The majority of the time, HOA board members can meet in private, but there are important considerations to bear in mind to ensure openness, adherence to association rules, and compliance with local laws. Private conversations can be beneficial but must be conducted with care and courtesy.
Email Discussions Outside of Board Meetings are Permitted Although the Open Meeting Act prohibits the board from acting on items of Association business outside a board meeting…it does not prohibit the board from discussing the items outside a meeting.” (LNSU #1, LLC v. Alta Del Mar Coastal Community Assn (2023).)
The new HOA law in California, passed in September 2024, includes amendments to the Davis-Stirling Act of 1985. These amendments make it possible for HOAs to conduct elections online rather than through costly and time-consuming paper balloting.
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.
Rules and Guidelines for HOA Lawsuits Individual members of the HOA board cannot typically be sued; however, the board as a whole functions as a single entity that can be held legally liable in court. Prior to suing a California HOA, it is wise to attempt other types of resolution.
The number is usually five. Very small associations sometimes call for three directors, and very large associations may have seven or more.
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.
The winding up process includes, among other things, giving notice of the dissolution to creditors of the HOA (Corporations Code § 8618), paying all known liabilities and debts (Corporations Code §§ 8713, 8714), selling assets (Corporations Code § 8710), and distributing any remaining assets to homeowners.
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.
California Secretary of State Filings This process legalizes the HOA and creates a public record of its existence. The filings include not only the Articles of Incorporation but can also encompass records of financial statements and any potential dissolution of the HOA.