To find an association's corporate status, contact information, list of board members, current community manager (if applicable), and Articles of Incorporation, one should visit the state agency responsible for overseeing corporations in their state.
In some states, such as California, HOA bylaws are considered public record and must be made available upon request.
The main difference is that covenants dictate property-related restrictions, while bylaws govern how the HOA operates — things like board elections, meeting procedures, and voting rights. Because covenants are recorded with the property deed and tied to real estate law, they generally hold more weight.
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.
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.
A board may take action (vote on a decision) without a meeting. A board meeting is a gathering of the board in a way that the board members can communicate live and in real time.
Exploring the Public Record Status of HOA Bylaws In some states, such as California, HOA bylaws are considered public record and must be made available upon request.
There is no need for board meetings to follow a formal order. HOWEVER, meetings should always have minutes. Minutes are, amongst other things, a CYA device for the board, so it is imperative to have them.
Section 4900 of the Act says that all HOA board meetings must be open to all association members, with a few exceptions for private sessions. In California, executive sessions are closed-door talks that only board members, and certain other people can attend.
For instance, California's Civil Code Section 4925 states that members can attend any non-executive portion of board meetings. For most HOAs, association members are allowed to attend most meetings.