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Prince George's County, MD HOA Rules: Board Governance (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Commission size
15 voting members
Appointment
County Executive, confirmed by Council
Term length
3 years, staggered
Meeting frequency
At least monthly
Staffed by
Office of Community Relations
Annual report due
September 1

Summary

Prince George's County regulates homeowners associations, condo associations and co-ops through a 15-member Commission on Common Ownership Communities, created by County Code § 13-314.01 to police governance, education and disputes for every common ownership community in the county.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Prince George's County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(a)There is hereby established a Commission on Common Ownership Communities. ... The purpose of the Commission on Common Ownership Communities is to: (a)ensure proper establishment and operation of homeowners' associations, condominium associations, and cooperative housing corporations;(b)promote education, public awareness and association membership understanding of the rights and obligations of living in a common ownership community;(c)reduce the number and divisiveness of disputes, and encourage informal resolution of disputes;(d)maintain property values and quality of life in Common Ownership Communities;(e)assist and oversee the development of coordinated community and government policies, program, and services which support these communities; and(f)prevent potential public financial liability for repair or replacement of common ownership community facilities.

View official code

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

Subtitle 13, Division 11 of the County Code creates the county's oversight structure for common ownership communities. Sec. 01(a) establishes the Commission on Common Ownership Communities. The County Executive appoints its 15 voting members and the County Council confirms them under Charter Sections 322 and 402: eight seats go to unit or lot owners and residents of self-managed or professionally managed condos, co-ops and HOAs, and seven go to industry professionals such as real estate, housing-development and community-association attorneys, including at least one certified community association manager, per Sec.

04(b). Members serve staggered three-year terms and cannot sit more than two consecutive full terms; the Commission must meet at least once a month and a majority of voting members is a quorum, Sec. 04(d),(i). Sec. 02 spells out the Commission's statutory purpose: ensure associations are properly established and operated, educate residents and boards on their rights and duties, cut down on disputes and push informal resolution, protect property values and quality of life, coordinate government policy toward these communities, and prevent public liability for repairing or replacing common facilities.

The Office of Community Relations staffs the Commission under Sec. 06, and under Sec. 13-315 that same office's Director administers the broader Common Ownership Communities Program, with implementing rules adopted by the County Executive or Council and then approved by resolution. The Commission must keep public minutes, file an annual report with the County Executive and Council by September 1 (Sec. 10), and undergo an outside quality-assurance review every three to five years (Sec. 11).

Violations & Fines

The Commission does not fine associations directly for governance failures. Instead, Sec. 13-314.08 requires it to refer matters warranting further action to the appropriate civil, criminal or administrative agency for enforcement. Associations or individuals who obstruct the Commission's examinations, meetings or public hearings under Sec. 13-314.05 risk becoming the subject of one of those referrals, and all Commission records and meeting minutes stay open to public inspection under Sec. 13-314.09.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Prince George's County's Commission on Common Ownership Communities do?
It oversees every HOA, condo association and cooperative in the county under Sec. 13-314.02, working to ensure associations are properly run, educate residents and boards on their rights and duties, cut down on disputes, protect property values and coordinate government policy toward these communities.
Who serves on the Commission?
Fifteen voting members appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council: eight are owners or residents of associations, and seven are professionals such as community-association attorneys, real estate practitioners or a certified community association manager, per Sec. 13-314.04.
Can the Commission fine my HOA directly?
No. Sec. 13-314.08 limits the Commission to referring matters that warrant further civil, criminal or administrative action to the appropriate agency; it does not itself levy fines for general governance violations.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Prince George's County

All Prince George's County rules

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