Rules and regulations help community associations maintain property values and protect a quality of life. These standards are typically described in detail in an association’s governing documents, which all homeowners should have an opportunity to review before purchasing a home in a common-interest community.
Association rules and regulations should be reasonable. When board members—along with their community manager, attorney, and other expert advisors—are reviewing association rules or considering establishing new rules, they should follow these guidelines:
- Develop rules only if they’re necessary
- Base rules on the proper authority—either governing documents or local/state/federal law
- Consider how rules will be enforced, taking extra care to be sure they’re enforced uniformly
- Implement rules that encourage understanding and compliance
- Write rules that tell owners what they should do instead of what they shouldn’t, and explain why that rule is necessary
