California tightly regulates HOA governance. The Common Interest Development Open Meeting Act (Civil Code 4900-4955) governs board meetings and member access, sections 5100-5145 mandate secret-ballot elections with independent inspectors, and sections 5200-5240 give members broad rights to inspect association records.
Under the Open Meeting Act, Civil Code section 4910 provides the board "shall not take action on any item of business outside of a board meeting" and may not conduct business by email except in a written-consent emergency. Section 4920 requires at least four days' notice of regular board meetings (two days for executive-session-only), with an agenda, and members may attend and speak. Civil Code section 5100 requires secret ballots for director elections, assessment votes, document amendments, and exclusive-use grants, with a board election at least every four years; section 5110 requires an independent inspector who is not a director, candidate, or employee. Section 5205 requires associations to make enumerated records available for member inspection and copying.
Members may sue to enforce the Open Meeting Act (with civil penalties up to $500 per violation under section 4955), to void elections that violate the election rules, or to compel record production. Prevailing members may recover costs and attorney's fees.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
San Rafael, CA
§19.20.080(4) prohibits the use of amplified sound in city parks and buildings without a permit. Combined with the citywide §8.13 noise limits, this is the m...
San Rafael, CA
Parking or storing large commercial vehicles in San Rafael residential zones is restricted by zoning, with weight/length thresholds limiting what may be kept...
San Rafael, CA
Driveway approaches in San Rafael require an encroachment permit and must meet city standards; vehicles generally must be parked on an approved paved surface...
San Rafael, CA
RV, trailer and boat storage on residential lots in San Rafael is regulated by zoning, which restricts placement and prohibits living in a parked RV. The cit...
San Rafael, CA
§5.40.040(1) makes it unlawful to repair or wash any motor vehicle on a city street. Routine driveway washing and minor home maintenance are not affected, bu...
San Rafael, CA
Shared boundary fences in California are governed by the Good Neighbor Fence Act (CA Civil Code §841), presuming adjoining owners share the cost equally afte...
See how San Rafael's board procedures rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.