Prince George's County, MD HOA Rules: Dispute Resolution (2026)
Key Facts
- Must exhaust association remedies first
- Yes, Sec. 13-319(b)
- Board enforcement freeze after notice
- 14 days
- Hearing panel size
- 3 members
- Mediation deadline before hearing
- 90 days
- Penalty for non-compliance
- $500 first, $1,000 repeat
Summary
Before an HOA dispute in Prince George's County can go to court, residents must exhaust their association's own remedies, then file with the Commission on Common Ownership Communities, which mediates and, if needed, holds a binding hearing under Sec. 13-319.
(a)The Commission may hear any dispute between or among parties.(b)A party must not file a dispute with the Commission until the party makes a good faith attempt to exhaust all procedures or remedies provided in the association documents.(c)After a community association finds that a dispute exists, the association must notify the other parties of their rights to file the dispute with the Commission. The association must not take any action to enforce or implement its decision for 14 days after it notifies the other parties of their rights.(d)Except as provided in Section 13-320, when a dispute is filed with the Commission, a community association must not take any action to enforce or implement the association's decision, other than filing a civil action under subsection (f), until the process under this Division is completed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 2026 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 13-319(a) lets the Commission hear any dispute between or among owners, boards and other parties in a common ownership community. Sec. 13-319(b) requires a resident to make a good-faith attempt to exhaust every procedure or remedy in the association's own governing documents before filing with the Commission, which is why the association's registered grievance procedure under Sec. 13-318 matters. Once a board finds a dispute exists, Sec. 13-319(c) requires it to notify the other party of their right to bring the matter to the Commission, and the board cannot enforce or implement its own decision for 14 days after that notice.
Sec. 13-319(d) then freezes the board's decision entirely once a dispute is filed with the Commission, except for filing a civil action, until the county's process runs its course. From there, Sec. 13-323 sends the case to the Director for investigation and mandatory mediation; if mediation fails or takes more than 90 days, Sec. 13-325 requires a three-member hearing panel, two Commission members plus a trained volunteer arbitrator chairing the panel, to hold an administrative hearing and issue a binding decision, subject to Circuit Court review.
A party may still file a civil action at any time under Sec. 13-319(e), but the court may stay that case for at least 90 days to let the Commission's hearing finish, and it can only hear the matter de novo if no hearing panel decision has already issued.
Violations & Fines
Failing to adhere to a mediated consent agreement or a final Commission order carries a civil penalty of up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for each repeat offense under Sec. 13-323(g) and Sec. 13-325(k), with each non-compliant day counted as a separate offense. A board that enforces its decision before the 14-day notice period runs, or after a dispute is filed with the Commission, violates the automatic stay in Sec. 13-319(c) and (d).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take my HOA straight to the Commission without contacting my board first?
Can my HOA enforce a decision against me while my dispute is pending with the county?
What happens if my HOA ignores a Commission ruling?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Prince George's County
Compare Prince George's County to another location·View the Maryland hoa rules overview
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