Posted by Niki Tran | Oct 03, 2024 |
Beginning January 1, 2025, a significant change will reshape the way HOA elections are conducted in California. With the passage of AB 2159, homeowner associations (HOAs) will be able to conduct most elections electronically, offering a more efficient, convenient, and environmentally friendly pro...
Posted by Steven Banks | Sep 25, 2024 |
Under the federal Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”), entities such as corporations and limited liability companies must annually report business ownership information to the Department of Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”). Entities failing to comply can face harsh conseq...
Posted by Bradley Schuber | Aug 13, 2024 |
It's been nearly five years since Senate Bill 326, also known as the “Balcony Bill,” was approved by Governor Newsom. The Balcony Bill, which is codified in Civil Code Section 5551, requires homeowner associations in California to “…cause a reasonably competent and diligent visual inspection to b...
Posted by Niki Tran | Jul 16, 2024 |
In September 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") charged Aqua 388 Community Association ("Association") and its management company with disability discrimination for denying a homeowner, Dr. Emma Adams, a permanent parking space to accommodate her wheelchair-accessi...
Posted by Garrett Wait | Jun 18, 2024 |
Recently, some homeowners associations have reported criminal conduct within their communities and asked what their responsibility may be in fighting crime in their neighborhoods. First, boards and managers should understand that they are not law enforcement. Their ability to respond to criminal ...
Posted by Bradley Schuber | May 21, 2024 |
In California, homeowner associations are required to levy regular and special assessments to meet their obligations. However, unexpected expenses arise sometimes, so an association must increase regular assessments, levy special assessments, or both to meet its obligations. Under California law,...
Posted by Tyler Kerns | Apr 23, 2024 |
Assembly Bill (AB) 648 was signed by the Governor on September 22, 2023 and will amend existing Civil Code §4090 and add a new Civil Code §4926 effective January 1, 2024. This new legislation allows associations to conduct entirely remote meetings by teleconference/videoconference without the nee...
Posted by Niki Tran | Mar 19, 2024 |
In the ever-evolving landscape of homeowners association (HOA) laws and regulations, staying informed and compliant is crucial for the smooth operation of your community. The signing of Assembly Bill 1764 into law on October 11, 2023, which will take effect on January 1, 2024, brings changes to C...
Posted by Steven Banks | Feb 22, 2024 |
The Governor recently approved two Assembly bills regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs): AB 976 and AB 1033.
The Planning and Zoning Law provides for the creation of ADUs by local ordinance, or, if a local agency (city or county) has not adopted an ordinance, by ministerial approval, in acc...
Posted by Garrett Wait | Jan 10, 2024 |
In a new case, Lake Lindero Homeowner Association v. Barone, the Court of Appeals described and enshrined the interplay between the law and an association's bylaws. The Court also provided guidance regarding quorum requirements to associations dealing with recall elections.
In Lake Lindero, the ...
Posted by Bradley Schuber | Dec 14, 2023 |
Board members have a duty to protect the property rights of their association. Occasionally, neighboring property owners may attempt to acquire property rights over association property through adverse possession and prescriptive easements, which board members should safeguard against.
Advers...
Posted by Tyler Kerns | Nov 20, 2023 |
The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA” or “Act”) was enacted in 2021 as part of an effort to prevent money laundering, corruption, and tax fraud by imposing new reporting requirements for corporations that will take effect on January 1, 2024. The Act is codified in the Code of Federal Regulations ...
Posted by Steven Banks | Oct 31, 2023 |
In recent months, Farmers Insurance canceled insurance policies for condo complexes with hundreds of units in San Diego's Tierrasanta, Rancho Penasquitos, and Scripps Ranch communities. Formerly “good neighbor” State Farm Insurance announced it will no longer “be there” to sell casualty insurance...
Posted by Niki Tran | Sep 20, 2023 |
Recent events have brought board discussions via email under the spotlight, especially after the Court of Appeal's ruling LNSU #1, LLC v. Alta Del Mar Coastal Collection Community Association. The legal community has weighed in, offering insights, warnings, and advice on this topic. This article ...
Posted by Niki Tran | Aug 15, 2023 |
Tree disputes can be a source of frustration and conflict between neighbors and homeowner associations. These disputes often arise when a tree on one person's property damages another person's property. In such cases, it is important to understand who is responsible for the damages and what steps...
Posted by Garrett Wait | Jul 17, 2023 |
A bankruptcy case from the Northern District of California provided new restrictions for homeowners associations dealing with an owner's bankruptcy. In In re Sarah-Jane Parker, involving a years-long dispute between the Bayside Court Owners Association and an owner at the Association, the Court i...
Posted by Steven Banks | Jun 13, 2023 |
Some California cities have enacted ordinances to regulate the proliferation of short-term rentals. These ordinances often limit the number of homes that can be offered as short-term rentals by requiring licenses subject to random nonrenewal. The recent case of Hobbs v. City of Pacific Grove (202...
Posted by Bradley Schuber | May 25, 2023 |
Under California Law, a homeowner association may require its residents to temporarily vacate their homes for fumigation and tenting in order to treat for termites. More specifically, under California Civil Code Section 4785, an association may “…cause the temporary, summary removal of any occupa...
Posted by Niki Tran | Apr 24, 2023 |
Assembly Bill (AB) 1410, authored by Assembly Member Freddie Rodriguez, was signed into law on September 30, 2022, and took effect on January 1, 2023. This bill made three changes to existing laws impacting homeowner associations, specifically regarding usage of social media and online reso...
Posted by Tyler Kerns | Mar 06, 2023 |
Senate Bill 392 was legislation passed a year ago that, among other things, amended Civil Code §4040 regarding the definition of “individual delivery” or “individual notice” but delayed the effective date of that change to January 1, 2023.
The California Civil Code specifies that certain associa...
Posted by Garrett Wait | Feb 14, 2023 |
As Californians go green, electric cars and their necessary charging stations are becoming the focus of new legislation. In particular, Assembly Bill 1738 will require several state housing and building departments to develop mandatory building standards for certain electric vehicle charging stat...
Posted by Steven Banks | Jan 24, 2023 |
As the California legislature continues its efforts to address the shortage of housing in the state, the new year will usher in more revisions to the laws affecting accessory dwelling units (“ADUs”) and junior accessory dwelling units (“JADUs”). A number of the revisions expressly codify existing...
Posted by Niki Tran | Dec 12, 2022 |
An increasing number of board members are finding themselves in a position where they face unlawful harassment from their fellow homeowners/members. When this occurs, the law provides several safeguards to protect a board member from harassment by other members. A restraining order is the most co...
Posted by Tyler Kerns | Nov 29, 2022 |
Special assessments are sometimes necessary to cover unanticipated or underbudgeted expenses. If imposed in accordance with the applicable legal requirements, special assessments may be collected in the same manner as regular assessments. Too often, however, the first we (as the association's leg...
Posted by Steven Banks | Oct 18, 2022 |
In the recent unpublished case of Sunset Greens Homeowners Association v. Spagenski, the Fourth District Court of Appeal upheld a San Diego Superior Court judge's entry of summary judgment for a community association on a case involving a vicious dog. The association had sued after the defendant ...