The CC&Rs must be recorded with the county recorder's office in order to create certain restrictions on the property and provide recorded notice of the contractual obligations on the deed to prospective buyers. You should be able to find a copy of the CC&Rs on your county assessor's official government website.
In many states, covenants only last 30 years, becoming unenforceable after they expire. However, North Carolina isn't one of these states.
An HOA's governing documents are usually in the form of a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and bylaws. The CC&Rs explain the rules of the HOA community, while the bylaws cover how the HOA operates.
To find out whether a property is subject to covenants, reviewing the property's deeds is often a good place to start. You may also want to ask your real estate attorney to help. Keep in mind that HOA rules can vary in strictness, and they may not suit everyone.
If you can't find them, contact your real estate agent or title company; they should have copies. Contact the HOA: If you don't have the documents or need more information, contact your HOA directly. They can provide you with the latest version of the covenants and any updates or amendments.
What are unenforceable HOA rules? Keep you out of court. Hush up litigation. Discriminate indiscriminately. Enter your home without cause or notice. String you out on the (clothes)line. Fine you for fun. Change rules on the fly. Demand you take down your dish.
The local law supersedes the rules and regulations of the HOA, meaning that HOAs must ensure they are operating under the law.
In Massachusetts, homeowners' associations, also called HOAs, are not governed by a particular law in the way that inium associations are. Generally, iniums are preferred by developers when trying to create housing arrangements with shared common spaces among different unit dwellers.
The state ranked seventh nationally for the number of associations by the Foundation for Community Association Research, a nonprofit organization that focuses on community research in the homeowner and inium association industry. The organization reports that Massachusetts has 11,800 associations.
Legal Framework Governing HOAs in Massachusetts In Massachusetts, homeowners' associations (HOAs) are subject to a robust legal framework. This framework not only aligns with federal regulations but also includes state-specific laws designed to regulate the formation, management, and operation of these associations.