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How to Remove an HOA Board Member

Author Tyleen Ortiz

Group of professionals talking at a meeting table

Being a homeowners’ association (HOA) board member is a big responsibility. An important role, board members oversee the operations of a community and ensure it’s set up for long-term success. Unfortunately, not all board members are equipped to fulfill their duties properly. When this happens, it may be in the best interests of the board and residents to remove that board member. Read on for a comprehensive guide on how to remove an HOA board member with the least disruption to association operations and community harmony.

What Do HOA Board Members Do?

An HOA board of directors is a group of elected volunteer residents responsible for running the association. While every community is unique and boards vary in size, a typical HOA board has a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. These board members handle a variety of tasks that help the association operate smoothly, including:

  • Enforcing rules and guidelines
  • Maintaining shared spaces
  • Overseeing budgets and finances
  • Managing homeowner conflicts
  • Running regular HOA meetings
  • Planning community events

Can HOAs Remove Board Members?

It depends. The authority and rules for removing board members from HOA leadership depend on your state’s laws and the association’s governing documents.

In some states, a homeowner, with enough signatures in the community, can call for a meeting and petition to remove a board member. However, for an HOA board to remove a fellow board member, it usually must first win approval from the community members. Still, an HOA board may be able to remove a board officer role of president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer and assign them as member at large.

It’s best to review your association’s bylaws to see who can initiate the removal of a board member.

Professional man looking pensively outside a window What Are the Reasons for Removing HOA Board Members?

Each HOA board member plays a pivotal role in an association’s success. You might consider removing an HOA board member due to:

  • Multiple absences from board meetings
  • Consistent meeting disruption
  • Actions that prevent the board from working cohesively
  • Unethical behavior
  • Involvement in a conflict of interest
  • Professional, personal, or health-related issues

While reasons to dismiss a board member can vary by community, an ineffective member can put pressure on the rest of the board to pick up the slack, causing burnout and morale issues. Always reference your governing documents or seek legal advice on the conditions by which a board member can be removed.

Dismissing a board member is tough. To maintain a positive environment, read “Tips for Boosting HOA Board Morale.”

How Can a Board Member Be Removed from the HOA Board?

How do you remove an HOA board member? The exact procedure will be different for every association. Your HOA’s governing documents will detail the cases in which a board member can be removed, how, and why.

However, when the possibility of removal is on the table, there are ways to approach a voluntary or involuntary dismissal. Here are a few.

1. Talk to the board member personally.

Removing an HOA board member can be a sensitive situation for everyone involved. Before rushing to take action, consider speaking with the board member in person or over the phone. Discuss the issue calmly and chart a path forward. It’s crucial that you convey the reasoning behind the potential dismissal—a simple touch base can be just what you need to come to a mutual solution. Whether that includes allowing the board member to right the wrong, offering to share some of their duties, or encouraging them to resign, this approach may alleviate the need for a long and tedious removal process.

Download “6 Conflict Resolution Best Practices for Board Members” to learn how to manage challenging conversations effectively.

2. Offer a leave of absence.

Another route that may make sense for your board’s situation is letting the at-risk board member take a leave of absence for a few months. Sometimes, personal and health issues are unavoidable. If permitted by governing documents, offering a leave of absence can give the person the time they need to focus on themselves without the pressure of also managing their HOA duties. Plus, it gives other board members a chance to regroup and distribute tasks accordingly.

3. Wait out their term.

Usually, HOAs have term limits of about one to two years for board positions. Found in the governing documents, term limits help ensure that each board member is granted a break from serving. Similarly, term limits allow more community members an opportunity to serve.

Although you may be concerned with a board member’s performance, it might not be at a level that warrants impeachment. If the board member’s term is almost expired and term limits prevent that person from running again, a non-confrontational way to remove a board member is to ride out the remainder of their term.

4. Consider impeachment.

If you’ve tried other avenues and a board member still needs to be removed, your association's bylaws should provide details on the official impeachment process. This will likely involve calling an HOA meeting with a quorum to conduct an official membership vote.

Check your state laws and governing documents to ensure every step is followed and all conditions are met to complete the impeachment, which may include:

  • Signing petitions for the board member’s removal
  • Calling a special meeting to address the impeachment
  • Taking a membership vote to confirm a majority agreement
  • Replacing the board vacancy with a new member

8 Mistakes Board Members Make & How to Avoid Them

Now that you understand how to remove an HOA board member from the board—talking to them, offering a leave, waiting out their term, or impeachment—reassess the situation that calls for removal. Did the board member commit an obvious offense, or was it an honest mistake?

Mistakes occur more often than you might think. Check out our ebook, “8 Mistakes Board Members Make & How To Avoid Them,” to learn more about common mistakes and how to keep them from happening.

HOA Board Member Removal FAQs

Can an HOA president be recalled?

Every state has different laws on removing or recalling HOA board presidents. While “remove” and “recall” are often used interchangeably, your state laws and HOA governing documents may have specific rules on either process.

Generally, an HOA board president can be recalled if they commit a significant offense, or the majority of HOA members vote for a recall.

How do I resign as an HOA board officer?

While resigning from your HOA board position can be hard, it may be best for yourself and the community. Following your association’s bylaws, your formal resignation must be in writing and delivered to the appropriate person. 

Let the board know as soon as possible to give them adequate time to find a replacement. You should strive to leave on good terms and assist them with the transition.

How do you deal with difficult HOA board members?

HOA board members can have differing views that make working together tough. When this happens, it’s important to stay focused on your shared goals and work through conflicts by:

  • Showing empathy to other board members
  • Actively listening when others have the floor
  • Addressing concerns calmly and reasonably
  • Seeking professional advice or mediation

The overall goal of the board is to make the best possible decisions for the community. A cohesive board—even with varied opinions—will instill trust from homeowners and allow a more unified community.