<section number="57-8-16.5"><effdate>5/6/2026</effdate><histories><history>Amended by Chapter <modchap sess="2026GS">62</modchap>, 2026 General Session</history><modyear>2026</modyear></histories><catchline>Period of administrative control -- Renewal or ratification of contracts -- Failure to establish association or committee -- Declarant responsibilities.</catchline><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)"><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(a)">The declaration may authorize the declarant, a managing agent, or a person that the declarant selects, to:<subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(a)(i)">appoint and remove some or all of:<subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(a)(i)(A)">the members of the management committee; or</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(a)(i)(B)">the officers of the association of unit owners; or</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(a)(ii)">exercise powers and responsibilities otherwise assigned by the declaration and by this chapter to the association of unit owners, the association's officers, or the management committee.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(b)">If the declaration authorizes the declarant to conduct the actions described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-16.5(1)(a)(i)">(1)(a)(i)</xref> during the period of administrative control described in this Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-16.5(1)" start="0">(1)</xref>, the declarant may appoint the declarant's officers, employees or agents as members of the management committee or as officers of the association of unit owners.</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(c)">An amendment to the declaration may not increase the scope of the authorization described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-16.5(1)(b)">(1)(b)</xref>, unless all unit owners unanimously consent to the amendment.</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(d)">The authorization described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-16.5(1)(b)">(1)(b)</xref> terminates on the day on which the first of the following occurs:<subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(d)(i)">the time limit set by the declaration expires, that may not exceed:<subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(d)(i)(A)">for an expandable condominium, six years;</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(d)(i)(B)">for a condominium project containing any convertible land, four years; or</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(d)(i)(C)">for any other condominium project, three years;</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(d)(ii)">units to which three-fourths of the undivided interest in the common areas and facilities appertain have been conveyed; or</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(1)(d)(iii)">all additional land has been added to the project and all convertible land has been converted, whichever last occurs.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(2)">If entered into during the period of administrative control contemplated by Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-8-16.5(1)" start="0">(1)</xref>, a management contract, lease of recreational areas or facilities, or any other contract or lease designed to benefit the declarant which was executed by or on behalf of the association of unit owners or the unit owners as a group is not binding after the period of administrative control unless unit owners of units to which a majority of the votes in the association of unit owners appertains renew and ratify the management contract, lease of recreational areas or facilities, or any other contract or lease designed to benefit the declarant.</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(3)">If the association of unit owners or management committee is not in existence or does not have officers at the time of the creation of a condominium project, the declarant shall, until there is an association or management committee with these officers, have the power and responsibility to act in all instances where this chapter or the declaration requires action by the association of unit owners, the management committee, or any of the officers of the association of unit owners or the management committee.</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(4)">This section shall be strictly construed to protect the rights of the unit owners.</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(5)">During the period of administrative control, the declarant shall:<subsection number="57-8-16.5(5)(a)">use reasonable care and prudence in managing and maintaining the common areas and facilities;</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(5)(b)">establish a sound fiscal basis for the association by imposing and collecting assessments and establishing reserves for the maintenance and replacement of common areas and facilities;</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(5)(c)">for a service that the association is or will be obligated to provide, disclose to the unit owners the amount of money the declarant provides for or subsidizes for that service;</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(5)(d)">comply with and enforce the terms of the declaration, including design controls, land-use restrictions, and the payment of assessments; and</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(5)(e)">disclose to the unit owners all material facts and circumstances affecting:<subsection number="57-8-16.5(5)(e)(i)">the condition of the property that the association is responsible for maintaining; and</subsection><subsection number="57-8-16.5(5)(e)(ii)">the financial condition of the association, including the interest of the declarant and the declarant's affiliates in a contract, lease, or other agreement entered into by the association.</subsection></subsection></subsection></section>