The local law supersedes the rules and regulations of the HOA, meaning that HOAs must ensure they are operating under the law.
No, there is not a way to ``leave the HOA'' without moving. The HOA covenants are tied to the property permanently.
Once you buy a home that's part of an HOA, you automatically become a member of the HOA. HOA rules are legally binding, and you must adhere to all rules and regulations in the governing document. Yes, there are bylaws that you may not like, but there are no HOA loopholes.
You can contact your local government office for assistance. For example, you can visit the California Attorney General's HOA Consumer Information page for more details. Online Databases: There are online databases and resources that compile HOA documents. These can be helpful if your HOA participates in such programs.
The best way to strategize on short-term rental restrictions is to speak to a board member. At the same time, you can consult the CC&Rs' (Covenants, conditions, and restrictions) advice. Knowing the potential risks of getting around HOA's restrictions is important. And we highly recommend doing it the legal way.
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.
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.
An HOA has the authority to enforce the rules and regulations of the community using the community rules, or “bylaws and covenants.” These rules are considered “agreed upon” since homeowners approve them through board-elected representatives.
Laws always supersede governing documents IF they conflict and the law applies to your HOA. In California, the Davis-Stirling Act may take precedent over general corporation codes because it's specific to HOAs.