Though corporate status is not required, associations incorporate to avail themselves of certain legal protections afforded to corporations under California law.
To become a recognized legal entity, the HOA must file its Articles of Incorporation with the California Secretary of State. These filings create a public HOA record and may include financial statements and dissolution records.
What Happens if Nobody Runs for the Board - Coast Management of California. Directors of HOA boards continue to serve until they are replaced at the next election. If no one runs for the board, existing board members can serve in perpetuity.
In 2024, the California legislature passed an amendment that allowed online elections to be held within HOAs. It recognized that this could open the door to digital vote manipulation within the HOA's management, though, so the state mandated that each HOA election needed to have an independent inspector of elections.
Annual Registration: In California, incorporated homeowners associations must file two forms each year to register and perpetuate its existence: (i) it must file a Form SI-CID with the Secretary of State annually within 90 days of the anniversary of the filing of its Articles of Incorporation; and (ii) it must file a ...
HOAs are usually governed by a board of directors or governors that is elected by the homeowners to make decisions about the HOA and enforce its rules. Most HOAs in California are set up as nonprofit mutual benefit corporations, but some may be structured differently.
Many HOAs maintain a website where governing documents are posted. To find HOA rules and regulations online: Navigate to the HOA's official website. Look for sections labeled “Documents,” “Governing Documents,” or “Rules and Regulations.”
Filing a lawsuit against an HOA is typically done in small claims court. The first step is to determine how much compensation is required. Small claims is bound by a limit for damages, and any cases seeking damages above this amount must either waive the excess or file in regular court instead.
What are unenforceable HOA rules? Keep you out of court. Hush up litigation. Discriminate indiscriminately. Enter your home without cause or notice. String you out on the (clothes)line. Fine you for fun. Change rules on the fly. Demand you take down your dish.