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.
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Sonoma, CA
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Sonoma, CA
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Sonoma, CA
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Sonoma, CA
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Sonoma, CA
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Sonoma, CA
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