San Bernardino County, CA HOA Rules: Dispute Resolution (2026)
Key Facts
- IDR Required Under
- IDR required under Civil Code 5900-5925
- ADR Required Before
- ADR required before litigation over $10,000 or injunctive
- Request for Resolution
- Request for Resolution must be served with 30 day response
- Failure to Participate
- Failure to participate forfeits attorney fees
- Small Claims Under
- Small Claims under $10,000 exempt from ADR
Summary
California Civil Code 5900-5965 requires HOAs in San Bernardino County to offer internal dispute resolution (IDR) and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) before filing litigation over most disputes.
5850.
(a) If an association adopts or has adopted a policy imposing any monetary penalty, including any fee, on any association member for a violation of the governing documents, including any monetary penalty relating to the activities of a guest or tenant of the member, the board shall adopt and distribute to each member, in the annual policy statement prepared pursuant to Section 5310, a schedule of the monetary penalties that may be assessed for those violations, which shall be in accordance with authorization for member discipline contained in the governing documents. Monetary penalties shall be reasonable.
(b) Any new or revised monetary penalty that is adopted after complying with subdivision (a) may be included in a supplement that is delivered to the members individually, pursuant to Section 4040.
(c) A monetary penalty for a violation of the governing documents shall not exceed the lesser of the following:
(1) The monetary penalty stated in the schedule of monetary penalties or supplement that is in effect at the time of the violation.
(2) One hundred dollars ($100) per violation.
(d) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (c), the board may impose a penalty stated in the schedule of monetary penalties or supplement that is in effect at the time of the violation that is greater than one hundred dollars ($100) per violation, if the violation may result in an adverse health or safety impact on the common area or another association member’s property.
(2) Before imposing a penalty on a violation pursuant to this subdivision, the board shall make a written finding specifying the adverse health or safety impact in a board meeting open to the members.
(e) A late charge or interest shall not be charged to a member for a monetary penalty.
(f) An association shall provide a copy of the most recently distributed schedule of monetary penalties, along with any applicable supplements to that schedule, to any member upon request. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 22, Sec. 3. (AB 130) Effective June 30, 2025.) 5855.
(a) When the board is to meet to consider or impose discipline upon a member, or to impose a monetary charge as a means of reimbursing the association for costs incurred by the association in the repair of damage to the common area and facilities caused by a member or the member’s guest or tenant, the board shall notify the member in writing, by either personal delivery or individual delivery pursuant to Section 4040, at least 10 days prior to the meeting.
(b) The notification shall contain, at a minimum, the date, time, and place of the meeting, the nature of the alleged violation for which a member may be disciplined or the nature of the damage to the common area and facilities for which a monetary charge may be imposed, and a statement that the member has a right to attend and may address the board at the meeting. The board shall meet in executive session if requested by the member.
(c) A member shall have the opportunity to cure the violation prio
Full Breakdown
California Civil Code sections 5900 through 5965 establish a mandatory two-tier dispute resolution framework for HOAs in San Bernardino County covering master-planned communities in Chino Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Victorville, and surrounding areas. Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) under Civil Code 5900 through 5925 requires HOAs to maintain a fair, reasonable, and expeditious process allowing members to request meetings with board representatives to resolve disputes informally. IDR meetings must be offered in good faith and any written agreement reached is binding. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) under Civil Code 5925 through 5965 requires parties to offer mediation or other ADR before filing enforcement actions for injunctive relief, declaratory relief, or monetary damages over $10,000.
A Request for Resolution must be served and the recipient has 30 days to respond. Failure to participate in ADR can result in denied attorney fees even to the prevailing party. Civil Code 5975 allows recovery of attorney fees to the prevailing party in CC&R enforcement actions. Small Claims Court is an alternative for disputes under $10,000 and is not subject to IDR/ADR prerequisites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to go to mediation before suing my HOA?
Can I take my HOA to Small Claims Court?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California hoa rules overview
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