All common interest communities in Washington are required to follow the provisions of the Washington Uniform Common Interest Homeownership Act, or WUCIOA. This requires homeowner and condo owner associations to make changes to their governing documents. Here is more information on how WUCIOA impacts governance and operations of community associations:
WUCIOA Implementation
WUICIOA serves as a replacement for several Washington laws; these include the Horizontal Property Regimes Act, the Washington Condominium Act, and the Homeowners Association Act. In cases of contradiction with the community’s established governing documents, the association will be required to follow the new act. Exceptions include specific statements in the law.
The WUICIOA has stages of implementation to allow HOA and COA communities to make the required changes in their communities. Beginning January 1, 2026, key provisions apply to all common interest communities, and in 2028, legacy statutes are repealed, and the law comes into full effect. A management company is able to assist boards with the transition stage to help prevent noncompliance issues, improve recordkeeping, and provide customizable resolutions.
New Meeting and Minute Requirements
Washington’s new homeownership act offers changes in how the board can organize and run meetings. All meetings, except executive ones, are opened to homeowners. The board is required to notify homeowners about meetings at least 14 days ahead of time, and they should provide required notices with the location, time, and date. The act requires that homeowners have at least 15 minutes at the beginning of each meeting to discuss agenda items. Management companies help associations make required changes by assisting with meeting notifications and providing templates for agendas.
This new act allows communities to have virtual meetings, so it is possible for homeowners and the board to interact via video or phone conferencing. This can make it simpler for homeowners with small children, physical disabilities, or varied work or travel schedules to attend meetings. The change is also beneficial for communities that do not have a designated space to hold meetings. Community meetings should be conducted over real-time software to prevent delays. Make sure to include the link for the meeting in your community’s meeting notices.
The law sets a deadline for homeowners to make legal challenges to board actions, which is 90 days after the final meeting notes have been finalized. This change helps prevent delays in minute note publication; taking more time may extend the timeline for legal issues. Setting a minute approval process, using templates, and utilizing emails or other communication methods to send the minutes helps with distribution.
Free Assessment Payment Option
To improve fairness in community governance, the new act requires associations to provide one or more free assessment payment options, as some methods may charge service fees. There is no specified method under the law; options include mailed checks, online platforms without service fees, or in-person payments. Free payment options offer greater accessibility for community members and promote assessments being paid on time.
The board should review the current payment methods and work with payment providers to discuss options; this allows board members to accommodate the requirement. Some management companies offer free payment options through their billing sites. Include information about the free payment option on community portals and in assessment payment instructions.
Learn More About WUCIOA
Legal counsel is beneficial for checking your current compliance with the law; an attorney is also able to identify areas of improvement. Educating board members about the new legal requirements helps with community governing. Some changes under the new law include preventing restrictions around EV charging station installations and heat pumps. To learn more about how to implement WUCIOA in your community, find an association management company today.
