Subject to the provisions of the declaration, a declarant has an easement through the common elements as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of discharging a declarant's obligations or exercising special declarant rights. In addition, without affecting the rights, if any, of each unit owner with respect to the use and enjoyment of the common elements, subject to the provisions of the declaration, each unit owner and its agents, contractors and invitees shall have a nonexclusive access easement through the common elements as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of construction, repair and renovation of the owner's unit. An association shall have the power during spring thaw conditions to restrict road usage by vehicles of more than ten tons gross weight, provided:
(1) such restrictions shall be imposed only on a week-by-week basis for an aggregate period not to exceed eight weeks during any calendar year;
(2) thaw conditions shall be reviewed by the association at least weekly; and
(3) signs shall be conspicuously posted by the association at all entrances to the planned community advising when and where such thaw restrictions are applicable.
An association shall not have the power to impose any fees or charges or require financial security, including, but not limited to, surety bonds, letters of credit or escrow deposits for the use of the easement rights described in this section; however, the declarant or owner who exercises the easement rights described in this section, whether directly or indirectly through an agent, servant, contractor or employee, shall have the obligation to promptly return any portion of the common elements damaged by the exercise by the declarant or owner or its agent, servant, contractor or employee of the easement under this section to the appearance, condition and function in which it existed prior to the exercise of the easement or to reimburse the association for all reasonable costs, fees and expenses incurred by the association to return any portion of the common elements which were damaged to the appearance, condition and function in which it existed prior to the exercise of the easement.
(Mar. 24, 1998, P.L.206, No.37, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1486, No.189, eff. 60 days)
Cross References. Section 5218 is referred to in sections 5102, 5103, 5105, 5301, 5414 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 68 - REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY
Chapter 52 - Creation, Alteration and Termination of Planned Communities
Section 5201 - Creation of planned community
Section 5202 - Unit boundaries
Section 5203 - Construction and validity of declaration and bylaws
Section 5204 - Description of units
Section 5205 - Contents of declaration; all planned communities
Section 5206 - Contents of declaration for flexible planned communities
Section 5207 - Leasehold planned communities
Section 5208 - Allocation of votes and common expense liabilities
Section 5209 - Limited common elements
Section 5210 - Plats and plans
Section 5211 - Conversion and expansion of flexible planned communities
Section 5212 - Withdrawal of withdrawable real estate
Section 5213 - Alteration of units
Section 5214 - Relocation of boundaries between units
Section 5215 - Subdivision or conversion of units
Section 5216 - Easement for encroachments
Section 5217 - Declarant offices, models and signs
Section 5218 - Easement to facilitate completion, conversion and expansion
Section 5219 - Amendment of declaration
Section 5220 - Termination of planned community
Section 5221 - Rights of secured lenders