Homeowners often ask whether local laws supersede the rules and regulations set forth by their homeowner association (HOA). The short answer is yes, local laws do supersede HOA rules.
The bylaws go into detail about individual roles, terms, how to elect the President, and may list board powers one by one. The Declarations define the use and occupancy rules of the units and common areas. Condo bylaws outline the remedies for breach of these rules.
More important, most inium documents were written by developer lawyers for the primary benefit of the developer. As a board member, you have a responsibility to ensure that owners can live with your condo documents. The declaration and bylaws of your association are your constitution.
In some states, such as California, HOA bylaws are considered public record and must be made available upon request. In other states, such as Virginia, HOA bylaws are not considered public record and therefore are not required to be made publicly available.
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.
Generally speaking, the declaration is the document that creates the inium. The bylaws spell out the day-to-day operations of the association. If your association is more than 10 years old and the bylaws have remained unchanged, board members may want to consider making updates.