Governance Documents

The Home Owner Association (HOA) legal documents include the Condominium Declaration, Bylaws, Policies, and Guidelines. The minutes are also HOA documents.

Policies are the documents that define the condominium facilities and the rights and responsibilities of owners and residents. They are legally binding, in contrast to guidelines which are not.

The Condominium Declaration is the document filed by the developer to create the condominium. It describes the property, defines limited and common elements, specifies what an owner owns, and the percentage of ownership assigned to each unit. The Declaration, including the percentage interest, is unchangeable unless the condominium is dissolved and reformed.

The Bylaws specify how the Condominium will be operated, including how it will be maintained, the rights and responsibilities of members, and restrictions on use of the property. The Bylaws can be amended by the owners as specified in the Bylaws and ratified by the Board. “Ratification” is assurance that the changes were adopted by the membership in accordance with the procedures specified in the Bylaws.

Policies are the equivalent of the Community Rules referred to in the Bylaws, and are “legally binding” in th same way as the Bylaws. Policies are adopted by and can be modified by the membership subject to ratification by the Board. Policies govern the day-to-day expectations of of residents. Policies affect participation in the community more than the facilities and finances.

The Declaration, Bylaws, and the Policies are included in the Resale Packet given to each homeowner when they purchase their condominium unit. Purchase of a unit also means acceptance of the requirements and implicit expectations of the Declaration, Bylaws and Policies.

Guidelines are community agreements relating to various community activities and responsibilities including reserving, using, and cleaning the common house and guest rooms. They also must have the consent of the membership but cover things that are less crucial to the functioning of the community.

To find a specific policy, please enter keywords or the title in the Search Box or visit the Site Map to select a policy by name.