2015 Legislation – AB 786 – Recycled Water and Drought-Related Fines

Existing law prohibits HOAs for fining owners who underwater their landscaping during a drought. This bill would allow fines in associations where recycled water is used for all irrigation.

2015 Legislation – AB 349 – Mandatory Approval of Turf in HOAs

AB 349 requires HOAs to approve the use artificial grass or turf in all circumstances, even where reasonable low water-using alternative landscapes exist. ECHO opposed AB 349.

2015 Legislation – SB 655 – Moldy Buildings Deemed Substandard

This bill specifies that visible or otherwise demonstrable mold growth could cause a building in which such a condition is found to be deemed substandard.

2015 Legislation – AB 1335 – Charging Fees on Recorded Documents to Fund Affordable Housing

In order to fund affordable housing, this bill would impose a $75 fee whenever a document is recorded in California. ECHO opposes this bill.

2015 Legislation – AB 1152 – Limiting Construction Defect Lawsuits for HOAs

This bill narrows the options for HOAs seeking recovery for construction defects. ECHO opposes this bill.

2015 Legislation – SB 47 – Analyzing the Health and Environmental Impact of Turf

SB 47 would have required and funded a study to analyze the environmental and health impacts of synthetic turf.

2015 Legislation – SB 244 – Mobilehome Parks’ Right to Go to Court

Existing law treats legal actions regarding rule violations in mobilehome parks as limited civil cases. This bill seeks to extend the operations of this law indefinitely. 

2015 Legislation – SB 419 – Mobile Home “For Sale” Signs

SB 419 would permit the use of yard-arm style “for sale” signs in mobile home parks, some of which are homeowners associations.

2015 Legislation – SB 328 – Notice of Pesticide Use by Landlords

SB 328 would require that a landlord or the landlord’s authorized agent provide a current tenant with notice about the use of pesticides.

2015 Legislation – SB 290 – Serving Owners in Foreclosure Proceedings

Now a two-year bill, this legislation would allow the HOA to serve the owner by “substituted service,” a less restrictive process. ECHO supports this bill.

Who Should Make Decisions in HOAs: the Board or the Members?

Many people have observed that community associations are actually “mini-governments.”  The “citizens” (owners) elect “officials” (directors) to make both small and large decisions affecting their lives and assets.  These decisions […]

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California Drought: What Can Your HOA Do to Save Water?

With California facing a historic drought, both individuals and HOAs must work together to conserve water. Water conservation means knowing how to efficiently water your lawn and best practices for […]

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11 Essential Clauses for Construction Contracts in HOAs

Board members should be aware of these key contract provisions to include in agreements between homeowners associations and contractors. These terms cover everything from liability to attorney’s fees, and give […]

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7 Quick Tips on HOAs and Project Permits

HOA boards and owners should understand construction permit basics: deadlines, budgets, liability, and other aspects of project permitting that they can (and should) control.

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Electronic Recordings During HOA Board Meetings

Should Individuals be Allowed to Record HOA Board Meetings? Drama! As the meeting starts the Directors and manager notice an owner pull out a handheld digital recorder and push the start […]

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How to Fund a Lawsuit for Your HOA

The question of how a community association will pay for a lawsuit must be decided by the board when the need for litigation arises. Depending on whether the HOA is […]

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Under the Surface: Hidden Issues in Construction

Published in the ECHO Journal, February 2014 Buildings are always talking to us…it just may take a “building whisperer” to hear what they are saying. Of the many things buildings […]

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Fiduciary Responsibility of Association Directors

The law of fiduciary responsibility can be viewed as having two purposes. The first is moral or educational in nature. The law sets a standard for appropriate conduct of association […]

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Cost of Earthquake Insurance for HOAs in California

Earthquake risk keeps growing in California, making earthquake insurance a viable option for HOAs and condominium owners. Learn about the costs of insurance premiums, deductibles, and the types of homeowner […]

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Basic Homeowner Association Income Taxes

Published in the ECHO Journal, January 2014 Before jumping into the discussion of homeowner association income taxes, it helps if you get a limited understanding of the tax history. Understanding […]

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A New Design for Leadership

Published in the ECHO Journal, January 2014 Policy in this context is a written statement that causes others to take action in the attainment of a stated expectation. Governance is […]

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HOA Duty to Address the Upstairs Unit’s Noisy Floors

HOAs of multi-level condominiums or other developments are probably familiar with nuisances caused by noisy neighbors, with a majority of complaints coming from unapproved flooring. Associations have a legal responsibility […]

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