Who owns the land on which a high-rise condominium is built?

The ownership of the land on which a high-rise condominium is built is typically held by the individual unit owners. This is because condominiums operate under a legal structure where each unit owner holds title to their individual unit and shares ownership of common areas and facilities within the building. The land itself is considered a part of the condominium project and is jointly owned by all the unit owners as a whole, often managed through a homeowners' association (HOA) that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the owners regarding the common property.

Developers may initially own the land, especially during the construction phase, but once the project is completed and sold as individual units, ownership transfers to the buyers. Although tenants in rental properties may have certain rights, they do not own the land or any part of the building. Local government might have certain regulatory authority, but they do not hold ownership of the private property unless through eminent domain or other specific circumstances. Thus, individual unit owners represent true ownership of the land in a condominium setup.