Co-Housing Rules

Based on Those of Tierra Nueva Cohousing, Located in Oceano, CA

1. Be conscientious in attending community meetings.
2. Take responsibility for communicating my ideas and my feelings to others.
3. Contribute time and energy in the form of work parties, chores. Negotiate in advance any reduction in my hours or terms of participation that I may need or want.
4. Serve as a contributing member of a committee or work team. Be open and conscientious regarding my financial responsibilities.
5. Inform the community as early in advance as possible about
   • a guest who will stay for an extended period of time
   • any change in my personal situation that affects the community and/or my ability to contribute to it.
6. Promptly inform the appropriate people about any violence or serious violations of these rules that I witness.

Matters of Respect

• Physical respect
  • I will respect personal boundaries
  • I will touch others appropriately
  • I will refrain from violence
• Emotional respect
  • I will respect others' feelings and emotions
  • I will take responsibility for my own feelings and emotions.
• Verbal respect
  • I will be honest
  • I will use respectful forms of communication with others
  • I will hear what others say to me
• Territorial respect
  • I will respect my own and others' right to privacy, solitude, quite, and security in our private spaces
  • I will negotiate the use of community common space
• Diversity
  • I will respect the diversity of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, spiritual practice, and physical and mental capabilities
• Material goods
  • I will care for property, whether owned privately or by the community
• Community
  • I will respect the community and its organizational structure
  • I will respect the community decision-making process