Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
In 2024, New Jersey Assemblywoman Annette Quijano introduced legislation (Bill A2449), which, if passed, would require community association board members to undergo board member training. While the bill is gaining traction...more
Well-manicured lawns, beautiful entranceways, uniformity of appearance, security cameras, and clutter- free home exteriors are but a few of the many benefits of living in a community controlled by a “homeowners’ association...more
This year at the 2023 Community Associations Institute (CAI) Law Seminar in New Orleans, Louisiana, one breakout session focused on Boards of Directors conducting Association business electronically through various modern...more
All community associations, at least annually, are faced with action items requiring a vote of their membership. For example, community association membership participation is necessary on an annual basis to elect the...more
Many homeowners in North Carolina experience issues with excessive surface water flow and localized nuisance flooding after rain events. How communities deal with these problems was the focus of Ward and Smith's latest...more
In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Virginia General Assembly had a busy 2021 session that consisted of a regular session and a subsequent special session during which it passed many different pieces of legislation that...more
It is that time of year. Summer vacations are in the books, schools are in session, and pumpkin spice lattes are back on tap. These signs of Fall also mean many Virginia community associations are in budget season....more
Surfside Collapse – what we know so far: On Thursday, June 24, 2021, at approximately 1:25 a.m., Champlain Towers South, a twelve-story beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida, partially...more
A planned community developer needs to control operation and administration of the covenants and community association for some period of time to ensure orderly development and sale of project. The developer has invested...more
Residents of planned communities often must obtain approval prior to making any modifications to their homes and lots. Through their declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions - commonly referred to as the...more
Since March 2020, society has learned how to navigate through and adjust to many upheavals and changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is certainly true for community associations conducting business and carrying out...more
People often view Community Associations as simple collections of rule-obsessed homeowners that do little more than debate the color of the flowers under the monument signs leading into the community. But at their best,...more
Nearly 30 percent of North Carolina's population lives in a community association of some sort, be that a condominium or single-family community. Yet, confusion among the general population about the nature of community...more
The unfortunate reality for many community associations and their boards of directors is that at some point in their existence they will be sued. When that happens, there are a number of basic but important "to-do's"...more
The Board of Directors for a Community Association functions in a very similar capacity as the Board of a standard corporation. Approximately 95% of all decisions to be made on behalf of a Community Association will be...more
North Carolina has the third most planned communities in the United States after California and Florida. All of these planned communities typically evolve in a similar three-step process. First, a real estate developer...more
Congratulations! You just purchased your first home in a planned community and became a member of a community association... So now what? You have automatically become a member of the association within your...more
Floridians who were of age during the 2000 U.S. Presidential election know firsthand how controversial close elections, disputed results, and recounts can be. Disputed homeowners’ association and condominium association...more
...Owners of adjoining lots in subdivisions often decide to combine them for a variety of reasons. But, in a planned community governed by an owners' association, the owner may have to obtain consent and the effect the...more
1. Planning - A. As far in advance as possible (preferably immediately after last annual meeting). - Set date (must comply with Bylaws) - Reserve meeting space (and tables, chairs, audio-visual equipment,...more
For those who are board members and officers of community associations, there is a yearly rhythm to the orderly conduct of the association that needs to be maintained. Minding those yearly issues and doing so in a timely...more