Townhome communities have grown quickly across Gwinnett County, from Lilburn and Snellville to Lawrenceville and Duluth. From the street, two rows of attached homes can look identical. Legally, though, one might be a fee simple townhome community and the other a condominium. That difference decides which type of insurance policy you need and how much coverage you’re responsible for.
Two Common Ownership Structures in Georgia
| Fee Simple Townhome | Condominium | |
|---|---|---|
| What you typically own | The home and the land beneath it | Your unit, plus a share of common elements |
| Governing law in Georgia | Often a property owners’ association under the Georgia Property Owners’ Association Act, or a simpler HOA | The Georgia Condominium Act |
| Policy you usually need | A homeowners policy | A condo unit owner policy, often called an HO-6 |
| Roof and exterior | Often the owner’s responsibility, unless the HOA documents say otherwise | Often covered by the association’s master policy |
Every community is different, so the recorded documents control.
How to Find Out Which One You Own
- Check your deed and closing documents for terms like “unit” and “condominium”
- Look at the title of the community’s declaration
- Ask the HOA or management company for a copy of the master insurance certificate
- Review which parts of the building the association insures
Why It Matters
Choosing the wrong policy can leave gaps
A townhome owner with only a condo policy may not have enough coverage to rebuild the structure. A condo owner with a homeowners policy may be paying for coverage the master policy already provides, while missing coverage designed for condo owners.
Loss assessments still apply
Both structures can pass shared costs to owners, so loss assessment coverage deserves attention either way. Our post on loss assessment coverage explains more.
Garrison Insurance Group in Lilburn, GA can review your community documents and match you with the right condo insurance or homeowners policy. Policy terms vary. Owners across Lilburn, GA and Gwinnett County can reach out to Garrison Insurance Group anytime.
