In some states, such as California, HOA bylaws are considered public record and must be made available upon request.
A corporation is required by California law to have at least three directors. However, the corporation may have one director if the corporation has only one shareholder; and the corporation must have at least two directors if the corporation has only two shareholders.
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 number is usually five. Very small associations sometimes call for three directors, and very large associations may have seven or more.
HOA Board Membership Numbers Typically, a board needs at least three members, but the maximum size will depend on state laws and the governing policies. HOA boards can expand where the demands and scope of the association increase due to new homes in the neighborhood or a larger number of residents.
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.
New California laws taking effect July 1, 2024 ban hidden fees, limit deposits to one month's rent and double the fines for illegal fireworks.
In general, California's HOA laws protect volunteer board members from personal liability. (Civ. Code §5800; Corp. Code §5047.5(b).)
In 2024, the California legislature passed an amendment that allowed online elections to be held within HOAs. It recognized that this could open the door to digital vote manipulation within the HOA's management, though, so the state mandated that each HOA election needed to have an independent inspector of elections.