In California, homeowners associations can be very complex organizations, taking on many of the same roles and responsibilities of cities. However, most HOAs are much smaller organizations managing a small portfolio of assets that includes streets, sidewalks, gates, common areas, and some recreational amenities.
There is a significant amount of knowledge required to be an effective board member within a homeowner’s association in California. Those residents new to HOAs may be unfamiliar with the HOA-related law, finances, and asset management. That body of knowledge is continually evolving due to changes and improvements in technology, facilities management, social norms, and laws at the city, county, state, and federal levels.
Fortunately, there is a significant body of literature to educate and train new and continuing boards. That knowledge and information comes from both non-profit and private sector organizations serving homeowners association boards. Frequently, these organizations include HOA association organizations, attorney’s officers, financial and reserve consultants, and vendors.
An Essential Guide For Homeowners Leaders provides a clear understanding of associations’ business. This guide explains how associations are organized, governed, and managed. The guide provides perspective on how associations can develop and maintain a cohesive, supportive society within their boundaries so that everyone can fully enjoy and benefit from community association living. To download a copy of the guide Click Here.
Resource Websites
The information on websites is constantly changing, and therefore, these links generally connect you to a website homepage, where you may need to explore the site to find the information you are seeking. We suggest you use the search function included on most websites to find the information you need. Sometimes, you may be linked to a specific content page or document.
Community Association Institute (CAI) is the national organization that provides information and education for community associations and the professionals that support them. They also have an extensive bookstore for the industry. Click Here.
CAI Coachella Valley Chapter serves the educational, business, and networking needs of community associations in the Coachella Valley. Click Here.
CAICV-HOA Leaders Forum is an online forum of the Homeowner Leader Committee of CAI-CV created to exchange information and ideas.Click Here.
Desert Cities Homeowners Association Council was a forum created to exchange ideas and to inform and educate the leadership of member homeowners associations. The Council included HOA’s from Palm Springs and Cathedral City and was organized around 2008.. The Council was known as the Cathedral City HOA Council until August 2018. The reports from Council meetings frequently contained information and reports of interest to homeowners and association officers. It is believed that the Council unofficially merged with the CAI HOA leaders group sometime between 2017 and 2019. A copy of the Association’s minutes/agendas is archived here on the Montage Website. Click Here.
Executive Council of Home Owners (ECHO) is a Board members resource focusing on materials to help Board members understand and execute their responsibilities. The site provides access to professional resources and provides insights into homeowner association-related legislative advocacy. They also have developed an excellent list of publications for Boards. Click Here.
Davis-Stirling.com is a Southern California HOA-oriented legal firm that provides an expansive knowledge base for searching industry civil code, case histories, forms, and the California civil code. This firm provides an informative newsletter that offers timely answers to legal and legislative issues of immediate concern or interest to boards and homeowners. Click Here.
California Association of Community Managers (CACM) is a professional association serving California community management professionals. Click Here.
California Legislation is a link to the California Legislative information site where you can search for information on the status of pending and current legislation. Click Here.
California Secretary of State is a link to the California Secretary of State. Click Here.
California Code is a link to the California Legislative Information page where the entire set of California Codes is located, including:
Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act, Cal. Civ. Code §§4000 – 6150, about laws governing California homeowners’. Click Here.
California Solar Rights – Contains information on any prohibitions on using a solar energy system or electric vehicle charging station. Cal. Civ. Code §§714, 4745.
Certified Common Interest Community Manager, Cal. Bus. and Prof’l. Code §§ 11500 to 11506 includes standards of practice for certified common interest development managers. The law is administered by the California Bureau of Real Estate.
Homeowners’ Guide to HOA Laws in California – A guide to assist homeowners in understanding their legal rights and responsibilities as members of an association by explaining essential laws directly affecting the functions of California associations.
Federal Laws – In addition to state law regulations, the federal government has laws that govern the operation and management of associations in California.
Disclaimer
These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only for the benefit of board members and association members; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by the Montage at Mission Hills Homeowners Association of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. The Montage at Missoni Hills Homeowners Association bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
