Frequently Asked Questions

When you purchase a residential unit within an HOA, you automatically become a member of the Homeowners Association and are required to pay dues, which are known as HOA fees. Your membership entitles you to voting rights, which gives you a voice in helping to set association rules, policies, and regulations that affect your community. 

Payments are made to the association monthly, bi-monthly, semi-annually, or annually, depending on the community

The fees collected by the HOA are used to pay the costs of ongoing maintenance and repairs to a community’s common areas. Such areas can include everything from the corridors in condominium towers, swimming pools, parks, amenities, parking areas, as well as communal groundskeeping and utilities for the common areas. Fees may also include services such as cable TV, electricity, and other services provided to residential units.  

HOA fees also pay for the master insurance policy that protects the community’s building structures, exteriors, and the community’s common areas against damage.  

Additionally, HOAs allocate a portion of your fees to a reserve fund account to cover planned and budgeted renovations or repairs that do not occur regularly.  

Finally, your fees may also pay for salaries and benefits for any staff that the association may employ directly or contract to provide service to the association.  

Per Florida Statute, community associations must hold an Annual Meeting at least once a year within 45 miles of the association property or within the same county. 

The major purpose of Annual Meetings is to inform homeowners about relevant business conducted by the board of directors and other important association related matters. These meetings also provide an opportunity for unit owners to ask questions and participate in discussions regarding the business of the community.   

The Board of Directors is required to notify homeowners of the annual meeting within a set time period prior to the meeting. The notice must either be mailed to homeowners or conspicuously displayed on the property, and it must include the date, time and location of the meeting.

Annually, HOAs unit owners have the ability to elect other unit owners to represent them by making decisions and directing the operations of the community.  

Unless the association's articles or bylaws provide for a different term, all directors serve for a one year period and their term expires with the election of their successors at the next annual meeting.  

Each unit is entitled to one vote. Though the unit may be owned by more than one owner, they are collectively still only entitled to one vote. Voting rights may be denied to an owner who is more than 90 days delinquent in assessments.

Understandably, pets are considered an integral part of the family. However, HOAs generally have discretion over the kind and number of pets that they may allow.   

Some conditions or restrictions may include the number of pets per household; a weight limit for each dog within a unit and possibly even requirements for the pets to be spayed or neutered.   

That being said, associations have a right to establish a strict no-pets policy.  

It is always advisable to refer to the Association's By-Laws to determine if there are any pet restrictions before purchasing a unit in an HOA.

Every HOA has regulations and possible restrictions as it relates to the leasing of your unit. For example, the declaration may state that only entire units may be leased to a tenant and their family. Others may require that a residential unit may only be leased for a minimum term of one year with the prior consent of the Board of Directors of the Association.    

It is always advisable to refer to the Association’s Declaration to determine if there are any leasing restrictions before purchasing a unit in an HOA.