D.M. from Monroe County, Florida writes:
Dear Mister Condo,
Can an individual member privately reserve (book) a common area?
Mister Condo replies:
D.M., common areas are under the control of the Board and their use is described by the association’s governing documents and managed by the Board. If the rules are silent on the subject, the Board can make the decision on whether or not to allow the common areas to be reserved by either an association member or someone from outside the community. Let’s say the association has a pool and several tented canopies and tables around the pool that would hold 20 people or so. Perhaps a unit owner within the association would like to hold a birthday party or such and asks to reserve the canopy. The association could allow such reservation and even charge a fee for doing so, creating an income opportunity for the association as well. This is a common practice, in my experience. All the best!