HOA 101: Understanding the HOA Board of Directors & Its Role
The board of directors is an essential—and required—aspect of any homeowners’ association (HOA). Comprised of elected volunteers who live in the community, the HOA board is responsible for helping the association run smoothly, setting it up for long-term success. Keep reading to learn more about the homeowners' association board of directors, homeowners' association board responsibilities, and more.
What is the HOA board of directors?
To function correctly, an HOA must have a board authorized to act on the community’s behalf. Board members are volunteers who are elected to the position by other association members. Homeowners' association board responsibilities include handling a variety of tasks, including creating and enforcing guidelines, overseeing finances, and maintaining shared spaces.
How many board members should an HOA board have?
The number of members on the homeowners' association board is usually outlined in an association’s articles of incorporation or bylaws, which can be found in the governing documents. Governing documents are, in essence, the constitution, law, and regulations that explain how a community is governed. In some states, there are laws that determine the number of board members allowed for a community.
All communities differ, and larger HOAs may have bigger boards while smaller ones have fewer members. On average, an HOA’s board is comprised of three to five members. Some boards have as many as nine members.
How long can an HOA board member serve?
HOA board member terms vary by community and state. Some states have one-year term limits, while others have two-year or four-year term limits.
How to find HOA board members?
When it comes to selecting board members, homeowners should seek out fellow community members who are passionate about improving and protecting the place they call home. Eligibility requirements and information for active board members can be found in the association's governing documents.
Do board members get paid?
In almost all cases, state laws and governing documents prohibit board members from receiving payments, gifts, or kickbacks for their contributions to the community.
What are the HOA board member positions?
The HOA board of directors is a unit that has an obligation to lead a community, but within the board, officers are assigned to lead the functions of the group. Generally, HOA board member positions include president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. While it varies by community, HOA board member responsibilities and HOA board member positions typically break down like this:
HOA BOARD PRESIDENT
The HOA board president is vested with the same powers typically given to the chief executive officer of a corporation. This office should guide the board, handle procedural duties, and serve as the spokesperson for business matters.
PRIMARY DUTIES:
- Schedule, attend, and run board meetings
- Establish meeting agendas
- Serve as the main point of contact for management partners
- Call for votes and announce results
- Sign documents
HOA BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
The HOA board vice president should support the president and must be able to act in their place if needed. They should familiarize themselves with the same documents as the president and be able to perform the same duties.
PRIMARY DUTIES:
- Act for president when they’re absent
- Lead important committees
- Help run meetings
HOA BOARD SECRETARY
The secretary guarantees board and association documents are well-maintained. But it’s not just clerical work. Community records are extremely valuable, and if your association doesn’t have the right secretary on board, it can lead to legal problems, financial risks, and confusion.
PRIMARY DUTIES:
- Guarantee records are maintained
- Provide proper meeting notice
- Ensure minutes are taken and approved
- Confirm documents are accessible to appropriate parties
HOA BOARD TREASURER
The HOA board treasurer oversees all things financial. Often, financial functions are outsourced to an accountant, and it’s the treasurer’s job to work with them to complete tasks on time and in compliance with the community’s governing documents.
PRIMARY DUTIES:
- Review financial records for accuracy
- Help manage accounts
- Assist with budget preparation
- Oversee billing and collections
- Ensure timely payment of invoices
- Confirm audits and reserve studies get performed
What does the HOA board of directors do?
An association's governing documents detail specific HOA board member duties, tasks, and powers. However, homeowners' association board of directors responsibilities can be distilled down to three key categories:
1. Enforcing governing documents.
After purchasing a home that’s part of a community association, all residents automatically become members of the association and must follow its rules and regulations. These standards protect the resident’s investments, and board members are responsible for enforcing them. However, as residents of the HOA themselves, committee and board members don’t hold special powers that exclude them from abiding by the same rules and regulations as all the other residents. Everybody is expected to follow the same standards.
2. Managing the financial aspects of the HOA.
Managing and overseeing the community's finances is one of the biggest HOA board member duties. Most associations are multi-million-dollar nonprofit corporations, which means the board runs a small to mid-size business—with all the decisions, exposure, and liability that come with it. Board members must understand where, how, and why money gets spent. It's crucial to closely examine budgets, certify compliance, and review monthly financials, contracts, statements, utilities, and reserve studies.
3. Maintaining common areas.
Part of a board member’s fiduciary duty is to keep the community well-maintained and operational for the years to come. However, community maintenance isn’t just about planting flowers and mowing lawns, it’s also about monitoring the condition of critical assets the community relies on every day. It’s important for the board to stay on top of the association’s most valuable components, partner with qualified maintenance vendors, set aside a reserve fund, perform inspections, and more to create a safe, clean, and attractive community.
How does the HOA board work?
All HOA board members must act in the best interest of association members and use sound business judgment when making decisions. To do this, the homeowners' association board must:
- Understand governing documents
- Be familiar with local, state, and federal laws
- Establish committees for support
- Welcome and educate residents
- Hold fair elections
- Discuss issues and vote on decisions in meetings
- Encourage residents to provide input
- Make relevant documents easily accessible
Is there a code of ethics for board members?
Most community associations outline their own code of ethics for board members to follow. The code of ethics outlines what board members are expected to do and not do as part of their duties to the community. The code of ethics can be found as part of the governing documents.
Want to be part of your homeowners' association board of directors?
While rewarding, serving on an HOA board of directors is a substantial role that comes with a lot of responsibility. Think you may be the right person for the job? Read our article, “10 Signs You’re Cut Out for the HOA Board,” to discover if you’d be a good fit.