The Arizona Nonprofit Corporation Act oversees HOAs in terms of business organization and practices. Arizona inium associations can be formed as for-profit or non-profit corporations or as unincorporated groups.
The ARS grants the board specific powers such as the ability to foreclose on a house for unpaid liens and establish rules concerning the exterior appearance of homes and other community-related restrictions. HOAs in Arizona are also bound by rules set forth in their own governing documents.
Is there any way to get around HOA rules? While you can propose rule changes through proper channels, there's no legal way to simply ignore or “get around” the HOA's covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that you agreed to when purchasing in the community.
To dissolve an HOA will generally require a vote to dissolve it, usually with around 80% advocating dissolution. There are still other issues that you'll deal with, particularly the ongoing financial assessments.
A proper HOA request letter should include: Clear headers with date and contact information. The property address and owner details. A specific subject line identifying the request type. A concise project description. Relevant timeline and completion dates. Supporting documentation references.
An HOA does not have the power to evict homeowners from their homes. However, an HOA can take legal action against a homeowner who violates the community's bylaws or CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions), which can result in fines or in extreme cases, foreclosure.
A quorum of the board should not be using email to discuss or make decisions on association business, and the use of unanimous consent in lieu of board meeting is potentially subject to legal challenge.
If a homeowner disagrees with an HOA decision, they can appeal the decision to the HOA board or take legal action against the HOA if their rights have been violated.
Here are some of the documents you can ask for as a homeowner: CC&Rs: The covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) outline the rules and regulations of the community. Bylaws: The bylaws establish operational procedures for the HOA, like voting rights, elections, meetings, powers of the board, and more.
Lien Process Limitations: In Arizona, an HOA cannot foreclose on a home solely for unpaid fines (Arizona Revised Statutes 33-1807). While unpaid fines can lead to legal action or liens on the property, foreclosure is only permitted for unpaid assessments (like maintenance fees or dues), not fines alone.