Author Archives: Valerie Farris Oman

WUCIOA – What is it, and why should my community association care? Topic 4 – Open Board Meetings

WUCIOA requires all board and board committee meetings to be open to the members (But this is not legal advice for your specific association) The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) is a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2018. Most of it only applies to HOAs and Condos created after that…

WUCIOA – What is it, and why should my community association care? Topic 3 – Restrictions on Use

WUCIOA makes restrictions on use easier to adopted, like rental caps and smoking bans (But this is not legal advice for your specific association) The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) is a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2018. Most of it only applies to HOAs and Condos created after that…

WUCIOA – What is it, and why should my community association care? Topic 2 – Association Records

WUCIOA has much more detail about records and owners’ rights to access them. (But this is not legal advice for your specific association) The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) is a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2018. Most of it only applies to HOAs and Condos created after that date….

WUCIOA – What is it, and why should my community association care? Topic 1 – Collections

If you have owners who don’t pay their dues, WUCIOA is better for most communities. (But this is not legal advice for your specific association) The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) is a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2018. Most of it only applies to HOAs and Condos created after…

What is WUCIOA, and Will it Affect my Association?

If your Homeowners Association was created before July 1, 2018, most of the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) won’t apply to you. The only change you’ll want to be aware of relates to how your community adopts its budget. The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) will govern new condominiums and other…

What Percentage of Owners Must Approve a Rental Restriction in a Condominium?

For New Act condo associations (those created July 1, 1990 or later), state law requires that 90% of owners (and every affected owner) vote in in favor of a declaration amendment in order to pass a “restriction on use.” For Old Act condo associations, state law only requires that 60% of owners consent to any…

Washington Legislature Adopts Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act

On March 6, 2018, the Washington State Legislature passed the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA). It will take effect on July 1, 2018 unless Governor Jay Inslee vetoes the bill. The WUCIOA is comprehensive legislation which will apply to many types of common interest communities, including condominiums, homeowner associations, and real estate cooperatives….

Can an Association Restrict Use of a Swimming Pool/Other Amenities to “Adults Only” for Part of the Day?

An association in Washington probably cannot restrict use of an amenity (i.e. a swimming pool) to “adults only” for any part of the day, unless there are identical amenities available for use by children. Such a restriction would likely constitute discrimination based on age, which is prohibited by the federal Fair Housing Act.     But an…

Can an Association Restrict the Installation or Use of Sattelite Dishes?

An association can adopt limited restrictions on the installation or use of satellite dishes. Federal regulations greatly restrict the ability of associations to regulate satellite dishes.[i] These regulations apply to owners of condominium units, single family homeowners, and their tenants. An association cannot: prohibit satellite dishes on property that is reserved to the exclusive use…

What are Limited Common Elements? Part Two

Limited common elements: spaces or things? “Limited common elements” can be spaces or things. Parking spots are an example of “spaces” that are frequently defined as “limited common elements” in an association’s Governing Documents. Parking spaces are essentially blocks of air surrounded by common elements and lines drawn on pavement. In most cases, the boundary…

Author Archives: Valerie Farris Oman

WUCIOA – What is it, and why should my community association care? Topic 4 – Open Board Meetings

WUCIOA requires all board and board committee meetings to be open to the members (But this is not legal advice for your specific association) The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) is a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2018. Most of it only applies to HOAs and Condos created after that…

WUCIOA – What is it, and why should my community association care? Topic 3 – Restrictions on Use

WUCIOA makes restrictions on use easier to adopted, like rental caps and smoking bans (But this is not legal advice for your specific association) The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) is a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2018. Most of it only applies to HOAs and Condos created after that…

WUCIOA – What is it, and why should my community association care? Topic 2 – Association Records

WUCIOA has much more detail about records and owners’ rights to access them. (But this is not legal advice for your specific association) The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) is a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2018. Most of it only applies to HOAs and Condos created after that date….

WUCIOA – What is it, and why should my community association care? Topic 1 – Collections

If you have owners who don’t pay their dues, WUCIOA is better for most communities. (But this is not legal advice for your specific association) The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) is a new law that takes effect on July 1, 2018. Most of it only applies to HOAs and Condos created after…

What is WUCIOA, and Will it Affect my Association?

If your Homeowners Association was created before July 1, 2018, most of the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) won’t apply to you. The only change you’ll want to be aware of relates to how your community adopts its budget. The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA) will govern new condominiums and other…

What Percentage of Owners Must Approve a Rental Restriction in a Condominium?

For New Act condo associations (those created July 1, 1990 or later), state law requires that 90% of owners (and every affected owner) vote in in favor of a declaration amendment in order to pass a “restriction on use.” For Old Act condo associations, state law only requires that 60% of owners consent to any…

Washington Legislature Adopts Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act

On March 6, 2018, the Washington State Legislature passed the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA). It will take effect on July 1, 2018 unless Governor Jay Inslee vetoes the bill. The WUCIOA is comprehensive legislation which will apply to many types of common interest communities, including condominiums, homeowner associations, and real estate cooperatives….

Can an Association Restrict Use of a Swimming Pool/Other Amenities to “Adults Only” for Part of the Day?

An association in Washington probably cannot restrict use of an amenity (i.e. a swimming pool) to “adults only” for any part of the day, unless there are identical amenities available for use by children. Such a restriction would likely constitute discrimination based on age, which is prohibited by the federal Fair Housing Act.     But an…

Can an Association Restrict the Installation or Use of Sattelite Dishes?

An association can adopt limited restrictions on the installation or use of satellite dishes. Federal regulations greatly restrict the ability of associations to regulate satellite dishes.[i] These regulations apply to owners of condominium units, single family homeowners, and their tenants. An association cannot: prohibit satellite dishes on property that is reserved to the exclusive use…

What are Limited Common Elements? Part Two

Limited common elements: spaces or things? “Limited common elements” can be spaces or things. Parking spots are an example of “spaces” that are frequently defined as “limited common elements” in an association’s Governing Documents. Parking spaces are essentially blocks of air surrounded by common elements and lines drawn on pavement. In most cases, the boundary…