California

California Condo & HOA News

Two-Alarm Fire at Condo Complex in Long Beach (CA)
A two-alarm fire was hard to access for Long Beach Fire. The residents started evacuating, taking the provided hose lines off the wall, and fighting the fire until the fire department arrived. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront: What to do with outdated election rules and candidate statements (CA)
Q: Our HOA ballot package for the board election included 3 candidate statements that endorsed themselves as a slate, one of whom also criticized their opponent. In the past, candidate statements included bios, qualifications, and what they had done or will do, but did not mention opponents or endorse other candidates. The nomination forms asked for candidate statements of qualifications. Read the Q&A………………………………..
Aliso Viejo residents claim herbicide spraying near their homes is making them sick (CA)
Back home after the walk, McCuan emailed Mission Landscape, under contract by the Aliso Viejo Community Association (AVCA), asking what was being sprayed at Canyon View Park. The following day, after McCuan had spent six hours in her backyard digging up roots and planting native plants for Monarch butterflies, a reply arrived from Mission’s vice president of operations, Jon Cernok. He identified the spray as the weed killer Cheetah Pro. Read the article…………………………….
Bay Area condo war widens after $1 million units sell for just $32,000 (CA)
The auctioning of several downtown San Jose condominiums has spawned a widening legal war now that a troubled China-based real estate firm has filed a new lawsuit in the increasingly tangled case. China-based Z&L Properties has filed a lawsuit against winning bidders in an auction last week of the downtown San Jose condos, as well as the trustee that conducted the proceeding, Santa Clara County Court records show. Read the article…………………………….
Z&L Properties sues over sale of “$1M” San Jose condos for $32K (CA)
Z&L Properties has sued bidders who violated a court restraining order to buy 10 condominiums auctioned at cut-rate prices in Downtown San Jose. The China-based developer filed the lawsuit against two buyers as well as San Diego-based Nationwide Reconveyance, a trustee for a homeowners association at a 320-unit condo tower Read the article…………………………….
More homeowners forced into California Fair Plan coverage
Most people never hear about the California FAIR Plan until their homeowner’s insurance gets canceled. “It’s not a normal home insurance policy,” said Amy Bach, executive director of the nonprofit United Policyholders. “It only covers fire, lightning, internal explosion. It doesn’t cover water damage, leaks, your toilet overflows.” Read the article…………………………….
Someone stole a master mailbox key in Sacramento. What’s being done to stop break-ins? (CA)
Mail theft has been an ongoing issue in her Arden Arcade condominium community, Woodside Homeowners Association, over the past few years, she said. Braden filed a report with the inspection service to help her recover her stolen credit card in February. “You’ll receive an email response in 1-3 days,” the confirmation said. She never heard from them. Read the article…………………………….
San Jose towers owner gets court to order delay for condo foreclosures (CA)
The owner of a double-tower housing complex in downtown San Jose has won a court order to temporarily halt a foreclosure proceeding to seize control of several condos in the high-rises. China-based Z&L Properties faces a foreclosure attempt due to delinquencies that have arisen from unpaid dues to the homeowners association for unsold condos in the western tower, county real estate records show. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront – Reader Questions – Election By Acclamation (CA)
Hello Kelly, I came across an article in which you answered a question about election by acclamation. There is a lot of information on the internet about acclamation, but one item does not seem to be answered. Perhaps you can assist. Once a board determines/votes to elect candidates by acclamation at an open board meeting, when do the candidates assume their new role? Read the Q&A………………………………..
Ocean Beach condo owners fear their homes will fall in the ocean (CA)
The sign in front of the Oceana condominium complex perfectly explains the problem: Unstable cliffs. Danger. Stay back. But what does that mean for owners of the 13 units? Every time water washes up on the rocks at the base of the cliff, the owners are hit with a wave of concern. “The fear is that our building is going to fall into the ocean,” said condo owner Russ Rasmussen. Read the article…………………………….

California News Archives

California Condo & HOA Articles

HOA Board Governance: Roles, Responsibilities, and Ethics
Homeowners’ Associations play a pivotal role in shaping the communities they oversee. At the heart of every HOA is its board of directors, a group of individuals entrusted with the responsibility of making decisions that affect the entire community. However, being an HOA board member is not merely a title; it comes with a set of duties, responsibilities, and ethical considerations that require careful attention and dedication. Read the article…………………………….
Accusing Neighbor of Racism Is Not of Public Interest (CA)
Div. Eight of this district’s Court of Appeal held Friday that repeated accusations by owners of a condominium in a six-unit complex of racism and malfeasance on the part of another owner in emails to the homeowners association, an insurance company, neighbors and others, implicates too small and specific of an audience to qualify as a matter of public interest. Read the article…………………………….
California HOA Condos and Homes: Unveiling the Top 10 Pitfalls of Faulty Gutter & Fascia Installations
A common oversight with potentially significant financial impacts is the quality and installation of gutters and fascia. At Naumann Law Firm, we’ve seen firsthand how these defects can lead to extensive property damage and financial strain. In our most recent blog, we delve in a bit closer the top 10 construction defects resulting from poorly installed gutters and fascia in California HOA condos and homes. Read the article…………………………….
Do E-mail Exchanges Constitute A Meeting Of The Board? (CA)
In LNSU#1, LLC v. Alta Del Mar Coastal Collection Community Association,94 Cal. App. 5th 1050, 312 Cal. Rptr. 3d 707 (2023), two homeowners in a common interest development argued that their homeowners’ association violated state law governing open meetings when certain directors discussed items of association business by e-mails without giving all association members notice and opportunity to participate in the discussions and without preparing related minutes. Read the article…………………………….
Virtual Board and Member Meetings (CA)
Good news for directors and managers who hold virtual meetings but hate the hassles that come with hybrid meetings: you can legally hold solely virtual meetings! Read on for details. Associations have been using virtual video communications platforms like Zoom, GoTo Meetings, and Microsoft Teams for the last few years to hold board and member meetings. This was borne out of necessity as a result of the stay away orders of the COVID-19 pandemic. Boards continued to hold virtual meetings ...
Harnessing Sustainability: HOA Community Composting and Rainwater Harvesting Programs (CA)
In the global pursuit of sustainability, homeowners associations (HOAs) are taking the lead by adopting innovative practices to make their communities greener. Two key initiatives, community composting, and rainwater harvesting programs, are gaining traction worldwide. These eco-friendly practices not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also foster a sense of community and shared responsibility among residents. Let’s explore the global significance of these programs and how they are revolutionizing HOAs. Read the article…………………………….
Managing Delinquent Board Members: Strategies for HOA Leadership (CA)
In the complex world of managing a homeowners association, one of the most challenging issues that board members may face is dealing with delinquent board members. These individuals can disrupt the functioning of the HOA, cause financial strain, and create tension within the community. Addressing this issue requires a delicate balance of assertiveness, diplomacy, and adherence to the HOA’s governing documents. In this article, we’ll explore effective strategies for HOA leadership to handle delinquent board members. Read the article…………………………….
AB 1458 Stop, Adjourn, Then Proceed: New Reduced Quorum Requirements Help Make Every Vote Count (CA)
Recent legislation has provided various tools to remedy the difficulties that many associations face due to the lack of member participation in director elections. AB 502 went into effect in 2022, permitting elections by acclamation when the number of qualified candidates running for a board of directors is less than or equal to the number of positions to be filled (subject to several procedural requirements). Recently, AB 1458 was also enacted to address the inability of many associations to reach ...

California Article Archives

California Laws

Common Interest Development Act (Davis-Stirling)

Other Laws

Health & Saf. Code §122318. Health Care Practitioner Criteria for Emotional Support Dog Documentation

Health & Saf. Code §122319.5. Emotional Support Animal/Dog & Service Dog Definitions

Govt. Code §12956.3. County Recorder Restrictive Covenant Program

California Condo & HOA Resources

Living in a California Common Interest Development

CACM Home Page – California Association of Community Managers

ECHO Homepage – Educational Community for Homeowners

Community Associations Institute

Bay Area and Central California Chapter The Bay Area, San Francisco, Stockton, and Central California
California North Chapter Sacramento and Northern California
Channel Islands Chapter San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern County and vicinity
Coachella Valley Chapter Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley
Greater Los Angeles Chapter Los Angeles and vicinity
Greater Inland Empire Chapter San Bernardino and Riverside Counties
Orange County Chapter Orange County
San Diego Chapter San Diego and vicinity

Center for California Homeowner Association Law

Summary of the homeowners associations complaints that fall under the jurisdiction of the Office of the Attorney General

Reserve Study Guidelines for Homeowner Associations (CA Dept of Real Estate)

California Association of Homeowners Associations

Condo Management Online: The Premier Resource for Community Associations

The Condominium Bluebook Home Page

California Homeowner Association HOA and Condo Regulations Summary Guide for 2020