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Washington County, MN HOA Rules: Assessment & Dues (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Required content
Expense-assessment mechanism, Sec. 4.8(4)
Covers
Upkeep, maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance
Filed with
Conditional Use Permit application for the OSD
Related requirement
Separate financial guarantee, Sec. 4.7(3)
Applies to
Open Space Development subdivisions only, Sec. 4

Summary

Washington County requires an Open Space Development's homeowners' association documents to spell out a mechanism to assess and enforce common expenses, covering upkeep, maintenance, real estate taxes and insurance premiums on the shared open space, before the county approves the project's Conditional Use Permit.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Washington County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

The Homeowners' Association documents or the declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions shall contain the following information: ... (4) A mechanism to assess and enforce the common expenses for the land or facilities including upkeep and maintenance expenses, real estate taxes and insurance premiums.

View official code

Full Breakdown

' That assessment mechanism has to cover the full carrying cost of the dedicated open space: routine upkeep and maintenance of common facilities, real estate taxes assessed against the open space parcel, and the insurance premiums that protect the association against liability on land its members share. 8 lists for the association's founding documents, alongside the legal description of the common land (item 1), enforcement of use restrictions (item 2), a dispute-resolution mechanism (item 3), the timing of any transfer of the land to the association (item 5), any other matter the developer deems appropriate (item 6), and management of collector sewage treatment systems where present (item 7). 8(4) is what keeps that dedicated land funded and insured after the developer turns it over to the association.

Violations & Fines

Washington County reviews the assessment mechanism only once, as part of the CUP application data under Section 4.8; an association document that omits a way to assess and collect common expenses is incomplete, and the Zoning Administrator, the Public Works Department under Section 5.2, can withhold approval until it is added. After the CUP issues, collecting unpaid assessments or enforcing liens against a member runs through the mechanism the association's own documents establish, not through county zoning enforcement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What common expenses must our OSD homeowners' association be able to assess?
Section 4.8(4) requires the association's documents to include a mechanism covering upkeep and maintenance expenses, real estate taxes, and insurance premiums on the shared open space. The county checks that the mechanism exists in the recorded CC&Rs before approving the Conditional Use Permit; it does not set the dollar amounts.
Does the county collect our HOA dues or special assessments?
No. Washington County's role under Section 4.8 is to confirm the association's documents contain an assessment-and-enforcement mechanism before the Conditional Use Permit is granted. Billing, collecting and enforcing unpaid assessments, including any liens, is handled entirely through the mechanism the association's own recorded documents establish.
Is there a separate financial guarantee besides HOA dues?
Yes. Section 4.7(3) requires a financial guarantee ensuring construction and completion of the common facilities to be submitted to the Zoning Administrator, separate from the ongoing assessment mechanism in Section 4.8(4) that funds upkeep, taxes and insurance after the facilities are built.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Washington County

CC&R EnforcementSome RestrictionsBoard GovernanceSome RestrictionsDispute ResolutionSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Amplified Music & Outdoor SoundSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Neighbor Fence RulesLight Restrictions

All Washington County rules

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