Charles County, MD HOA Rules: Dispute Resolution (2026)
Key Facts
- Board size
- 7 voting members, County Commissioner-appointed
- Member terms
- 3-year staggered terms, unpaid
- Legal basis
- Md. Real Property Article § 11B-104(c)
- Annual report
- Due to County Commissioners by September 1
- Decision appeal
- Circuit Court for Charles County, judicial review petition
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 04-05, August 24, 2004
Summary
Charles County offers a formal alternative to a lawsuit for HOA disputes: the Homeowners' Association Dispute Review Board, created under Chapter 247 pursuant to Maryland Real Property Article § 11B-104(c), gives homeowners and associations a forum to resolve covenant and restriction disagreements without going straight to Circuit Court.
The provision of a forum for alternative dispute resolution in disputes between homeowners' associations and homeowners involving recorded covenants or restrictions of the homeowners' association would be beneficial to all parties. Section 11B-104(c) of the Annotated Code of Maryland empowers the County to establish a homeowners' association commission to hear and resolve such disputes, and the Homeowners' Association Dispute Review Board established pursuant to this article shall serve as said commission.
Full Breakdown
The Board sits at seven voting members appointed by the County Commissioners under § 247-3(A): two must come from residents of self-managed or professionally managed associations in the county, one from housing development or real estate sales, two from professions tied to common ownership communities (association attorneys, developers, housing managers, or investor-owners, including at least one professional community association manager), and two general county residents outside those categories. Members serve staggered three-year terms and receive no compensation for their service (§ 247-3(C)-(D)). The Department of Planning and Growth Management sits on the Board as an ex officio, nonvoting designee (§ 247-3(B)), and the Board must submit an annual report to the County Commissioners by September 1 summarizing its activity (§ 247-3(E)).
Once a dispute is filed, the Board can compel witnesses, administer oaths, and issue summonses for records under § 247-5, and the County Attorney may go to court to enforce a summons that is ignored. A decision is binding on the parties, but it is reviewable only by the Circuit Court for Charles County on a timely petition for judicial review under § 247-7(G).
Violations & Fines
There's no direct fine for using the process; the only penalty attaches to disobeying the Board's final order, a civil infraction under § 247-7(H) carrying a fine up to $500, plus the Board's ability to seek equitable relief in the District Court for Charles County to force compliance with an outstanding order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Charles County Homeowners' Association Dispute Review Board?
Who serves on the Board?
Can I appeal the Board's decision?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Charles County
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