Whether you hope to build a fence, reserve the clubhouse, or run for a seat on the board, it’s important to have quick access to information in your community. Much like county and municipal laws, HOA bylaws, CC&Rs, and other documents are made available to residents.
If you’re asking yourself, “how do I find my HOA information?” Fret not, there are a variety of ways in which you can access it. Here are your best bets.
1. The HOA’s Website
The ideal way to obtain HOA information, a dedicated HOA website can serve as the hub for all community-related concerns. In addition to streamlining payment procedures and uploading documents, an HOA website allows homeowners to interact more efficiently with one another and board members.
Generally, HOA websites will have:
- Forums: While some neighborhood-based social media networks exist, an HOA forum allows for a more tightly knit virtual community. Here, homeowners can post and respond to one another for any concern, whether it be a notice for a lost pet or a question regarding parking restrictions.
- Community Calendars: By hosting a public calendar for a neighborhood, residents can stay abreast of board meetings, payment dates, and other community events.
- Messaging to the Board: Rather than having communication scattered across different email and social media accounts, a messaging portal that connects you with the board is a great way to standardize and simplify communication.
2. Ask the Board
Upon moving into the community, residents should receive the contact information of all board members in their HOA welcome packet. Not only will this make residents feel welcome, but it also provides them with a way to contact the board members who represent them.
The most informal method of obtaining HOA information, reaching out directly to board members can provide you with quick answers; however, for HOA board members, this method could quickly become bothersome. Constantly fielding questions from different residents often proves difficult, making it much easier to host said information on an HOA website.
3. Research the County Records
If you have a question that can’t be answered by an HOA board member––and there’s no website hosting community documents––then a fallback could be to check out your county records. By law, HOAs are required to file their CC&Rs with the county, meaning the laws that govern your HOA are publicly available.
To find your association’s recorded documents, you could visit the county recorder’s office. Here you can find an HOA’s CC&Rs, amendments, notices, bylaws, plats, surveys, and judgments. That said, some states have dated systems in place that require you to pay a fee to download or print a document.
4. Contact Them Through Social Media
Many HOAs have a community Facebook page through which you can post a question to the community or message a board member directly. For informal matters, social media can be an effective tool. Finding a buyer for an old sofa or sourcing a babysitter can all be easily accomplished on these types of platforms; however, more serious matters should be avoided here.
Despite their ease of use, networks like Facebook and NextDoor are not ideal for neighborhood interactions. Outside antagonists can easily enter into these communities, and even among residents, these forms of social media can easily become soapboxes for negativity and misinformation rather than outlets for productive discussion.
A Better Option
While HOA information can be obtained in a variety of ways––both in-person and digitally––the most effective method is to implement an HOA website. These spaces offer both privacy and authority, making them the one-stop shop for all HOA-related concerns.
For example, an HOA website from Hoampage allows you to:
- View and download community documents and bylaws
- Keep track of key dates with a community calendar
- Make and track payments with a dedicated payment portal
- Send direct messages to the board
- Interact with other community members via forums
When homeowners can easily access the rules and regulations of their communities they’re more likely to abide by them. Most importantly, an HOA website helps to facilitate communication between homeowners and board members, allowing for more accessibility and transparency.