2014 Legislation: AB 2561 – Voiding HOA Landscaping Rules

AB 2561 would void HOA governing document provisions, such as landscaping rules or bans on commercial activity, that prohibit any homeowner from planting a personal or commercial garden of edible […]

2014 Legislation: SB 1026 – Foreclosure Action Notices

SB 1026 would permit an association to serve an owner or owner’s representative with notice of a foreclosure action  to collect delinquent assessments by posting a copy of the notice on […]

2014 Legislation: AB 1888 – Transfer Tax Disclosure

From the Legislative Counsel’s Digest: The Documentary Transfer Tax Act authorizes the board of supervisors of a county or city and county to impose a tax with expect to specified […]

2014 Legislation: SB 1144 – Drought and Under-watering Fines

This bill proposes a temporary exemption for homeowners who could be fined for under-watering their plants or yards. From the Legislative Counsel’s Digest: This bill would prohibit an association from […]

2014 Legislation: AB 2100 – Drought and Under-watering Fines

AB 2100 prohibits an association from fining its members for reducing the watering of their lawns or other vegetation during a drought.

2014 Legislation: AB 1360 – Electronic Voting

This bill authorizes an association to conduct elections or other membership balloting by electronic voting. It also requires an association to provide each member with an opportunity to indicate that […]

2014 Legislation: AB 2104 – HOA Regulation of Turf

Update: The Govenor signed the bill on 9/18. This bill would expand the options of homeowners who want to plant water-efficient landscape by further limiting possible restrictions in an association’s […]

2014 Legislation: SB 992 – Drought and Under-watering Fines

SB 992 went into immediate effect on Sept. 18, 2014, superseding AB 2100 because it amended the same section of law, Civil Code Section 4735. SB 992 is identical to AB 2100 except […]

2014 Legislation: SB 391 – Fees on Recorded Documents

In order to fund affordable housing, this bill would impose a fee for all documents that must be recorded in California, including governing documents. From the Legislative Counsel’s Digest: The […]

2013 Legislation: SB 750

This bill deals with water sub-meters and meters. While the bill intended to address landlords and tenants, the language did not exempt common interest developments. Ultimately, the bill failed passage […]

Common Sense: Balancing Responsibility and Authority in HOAs

There is a tendency in many people to equate responsibility with power. They are clearly not the same. Responsibility is a legal obligation. Power is legal authority. A popular maxim […]

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HOA Taxes: Deadlines, Forms, and Tips

Associations, like all other businesses, are required to file taxes. Here is a brief summary of 8 tax reporting and filing requirements for your association. 

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A Guide to Rain Gutter Screens

Rain gutter screens offer the hope of reduced maintenance. But our experience from installing and removing gutter screens for over forty years indicates that sometimes they actually do reduce gutter […]

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Governing Document Amendments: Development Process and Court Intervention

To amend your HOA’s governing documents, you must begin by developing and presenting the amendments to the members. And sometimes, when a vote cannot be obtained, associations can use the […]

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Homeowner Association Financial Analysis: Part I

Published in the ECHO Journal, February 2007 One-Year Data Comparisons In the fall of 2005, my “staff” (two teen-aged sons) and I developed a spreadsheet containing financial information from all […]

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New State Certification Requirements for Electricians

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2007 Legislation was passed in 1999 requiring all electricians who work for a C-10 electrical contractor to be certified by the state of California. […]

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2006 Statute and Case Law Update: Part I

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2007 This summary of case law and legislative developments distills the legal developments in the 2006 calendar year. In Part I—Case Law, summaries are […]

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Homeowner Association Financial Analysis: Part II

Published in the ECHO Journal, March 2007 Editor’s Note: Part I of this article that looked at one-year cost comparisons from 60 associations appeared in the February issue of the Journal. […]

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Have Truck, Laptop & Cell Phone—Will Travel

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2007 The Best Firm to Serve Your Needs May Not be Local The homeowner association service market is a very specialized market. The typical […]

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Owner of Record

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2007 It comes up all the time. A resident wants to attend and participate at a board meeting or wants to serve on the […]

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Getting Your HOA to “On Time and On Budget!”

An effective construction manger will display great strength through respectful and clear communication skills, will keep the HOA board informed, will create and maintain a cooperative environment, and will be […]

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2006 Statute and Case Law Update: Part II

Published in the ECHO Journal, April 2007 This summary of case law and legislative developments distills the legal developments in the 2006 calendar year. In Part II—Statutory Law, the principal […]

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