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Do you need condo board approval to renovate your unit?

It depends on your condominium's own documents. The laws of California and Virginia each allow improvements or alterations within a unit that do not impair structural integrity, subject to the governing documents or condominium instruments, and both tie changes to exterior appearance to those documents. Florida law adds its own limits. The statutes are quoted below.

Source: California Civil Code 4760, California Legislative Information, read 22 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: Va. Code 55.1-1931, Alterations within units (Code of Virginia, Virginia's Legislative Information System), read 22 October 2026.

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By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Sources read: 22 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-22

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Key facts

What may you change inside a condo unit?

In our reading, work inside the unit that leaves the structure alone, unless your documents say otherwise. California Civil Code 4760(a)(1) and Va. Code 55.1-1931(A) each speak of improvements or alterations within the unit that do not impair structural integrity, and each starts from the governing documents or condominium instruments; both are quoted below.

Source: California Civil Code 4760, California Legislative Information, read 22 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: Va. Code 55.1-1931, Alterations within units (Code of Virginia, Virginia's Legislative Information System), read 22 October 2026.

California Civil Code 4760, read 22 October 2026 on the California Legislature's site, says: "(a) Subject to the governing documents and applicable law, a member may do the following:" "(1) Make any improvement or alteration within the boundaries of the member’s separate interest that does not impair the structural integrity or mechanical systems or lessen the support of any portions of the common interest development."

Source: California Civil Code 4760, California Legislative Information, read 22 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

Va. Code 55.1-1931, Alterations within units, part of the Condominium Act of Virginia, read 22 October 2026, says: "A. Except to the extent prohibited, restricted, or limited by the condominium instruments, any unit owner may make any improvements or alterations within his unit that do not impair the structural integrity of any structure or otherwise lessen the support of any portion of the condominium."

Source: Va. Code 55.1-1931, Alterations within units (Code of Virginia, Virginia's Legislative Information System), read 22 October 2026.

In our reading, the opening words of each section, the governing documents in California and the condominium instruments in Virginia, are where your own building can prohibit, restrict or limit this work, so the answer for your unit is in those papers.

Does changing how your unit looks from outside need approval?

It follows your documents in both states quoted here, and in California applicable law as well. California's 4760(b) and the second sentence of Virginia's 55.1-1931(A) each tie a change in exterior appearance to the governing documents or the condominium instruments, in their own words below.

Source: California Civil Code 4760, California Legislative Information, read 22 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).
Source: Va. Code 55.1-1931, Alterations within units (Code of Virginia, Virginia's Legislative Information System), read 22 October 2026.

California Civil Code 4760(b): "(b) Any change in the exterior appearance of a separate interest shall be in accordance with the governing documents and applicable provisions of law."

Source: California Civil Code 4760, California Legislative Information, read 22 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

Va. Code 55.1-1931(A), second sentence: "However, no unit owner shall do anything that would change the exterior appearance of his unit or of any other portion of the condominium except to such extent and subject to such conditions as the condominium instruments may specify."

Source: Va. Code 55.1-1931, Alterations within units (Code of Virginia, Virginia's Legislative Information System), read 22 October 2026.

What does Florida law say about alterations and hurricane shutters?

Florida Statutes 718.113 has one rule for the common elements and association property, and a separate duty for what a unit owner does within the unit; both passages are quoted below.

Source: Florida Statutes 718.113 (Online Sunshine, the Florida Legislature), read 22 October 2026.

Section 718.113(2)(a), read 22 October 2026 on the Florida Legislature's Online Sunshine site, says: "Except as otherwise provided in this section, there shall be no material alteration or substantial additions to the common elements or to real property which is association property, except in a manner provided in the declaration as originally recorded or as amended under the procedures provided therein. If the declaration as originally recorded or as amended under the procedures provided therein does not specify the procedure for approval of material alterations or substantial additions, 75 percent of the total voting interests of the association must approve the alterations or additions before the material alterations or substantial additions are commenced."

Source: Florida Statutes 718.113 (Online Sunshine, the Florida Legislature), read 22 October 2026.

Section 718.113(3), read the same day, says: "A unit owner shall not do anything within his or her unit or on the common elements which would adversely affect the safety or soundness of the common elements or any portion of the association property or condominium property which is to be maintained by the association."

Source: Florida Statutes 718.113 (Online Sunshine, the Florida Legislature), read 22 October 2026.

In our reading, the vote in the first passage is about the common elements and association property; the work inside your own unit is covered by the second passage and by whatever your declaration and rules add.

Not if they conform to the board's specifications, though the board may hold you to the building's existing look. Section 718.113(5) says each board must adopt hurricane protection specifications, and (5)(c) says a board may not refuse to approve hurricane protection by a unit owner which conforms to them; both are quoted below.

Source: Florida Statutes 718.113 (Online Sunshine, the Florida Legislature), read 22 October 2026.

Section 718.113(5), read 22 October 2026: "Each board of administration of a residential condominium or mixed-use condominium must adopt hurricane protection specifications for each building within each condominium operated by the association which may include color, style, and other factors deemed relevant by the board."

Source: Florida Statutes 718.113 (Online Sunshine, the Florida Legislature), read 22 October 2026.

Section 718.113(5)(c): "Notwithstanding any other provision in the residential condominium or mixed-use condominium documents, if approval is required by the documents, a board may not refuse to approve the installation or replacement of hurricane protection by a unit owner which conforms to the specifications adopted by the board. However, a board may require the unit owner to adhere to an existing unified building scheme regarding the external appearance of the condominium."

Source: Florida Statutes 718.113 (Online Sunshine, the Florida Legislature), read 22 October 2026.

Can you open a wall into a neighboring unit you bought?

In Virginia, the statute gives a unit owner that right, within limits. Va. Code 55.1-1931(B) covers an owner who acquires an adjoining unit and the intervening partition, and it names the bearing wall and bearing column limits; it is quoted below.

Source: Va. Code 55.1-1931, Alterations within units (Code of Virginia, Virginia's Legislative Information System), read 22 October 2026.

Va. Code 55.1-1931(B), read 22 October 2026: "B. If a unit owner acquires an adjoining unit, or an adjoining part of an adjoining unit, then such unit owner shall have the right to remove all or any part of any intervening partition or to create doorways or other apertures in such unit, notwithstanding the fact that such partition may in whole or in part be a common element, so long as no portion of any bearing wall or bearing column is weakened or removed and no portion of any common element other than that partition is damaged, destroyed, or endangered."

Source: Va. Code 55.1-1931, Alterations within units (Code of Virginia, Virginia's Legislative Information System), read 22 October 2026.

California's 4760(a)(2) is a separate paragraph on modifications to facilitate access; its item (D), read the same day, says: "(D) Any member who intends to modify a separate interest pursuant to this paragraph shall submit plans and specifications to the association for review to determine whether the modifications will comply with the provisions of this paragraph. The association shall not deny approval of the proposed modifications under this paragraph without good cause."

Source: California Civil Code 4760, California Legislative Information, read 22 October 2026 (our saved browser copy, as read on 2026-10-22).

Other states have their own condominium laws, which this page does not quote.

What should you gather before you ask the board?

Read your building's papers first, then put the plan in writing before any contractor starts. This is practical reasoning, not legal advice and not a finding from any agency.

  1. Get the declaration, bylaws and current rules from the association or its manager, and look for a renovation or alteration section and any application form.
  2. List what the work touches: walls, floors, plumbing and drain lines, electrical, windows, the balcony and anything shared with another unit.
  3. Ask the manager which of those items the documents treat as part of your unit and which as common elements.
  4. Send the application with drawings, the materials and the work hours, and ask how long the answer takes.
  5. Ask your local building department separately whether the job needs a permit.
  6. Keep the written answer and any conditions with your contract, and give your contractor a copy before the start date.

Who sees your contact details when you post on InstaBids?

Contact details stay hidden until the homeowner picks a contractor and they confirm the connection.

Source: InstaBids process and privacy, live-page excerpts, read 22 October 2026.

Post your job on InstaBids, and contractors can bid in writing on one written scope.

Homeowners anywhere in the US can post a job; once you send it, InstaBids finds contractors to bid on it.

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