HOAs in Seattle are governed by the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA), RCW 64.90. Board meetings must be open to all unit owners. Boards must begin each meeting with at least 15 minutes for homeowner comments, and individual owners may be limited to 90 seconds of speaking time. Executive sessions are permitted only for limited purposes such as legal matters and personnel issues.
The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA, RCW 64.90) governs all common interest communities in Washington state, including condominiums, cooperatives, and planned communities in Seattle. Under WUCIOA, all board meetings must be open to owners, with executive sessions limited to specific topics such as pending litigation, personnel matters, and contract negotiations. Each board meeting must begin with at least 15 minutes dedicated to homeowner comments, with the board able to limit individual speaking time to no fewer than 90 seconds per unit owner. Meetings may be held via telephone, video, or other electronic conferencing without requiring a physical location. All election ballots must include a blank space for write-in candidates, and votes on elections, board member removals, and amendments must be conducted via secret ballot. Senate Bill 5129 accelerated WUCIOA compliance for all common interest communities effective January 1, 2026, and by 2028 all community associations in Washington will be governed solely by RCW 64.90. Seattle does not impose additional municipal HOA regulations beyond state law.
Owners may challenge board actions taken in violation of open meeting requirements through court proceedings. The board may be required to re-notice and re-vote on any action taken without proper notice or in improper executive session. Owners also have rights to inspect association records and may petition for judicial relief if access is denied.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in King County.
See how other cities in King County handle board procedures.
See how Seattle's board procedures rules stack up against other locations.
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