Stafford Township, NJ HOA Rules: Board Governance (2026)

Section 130-59 sets the structural rules an association must write into its documents if it is established. The approving authority must be satisfied that the organization will have a sufficient number of members to reasonably expect it to continue and meet its obligations. Membership is mandatory for all property owners, condominium owners, cooperative stockholders and other owners of property or interest in the project, and the responsibilities are put in writing in a covenant (§ 130-59A).

The association is responsible for liability insurance, taxes, maintenance and any other obligations it assumes, and must hold the municipality harmless from liability (§ 130-59B). It cannot be dissolved or dispose of open space by sale except to an organization set up to own and maintain the property for the development, and before any later dissolution or disposal it must first offer to dedicate the property to the municipality. Its bylaws must describe the rights and obligations of each tenant and owner, include the covenant, model deeds and articles of incorporation, and confirm that every tenant and property owner has the right to use all common properties. These are set forth as a condition of approval and submitted before final approval (§ 130-59D). The documents must transfer control of the organization to the members based on a percentage of the dwelling units sold and/or occupied (§ 130-59E).

Each year on or before July 1 the association furnishes the Township Council with an annual report on the present disposition of all common areas and park areas it owns, operates and maintains. The report lists current officers with their addresses and telephone numbers, plus emergency telephone numbers where one or more officers can be reached by a Township official during any twenty-four-hour period (§ 130-59G). Where a homeowners' or condominium association owns open space, § 130-61G adds that the association must be established before homes are sold, membership must be mandatory for each home buyer and any successive buyer, and the open space restrictions must be permanent.