Residential community association

A Residential community association (RCA), private-street association, or common property institution is a local provision unit. Residents can become members of the association just as one takes up residence within a municipality, except that property ownership is a criteria of membership within an RCA. RCAs are sometimes referred to as "private governments".

RCAs provide goods and services to their members via mandatory assessments on homeowners, not unlike property taxes. Nonpayment can result in a lien against one's property.

There are at least 400 private-street associations within St. Louis County, Missouri. These organizations limit street access by closing and barricading streets that would normally be used by arterial traffic, perform street and sidewalk repairs, cleaning, snow removal, lighting, mowing, and trimming.

Courts have, probably unanamiously, ruled that RCAs do not have the right to form their own government or micronation.

See also: business improvement district, political science, special-purpose district, home owners association