Virginia Condo & HOA News
- Belmont Bay HOA facing scrutiny over transparency concerns (VA) April 21, 2025A Belmont Bay resident and former homeowners’ association president is attacking the current association leadership over transparency concerns. Leaders of the riverfront community in Woodbridge held a meeting with its developer, Miller & Smith, in executive session Dec. 5 – allegedly without notifying the wider community. Read the article…………………………….
- Obstructed views at ‘The Waterview’ leave Rosslyn homeowners threatening lawsuit March 20, 2025A dispute over obstructed views from multimillion-dollar condos in Rosslyn has left some officials up in arms and homeowners threatening a lawsuit. County-government staff last month received multiple tongue-lashings from members of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) over their handling of a 2023 zoning matter at The Waterview condo building in Rosslyn. Read the article…………………………….
- Not just for police: A Norfolk HOA plans to deploy Flock license plate cameras (VA) March 17, 2025Police departments across Hampton Roads aren’t the only organizations installing the controversial automated license plate readers that have attracted lawsuits and privacy concerns. A homeowner’s association in Norfolk’s Lochhaven neighborhood recently received city approval to install two of the cameras, made by Flock Safety, at neighborhood entrances. Read the article…………………………….
- Dispute continues over abandoned West Neck golf course (VA) March 15, 2025Some residents in Southern Virginia Beach feel they have just won a battle over a potential re-zoning issue, but they are anxious about what’s next. The focus is on the “Signature at West Neck Golf Course,” which closed abruptly in 2019. Tom Luckman, president of the West Neck Community Association said, “It’s under weeds. It needs greens and bunkers. There are people looking at it. Our goal is to have it returned to a golf course.” Read the article…………………………….
- Wally the Beaver spared after community rallied to protect him in Virginia March 7, 2025The Kingstowne Community Association said Wally and possibly another beaver have been cutting down many trees and obstructing stormwater flow when they build their dams. While commonly known as the “lake,” the body of water is a stormwater management pond. Read the article…………………………….
- The Lake Monticello HOA got more than $600K in PPP loan money. The feds want it back (VA) February 27, 2025The homeowner association of a Fluvanna County gated community must pay $646,843 to the federal government if it wants to avoid litigation. So says the U.S. Department of Justice in a letter sent late last year to the Lake Monticello Owners’ Association. Read the article…………………………….
- Heritage Hunt community in Prince William sees resident backlash amid DOJ investigation (VA) February 18, 2025The Heritage Hunt Homeowners Association’s Board of Directors voted last month to narrowly deny a formal resident complaint related to an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into whether the HOA in 2020 illegally applied for a Paycheck Protection Program, or PPP, loan. Read the article…………………………….
Virginia News Archives
Virginia Condo & HOA Articles
- CATOCTIN RIDGE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION INC v. BILLER (2025) (VA)Appellant Catoctin Ridge Homeowners Association, Inc. argues that the trial court defied the stranger rule when it found that a 1995 deed conveyed an express easement to an adjoining lot then-owned by appellee’s mother, who was not a party to the deed. But the 1995 deed is best construed as granting an express easement, not reserving or excepting one. Accordingly, we affirm the trial court’s holding that the stranger rule does not apply and that the 1995 deed granted an ...
- The Virginia Common Interest Community Ombudsman: A PrimerIn this episode, the Nerds provide a primer and some insight on the Common Interest Community Ombudsman – an administrative arm of the state government that provides limited oversight of community associations and their management agents. This is very state specific, so be sure to check with counsel if you work or reside outside the Great Commonwealth. Listen to the podcast…………………………..
- Golf Carts In HOAs: Rules, Policies, and InsuranceShould you allow golf carts in HOAs? This is a question many HOA boards ask, especially those in charge of golf communities. While golf carts offer ease of transportation, they also have downsides. The best way to circumvent these downsides is to enact rules and policies that regulate the use of golf carts and ensure proper insurance coverage. Read the article…………………………….
- Are HOA Communities Becoming More Popular? (VA)Homeowner association communities (HOAs) have been gaining popularity in recent years, and there’s no sign that this trend is slowing down. In 2024, there were approximately 369,000 homeowner associations across the country, an increase from 355,000 just four years prior. According to the Foundation for Community Association Research, over 30% of the U.S. housing stock was part of an HOA community in 2023. Read the article…………………………….
- Community associations and environmental leadership (VA)Community associations are familiar local institutions. They serve residents by enacting and enforcing community rules, managing any common areas, and enhancing the neighborhood’s quality of life. In addition, in recent years, a number of community associations in Northern Virginia have chosen to expand stewardship of their lands to the native flora and fauna inhabiting them. Those organizations who have reached this pivot point came to realize that the two seemingly unrelated goals of supporting ecosystem health and maintaining property values ...
- 6 Suggestions For Homeowners Associations To Mitigate Their Exposure to Potential LiabilityA recent case reported in Virginia Lawyers Weekly highlights the significant financial risk to homeowners associations (“HOAs”) when sidewalk maintenance is neglected. In this case, a resident tripped on an uneven sidewalk—maintained by the HOA—and suffered severe injuries. The injuries required surgery and 10 months of treatment, resulting in $200,000 in medical expenses. The plaintiff also lost valuable time from their online retail business. Ultimately, the case was settled for $650,000 before a lawsuit was even filed. Read the article…………………………….
- The Reality of EV Charging Stations for CommunitiesSo how popular are electric vehicles these days, really? According to Kelley Blue Book estimates, about 7.6 percent of new cars sold in the United States in 2023 were electric, and some sources predict that that number will rise to 10 percent for 2024. While that might not sound like a lot, the growth curve for EVs has been a sharp one. What does this mean for people who live in community associations such as condominiums or homeowner associations? Read ...
Virginia Article Archives
Virginia Laws
Chapter 18 Property Owners’ Association Act (§§ 55.1-1800 through 55.1-1837)
Chapter 19 Virginia Condominium Act (§§ 55.1-1900 through 55.1-1990)
Chapter 20 Horizontal Property Act (§§ 55.1-2000 through 55.1-2020)
Chapter 21 Virginia Real Estate Cooperative Act (§§ 55.1-2100 through 55.1-2184)
Chapter 22 Virginia Real Estate Time-Share Act (§§ 55.1-2200 through 55.1-2252)
Chapter 23 Subdivided Land Sales Act (§§ 55.1-2300 through 55.1-2306)
Chapter 23.1 Resale Disclosure Act (§§ 55.1-2307 through 55.1-2317)
Common Interest Community Management Information Fund
Common Interest Community Board
The Common Interest Community Board regulates common interest community managers, as well as certain employees of licensed management firms. The Board’s authority also includes condominium and time-share project registrations, and extends to transactions occurring within Virginia, even if the property involved is located outside the Commonwealth. Property owner, condominium, and cooperative associations are required to file annual reports with the Board.
All forms and documents are at this link.
Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman
Homeowners’ Associations
The Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman offers assistance and information to homeowners’ association members regarding the rights and processes available to them through their associations. The Ombudsman is responsible for receiving “notices of adverse decision” from association members who allege an association governing body violated common interest community laws or regulations. The Office also receives reports of violations concerning timeshares. The Common Interest Community Board is separate and distinct from the Office of the Ombudsman. The Board is the regulatory body responsible for licensing association managers, certifying certain employees of licensed management firms, receiving annual reports filed by associations, and registering condominium and time-share projects registrations.
All forms and documents are at the link.
Virginia Condo & HOA Resources
Fairfax County has a large number of publications available
Henrico County has a number of articles and links available
The law firm of Rees Broome, P.C. has a numbr of articles available
The law firm of MercerTrigiani has a number of articles available
Community Associations Network has chapters located:
Central Virginia Chapter
Richmond and vicinity
Southeastern Virginia Chapter
Hampton Roads and vicinity
Southwest Virginia Chapter
Roanoke, Blacksburg, and vicinity
Washington Metropolitan Chapter
Washington, DC and vicinity
Virginia Condominium & Homeowner Association Blogs
Virginia HOA & Business Weekly
Virginia Community Association Law
Virginia Condominium & Homeowner Association Law
HOA Law Nerds: The Podcast
Just a couple of community association lawyers from Virginia talking shop and nerding out on ALL things community associations. We love what we do and want to (i) provide education on HOAs, (ii) dispel common myths about HOAs, and (iii) have fun while making you laugh some. We hope you’ll join us on the ride! Have any questions or topics you’d like us to cover? Listen to the podcast…………………………..