Community Association News

One year after being thrust into a crash course on electronic meeting platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual meetings and electronic voting options are here to stay for associations in Virginia.

Last week, the Virginia General Assembly passed a Bill that provides an association’s Board of Directors with extensive authority to prohibit smoking within condominiums and property owners’ associations.  A Board of Directors of a condominium association may, by a majority vote of the Board, prohibit smoking both in the common elements and in units, unless the recorded condominium instruments contain existing language that would prohibit the Board from doing so.  A Board of Directors for a property owners’ association may prohibit smoking in common areas by a

The Prince George’s County Office of Community Relations has launched a new, voluntary training program for members of common ownership communities called the “EDvantage HOA Online Training Program.”  The training is designed to educate County residents about common ownership communities.  The training is free, can be completed at one’s own pace, and is available in both English and Spanish.

What ideas have other association boards used to successfully build community? As an individual homeowner, how can I get more involved in my community? What are some creative ways to collectively engage in the community beyond the boundaries of the common interest community association? 

Finally, some good news!   - On April 22, 2020, the Virginia General Assembly adopted amendments to House Bills 29 and 30 proposed by Governor Ralph Northam and expected to be signed by him within a few days.  The amendments provide significant and immediate relief from certain technical requirements related to the conduct of Board meetings for community associations throughout Virginia

On January 28, 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) issued guidance aimed to assist housing providers, including community associations, in evaluating a person’s request for an assistance animal in order to reasonably accommodate a physical or mental disability under the federal Fair Housing Act. 1 The Guidance accomplishes a number of objectives.

All three local jurisdictions, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (the “DMV”) have issued stay-at-home orders (“Orders”) effective March 30, 2020.  These Orders will remain in effect (unless extended), through April 24, 2020 in the District, June 10, 2020 in Virginia, and indefinitely in Maryland.  While all the Orders have substantial similarities, there are some notable differences.