The board vote does require a community review, so everybody gets to weigh in on the decision. In supplement to the CC&Rs, the Rules and Regulations have one major difference: they can be changed with a simple board vote as opposed to filing with the state. Non-compliance could result in the rules being enforced or consequences like fines, warnings, suspension or even legal action.

This document is available to you before you purchase your property, and you will have to sign acknowledging that you are aware of this fact. In short, they are the rules you must abide by in order to live in and own property in the community. Within this document, you will find guidelines specified for every homeowner. CC&Rs are used to regulate the use, appearance and maintenance of a property. The Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs) is a legal document that describes what you can do with your property as an owner. If you find yourself questioning your HOA’s authority to perform a task, or if you’re a board member yourself, it’s vital to understand the difference in these governing documents. Beyond these basic facts, there are a few documents maintained and executed by the HOA. There are fees to be a member, and the HOA Board is elected. When you reside in a community with an HOA, you are automatically a member of the association. For the purposes of this writing, we will call them HOAs. Call it a Homeowners Association (HOA), Condominium Owners Association (COA), or Property Owners Association (POA), the function is the same: they are a legal entity formed for the maintenance of common areas within a community. New research shows that 73.9 million Americans live in a community with a Community Association, showing tremendous growth over time ( Foundation for Community Association).

Florida hoa declaration of covenants