LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeCivil CodeDiv. 4Pt. 5Ch. 8Art. 2§ 5660 Lien Notice Requirements

§ 5660 Lien Notice Requirements

Civil Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 5660 Lien Notice Requirements

Key Takeaways

  • •Before putting a lien on your home for unpaid debts, the association must warn you at least 30 days ahead by sending a certified letter.
  • •The warning letter must include a clear list of what you owe, like late fees, interest, and collection costs.
  • •You have the right to check the association’s records to make sure the debt is correct.
  • •You can ask for a meeting or dispute the debt before any foreclosure happens.

Example

If you live in a condo and miss paying your monthly fees, the association can’t just suddenly take your home.

They have to send you a letter 30 days before doing anything, telling you exactly how much you owe and giving you a chance to fix it or argue about it.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 5660 Lien Notice Requirements

At least 30 days prior to recording a lien upon the separate interest of the owner of record to collect a debt that is past due under Section 5650, the association shall notify the owner of record in writing by certified mail of the following: (a) A general description of the collection and lien enforcement procedures of the association and the method of calculation of the amount, a statement that the owner of the separate interest has the right to inspect the association records pursuant to Section 5205, and the following statement in 14-point boldface type, if printed, or in capital letters, if typed: “IMPORTANT NOTICE: IF YOUR SEPARATE INTEREST IS PLACED IN FORECLOSURE BECAUSE YOU ARE BEHIND IN YOUR ASSESSMENTS, IT MAY BE SOLD WITHOUT COURT ACTION.” (b) An itemized statement of the charges owed by the owner, including items on the statement which indicate the amount of any delinquent assessments, the fees and reasonable costs of collection, reasonable attorney’s fees, any late charges, and interest, if any. (c) A statement that the owner shall not be liable to pay the charges, interest, and costs of collection, if it is determined the assessment was paid on time to the association. (d) The right to request a meeting with the board as provided in Section 5665. (e) The right to dispute the assessment debt by submitting a written request for dispute resolution to the association pursuant to the association’s “meet and confer” program required in Article 2 (commencing with Section 5900) of Chapter 10. (f) The right to request alternative dispute resolution with a neutral third party pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 5925) of Chapter 10 before the association may initiate foreclosure against the owner’s separate interest, except that binding arbitration shall not be available if the association intends to initiate a judicial foreclosure. (Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. (AB 805) Effective January 1, 2013. Operative January 1, 2014, by Sec. 3 of Ch. 180.)

Last verified: January 21, 2026

Related Statutes

  • § 5650 Homeowner Assessment Collection Rules
  • § 5655 Payment Application And Receipts
  • § 5658 Disputed Association Charge Payments
  • § 5665 Homeowner Payment Plan Requests
  • § 5670 Lien Dispute Resolution Requirement

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Civil Code. Section 5660.
View Official Source