Los Angeles HOA Guidelines

Guidelines for homeowners associations (HOAs) in Los Angeles help them enforce rules fairly, maintain common areas, and stay compliant with evolving laws. For the most part, Los Angeles HOAs operate under California’s Davis-Stirling Act, which governs elections, meetings, and financial practices across the state, as well as the need to have an inspector of elections in California. 

Following HOA laws in California is a must. Many of them outline requirements for annual meetings, financial reports, and adherence to both state and local property codes. 

Forming an HOA in Los Angeles

All Los Angeles HOAs begin with the same simple step: filing the required documents with the California Secretary of State. The majority of HOAs in California identify as nonprofit corporations under the California Corporations Code, which involves submitting articles of incorporation. Complying with this code and paying the necessary fees is incredibly important to any HOA’s success.

Once that’s done, the HOA must appoint directors and conduct an organizational meeting. From there, the board adopts the organization’s bylaws and sets policies that will guide the association’s governance and operations going forward.

Breaking Down the Davis-Stirling Act

Regardless of whether you’re following Southern or Northern California HOA rules, the Davis-Stirling Act is still the most important set of state rules. Here are five takeaways worth noting:

1. Secret ballot requirements: HOA elections must be done with secret ballots to keep the process anonymous. For paper ballots, this means using a double-envelope system with an inner envelope that has no voter-identifying information.

2. Electronic voting: The Davis-Stirling Act now allows HOAs to use electronic voting, but there’s a catch. The HOA has to adopt specific election rules that guarantee the process is secure, secret, and valid. Instead of the HOA handling the entire election, the responsibility for overseeing electronic ballots now falls to the Inspector of Elections.

3. Voting method flexibility: HOA members can choose how they want to vote, with the option to change their method up to ninety days before the election. HOAs must send a notice thirty days prior to the election to confirm every member’s voting method. If they’re voting electronically, the email address being used needs to be verified.

4. Election oversight: An Inspector of Elections is responsible for keeping HOA elections fair and secure. They protect the confidentiality of tally sheets, ensure votes aren’t tampered with before counting, and make ballots available for review if there’s a recount or challenge.

5. Be transparent and accountable: HOAs must keep a list of member voting preferences, include easy-to-follow voting instructions in their annual statement, and provide written ballot materials and opt-out options to members without email addresses.

Simplifying HOA Elections

Simplifying HOA elections doesn’t have to be complicated. A platform like ElectionBuddy can make it easier than ever.

ElectionBuddy helps HOAs offer online and paper ballot options, making it possible for everyone to participate–no matter their voting preference. It streamlines the process by keeping track of members’ voting preferences, sending clear instructions, and making sure the voting process is secure throughout. 

Using ElectionBuddy not only makes elections easier but can also boost member participation and trust in the process. It’s a great way for HOAs to keep things simple and transparent for all their members!