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…
Author Archives: Valerie Farris Oman
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…
What are Limited Common Elements? Part One
Under the New Act (RCW 64.34 et seq., Washington’s Condominium Act) and Old Act (RCW 64.32 et seq., the Horizontal Property Regimes Act), limited common elements or areas are defined as a subset of common elements or areas. Specifically, limited common elements are the portion of common elements (owned by everyone) that are designated in…
Smoking: Can an Association Ban Smoking? Part Two
Methods of enacting a no-smoking rule There are three ways we have seen clients enact (or attempt to enact) a no-smoking rule: 1) Amendment to Declaration/CC&Rs: This method is likely the most difficult and costly way to enact a smoking ban, but it will be given the most deference by courts and be relatively strong…
Smoking: Can an Association Ban Smoking? Part One
An association may enact a rule banning smoking in common areas, and can probably ban it in individual units/homes as well. However, an association must consider several potential risks and benefits before enacting such a rule. We generally treat tobacco, marijuana, and vaping any substance the same way in adopting and enforcing community association rules….
Sex Offenders and Criminals: Can They Be Banned by a Community?
Associations generally have the right to regulate their communities. In Washington, this probably includes the right to ban registered sex offenders and other persons with criminal history from living in the community. However, an association’s right to evict existing occupants based on their status as a sex offender is less clear. In addition, associations considering…
Animals: May a Community Ban or Restrict Them?
An Association may ban or restrict animals, if the restriction is: A) reasonable; B) enforced uniformly; and C) included in the governing documents. However, there are some exceptions: Service animals An Association may not ban service animals. A service animal is an animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled…
Costs to Maintain Limited Common Elements Assessed to All Owners
A Washington Appeals court ruled that condos subject to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act (the “Old” condo Act; RCW 64.32) must assess repairs for limited common areas as common expenses against all owners based on their percentage ownership interest. The Act makes no exceptions to that rule. An association had assessed individual owners for repairs…
Procedure Matters
One piece of advice we often give our community association boards is that the procedure used by an association to take any given action is often more susceptible to challenge than the action itself. In other words, how you do things is often easier to attack – successfully – than the actual action taken by…
Invalid Board Does Not Have Authority to Bring Lawsuit on Association’s Behalf
The Appeals Court of Illinois recently held that an association’s board of directors does not have authority to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the association if it is not formed properly according to the condominium’s governing documents and the law. While this case is not binding in Washington, it may indicate how Washington courts…
Author Archives: Valerie Farris Oman
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…
What are Limited Common Elements? Part One
Under the New Act (RCW 64.34 et seq., Washington’s Condominium Act) and Old Act (RCW 64.32 et seq., the Horizontal Property Regimes Act), limited common elements or areas are defined as a subset of common elements or areas. Specifically, limited common elements are the portion of common elements (owned by everyone) that are designated in…
Smoking: Can an Association Ban Smoking? Part Two
Methods of enacting a no-smoking rule There are three ways we have seen clients enact (or attempt to enact) a no-smoking rule: 1) Amendment to Declaration/CC&Rs: This method is likely the most difficult and costly way to enact a smoking ban, but it will be given the most deference by courts and be relatively strong…
Smoking: Can an Association Ban Smoking? Part One
An association may enact a rule banning smoking in common areas, and can probably ban it in individual units/homes as well. However, an association must consider several potential risks and benefits before enacting such a rule. We generally treat tobacco, marijuana, and vaping any substance the same way in adopting and enforcing community association rules….
Sex Offenders and Criminals: Can They Be Banned by a Community?
Associations generally have the right to regulate their communities. In Washington, this probably includes the right to ban registered sex offenders and other persons with criminal history from living in the community. However, an association’s right to evict existing occupants based on their status as a sex offender is less clear. In addition, associations considering…
Animals: May a Community Ban or Restrict Them?
An Association may ban or restrict animals, if the restriction is: A) reasonable; B) enforced uniformly; and C) included in the governing documents. However, there are some exceptions: Service animals An Association may not ban service animals. A service animal is an animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled…
Costs to Maintain Limited Common Elements Assessed to All Owners
A Washington Appeals court ruled that condos subject to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act (the “Old” condo Act; RCW 64.32) must assess repairs for limited common areas as common expenses against all owners based on their percentage ownership interest. The Act makes no exceptions to that rule. An association had assessed individual owners for repairs…
Procedure Matters
One piece of advice we often give our community association boards is that the procedure used by an association to take any given action is often more susceptible to challenge than the action itself. In other words, how you do things is often easier to attack – successfully – than the actual action taken by…
Invalid Board Does Not Have Authority to Bring Lawsuit on Association’s Behalf
The Appeals Court of Illinois recently held that an association’s board of directors does not have authority to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the association if it is not formed properly according to the condominium’s governing documents and the law. While this case is not binding in Washington, it may indicate how Washington courts…