Community Association News

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.

On March 30, 2020, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia took further restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.  All three states issued “stay-at-home” orders that, to varying degrees, contain enforceable restrictions requiring residents to stay at home.

On March 24, 2020, the DC Government published Mayor Bowser’s Order 2020-53, which directs certain types of businesses to close and directs other types of businesses to telework except for certain essential functions, which must occur on site.  The Condominium and its staff are not included within the closure or telework order.  The Condominium is defined as an Essential Business under Section IV(k) of the Order since It falls within the definition of a “Housing and Living Provider”.  This permits the staff t