Does an HOA have to send a bill or invoice for HOA dues?
By OurHOA · General information · Revised
Check the assessment and notice rules that apply to your association. A missing routine invoice and a missing legally required notice are different issues.
Separate the assessment from the invoice
An invoice communicates a charge; it does not by itself establish whether the charge was properly approved or is due. To understand your obligation, check the governing documents, applicable law, assessment approval, and payment schedule. Do not assume that receiving no monthly statement cancels a valid assessment. Equally, do not assume that every fee or collection step is valid just because the association says you should have known the amount.
Get the amount and payment instructions in writing
Ask the board or manager for your current assessment, due dates, approved payment methods, and an itemized account statement. If an increase appears, ask for its approval and notice. Use a known association contact to verify new payment instructions, especially a changed bank account. Avoid guessing the amount or sending money to an unverified destination because a bill is missing.
Check which notice was required
Budget disclosures, assessment-increase notices, routine invoices, and collection notices serve different purposes. California section 5615 requires individual notice of an increase in regular or special assessments between 30 and 60 days before it becomes due. That requirement does not answer whether a monthly invoice is required in another state or whether all prerequisites for a particular charge were met.
Review delivery changes as well as your address
Confirm your mailing address, email, and any delivery consent in the association’s records, and keep confirmation of updates. For covered Florida HOAs, section 720.3085 specifies delivery methods when invoices or account statements are sent. It also requires advance mailed notice and the owner’s affirmative acknowledgment before changing that delivery method. Those provisions should not be reduced to a universal claim that owners must find every bill online. Check the rules applicable to your own association.
Challenge unexplained fees with specific records
If you dispute a late fee or collection cost, identify the entry, the notice you believe was required, and any payment evidence. Request a written correction or explanation and retain the response. Florida section 720.3085 separately requires a late-assessment notice and an opportunity to pay without attorney fees before requiring those fees. Other jurisdictions have different requirements. A billing inquiry does not itself extend a deadline stated in a collection notice; seek advice promptly if enforcement is threatened.
Sources
These guides are general education for HOA boards and residents, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules vary by state and by your community's governing documents - check with a professional for your situation.