What California asks of your association

Distribute the annual budget report 30 to 90 days before the fiscal year ends. Required contents extend beyond the operating budget: they include reserve information, specified funding and assessment disclosures, insurance information, and other items in section 5300. Check the full list and any stricter governing-document standards.

• Section 5300: report timing and contents

Distribute the annual policy statement 30 to 90 days before the fiscal year ends. Include the required communications, notice, records, collection, discipline, dispute-resolution, architectural-approval, and payment information. Use the full statutory list rather than treating these examples as the complete packet.

• Section 5310: annual policy statement

The three-year visual-inspection requirement applies when the current replacement value of covered major components is at least half the association’s gross budget, excluding its reserve account for the period. The inspection concerns accessible areas of components the association must maintain. Review the study annually and make necessary adjustments; consult section 5550 for required study contents and covered utility lines.

• Section 5550: threshold, inspection, and annual review

Unless the governing documents require more, a fiscal year with gross income over $75,000 requires a financial-statement review prepared under generally accepted accounting principles by a California Board of Accountancy licensee. Distribute the review to members by individual delivery within 120 days after the fiscal year closes. A review is not the same service as an audit.

• Section 5305: financial review and delivery

Ordinary board meetings require at least four days’ notice of time and place; a nonemergency meeting held solely in executive session requires at least two days. Include the agenda and use the required delivery method. Emergency meetings have an exception, and applicable governing-document provisions may require longer notice. Check those conditions before selecting a notice date.

• Section 4920: notice periods and exceptions

Within 30 days, make minutes, minutes proposed for adoption and marked as drafts, or a summary available to members for board meetings other than executive sessions. Provide copies on request subject to reimbursement of distribution costs. The annual policy statement must explain members’ access rights and how to obtain copies; final approval is not a reason to ignore the availability deadline.

• Section 4950: available versions and member access

Review the statutory secret-ballot rules and any applicable exception for the election involved. Select independent inspectors as required by section 5110. A paper double-envelope process is not the only permitted method: section 5105 allows electronic secret ballots under adopted election rules and detailed safeguards, except for regular or special assessment elections. An ordinary online poll is not proof that those requirements are met.

• Section 5100: elections covered
• Section 5105: election rules and electronic ballots
• Section 5110: inspectors and electronic safeguards