Ranch is a master-planned community in Phoenix (approximately 280 acres) developed in phases. The master association oversees common areas and assessments; specific rules, amenities, and use restrictions for each phase are established in recorded Tract Declarations. This document sets up the governance framework and initial assessment structure.

• Membership & voting: Each parcel holds one membership (or fractional share as designated) in the master association. The sub-association for that parcel owns the membership and casts the vote on master association matters. Voting rights suspend if assessments go unpaid for 60+ days.
• Annual assessments & increases: The four initial parcels are allocated to annual assessments as: Parcel 1 (15%), Parcel 2 (13%), Parcel 3/4 (21%), Club Parcel (51%). Starting January 1 after the first Tract Declaration is recorded, the maximum annual assessment increases automatically each year by the greater of 20% or the Consumer Price Index. Larger increases require a two-thirds member vote. Special assessments for capital improvements require 75% member approval.
• Late payment interest & collection costs: Assessments unpaid for 15+ days accrue interest at the greater of 12% per annum or the prevailing FHA/VA loan rate. Members also pay collection costs and attorney's fees. The association can record a lien against the property, superior to all other liens except first mortgages and tax liens.
• Golf course (separate facility): The golf course is a separate parcel operated independently; membership does not confer ownership or use rights. It is public, operates seven days a week including early morning and evening hours, and residents assume all risks from stray golf balls, noise, maintenance activity, and public traffic. The declarant may sell, transfer, or convert it without member approval.
• Common area maintenance & responsibility: The association maintains all common areas (roads, landscaping, signs) using a reasonable-care standard. In cluster areas with party walls, adjoining owners share repair costs proportional to wall frontage; the association maintains the common-area-facing side. Members can be billed for repair costs if their willful or negligent act caused damage.
• Sub-associations & individual liability: Each parcel (except the golf club parcel) must establish its own sub-association. Individual members of a sub-association are liable for their proportionate share of both master and sub-association assessments and can be individually billed and liened.
• What this document doesn't cover: This 1998 master declaration establishes only the governance and assessment framework. Specific use restrictions, architectural guidelines, amenities, pet policies, lease restrictions, and other covenants for each phase are defined in Tract Declarations recorded separately.

Plain-language summary generated from the governing documents on file for this community. It may be incomplete and is not legal advice — read the full documents below or consult the official recorded versions.