Section § 5300

Explanation

This law requires homeowner associations to prepare and distribute an annual budget report 30 to 90 days before their fiscal year ends. The report must include details like the association's estimated income and expenses, reserve funds, and plans for significant repairs or replacements. It should also provide information on any special financial assessments, outstanding loans, and insurance policies. For condominium projects, it must disclose whether they are approved by the FHA or VA, which affects financing options for owners. Additionally, the report must be available to members, and reserve fund summaries cannot be used in court to prove financial mismanagement unless supported by other evidence.

(a)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(a) Notwithstanding a contrary provision in the governing documents, an association shall distribute an annual budget report 30 to 90 days before the end of its fiscal year.
(b)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b) Unless the governing documents impose more stringent standards, the annual budget report shall include all of the following information:
(1)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(1) A pro forma operating budget, showing the estimated revenue and expenses on an accrual basis.
(2)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(2) A summary of the association’s reserves, prepared pursuant to Section 5565.
(3)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(3) A summary of the reserve funding plan adopted by the board, as specified in paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 5550. The summary shall include notice to members that the full reserve study plan is available upon request, and the association shall provide the full reserve plan to any member upon request.
(4)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(4) A statement as to whether the board has determined to defer or not undertake repairs or replacement of any major component with a remaining life of 30 years or less, including a justification for the deferral or decision not to undertake the repairs or replacement.
(5)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(5) A statement as to whether the board, consistent with the reserve funding plan adopted pursuant to Section 5560, has determined or anticipates that the levy of one or more special assessments will be required to repair, replace, or restore any major component or to provide adequate reserves therefor. If so, the statement shall also set out the estimated amount, commencement date, and duration of the assessment.
(6)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(6) A statement as to the mechanism or mechanisms by which the board will fund reserves to repair or replace major components, including assessments, borrowing, use of other assets, deferral of selected replacements or repairs, or alternative mechanisms.
(7)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(7) A general statement addressing the procedures used for the calculation and establishment of those reserves to defray the future repair, replacement, or additions to those major components that the association is obligated to maintain. The statement shall include, but need not be limited to, reserve calculations made using the formula described in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 5570, and may not assume a rate of return on cash reserves in excess of 2 percent above the discount rate published by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco at the time the calculation was made.
(8)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(8) A statement as to whether the association has any outstanding loans with an original term of more than one year, including the payee, interest rate, amount outstanding, annual payment, and when the loan is scheduled to be retired.
(9)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(b)(9) A summary of the association’s property, general liability, earthquake, flood, and fidelity insurance policies. For each policy, the summary shall include the name of the insurer, the type of insurance, the policy limit, and the amount of the deductible, if any. To the extent that any of the required information is specified in the insurance policy declaration page, the association may meet its obligation to disclose that information by making copies of that page and distributing it with the annual budget report. The summary distributed pursuant to this paragraph shall contain, in at least 10-point boldface type, the following statement:
“This summary of the association’s policies of insurance provides only certain information, as required by Section 5300 of the Civil Code, and should not be considered a substitute for the complete policy terms and conditions contained in the actual policies of insurance. Any association member may, upon request and provision of reasonable notice, review the association’s insurance policies and, upon request and payment of reasonable duplication charges, obtain copies of those policies. Although the association maintains the policies of insurance specified in this summary, the association’s policies of insurance may not cover your property, including personal property or real property improvements to or around your dwelling, or personal injuries or other losses that occur within or around your dwelling. Even if a loss is covered, you may nevertheless be responsible for paying all or a portion of any deductible that applies. Association members should consult with their individual insurance broker or agent for appropriate additional coverage.”
(10)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(10) When the common interest development is a condominium project, a statement describing the status of the common interest development as a Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved condominium project pursuant to FHA guidelines, including whether the common interest development is an FHA-approved condominium project. The statement shall be in at least 10-point font on a separate piece of paper and in the following form:
“Certification by the Federal Housing Administration may provide benefits to members of an association, including an improvement in an owner’s ability to refinance a mortgage or obtain secondary financing and an increase in the pool of potential buyers of the separate interest.
This common interest development [is/is not (circle one)] a condominium project. The association of this common interest development [is/is not (circle one)] certified by the Federal Housing Administration.”
(11)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(11) When the common interest development is a condominium project, a statement describing the status of the common interest development as a federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-approved condominium project pursuant to VA guidelines, including whether the common interest development is a VA-approved condominium project. The statement shall be in at least 10-point font on a separate piece of paper and in the following form:
“Certification by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs may provide benefits to members of an association, including an improvement in an owner’s ability to refinance a mortgage or obtain secondary financing and an increase in the pool of potential buyers of the separate interest.
This common interest development [is/is not (circle one)] a condominium project. The association of this common interest development [is/is not (circle one)] certified by the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.”
(12)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(12) A copy of the completed “Charges For Documents Provided” disclosure identified in Section 4528. For purposes of this section, “completed” means that the “Fee for Document” section of the form individually identifies the costs associated with providing each document listed on the form.
(c)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(c) The annual budget report shall be made available to the members pursuant to Section 5320.
(d)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(d) The summary of the association’s reserves disclosed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) shall not be admissible in evidence to show improper financial management of an association, provided that other relevant and competent evidence of the financial condition of the association is not made inadmissible by this provision.
(e)CA Civil Law Code § 5300(e) The Assessment and Reserve Funding Disclosure Summary form, prepared pursuant to Section 5570, shall accompany each annual budget report or summary of the annual budget report that is delivered pursuant to this article.

Section § 5305

Explanation

If an association makes more than $75,000 in a year, its financial statement must be reviewed following standard accounting rules by a licensed accountant. This review must be shared with the members within 120 days after the fiscal year ends.

Unless the governing documents impose more stringent standards, a review of the financial statement of the association shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles by a licensee of the California Board of Accountancy for any fiscal year in which the gross income to the association exceeds seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000). A copy of the review of the financial statement shall be distributed to the members within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, by individual delivery pursuant to Section 4040.

Section § 5310

Explanation

This section requires a homeowner association board to send an annual policy statement to its members 30 to 90 days before the fiscal year ends. This statement should include important information like who to contact for official communications, how members can receive notices, and where general notices are posted. It also needs to explain members' rights to get copies of meeting minutes, assessment collection policies, and how the association handles defaults on payments. Other required details include any discipline policy, dispute resolution processes, requirements for approving property changes, and where to mail assessment payments. Additionally, any other relevant information should be included as determined by the board.

(a)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a) Within 30 to 90 days before the end of its fiscal year, the board shall distribute an annual policy statement that provides the members with information about association policies. The annual policy statement shall include all of the following information:
(1)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(1) The name and address of the person designated to receive official communications to the association, pursuant to Section 4035.
(2)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(2) A statement explaining that a member may submit a request to have notices sent to up to two different specified addresses, pursuant to Section 4040.
(3)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(3) The location, if any, designated for posting of a general notice, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 4045.
(4)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(4) Notice of a member’s option to receive general notices by individual delivery, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 4045.
(5)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(5) Notice of a member’s right to receive copies of meeting minutes, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 4950.
(6)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(6) The statement of assessment collection policies required by Section 5730.
(7)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(7) A statement describing the association’s policies and practices in enforcing lien rights or other legal remedies for default in the payment of assessments.
(8)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(8) A statement describing the association’s discipline policy, if any, including any schedule of penalties for violations of the governing documents pursuant to Section 5850.
(9)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(9) A summary of dispute resolution procedures, pursuant to Sections 5920 and 5965.
(10)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(10) A summary of any requirements for association approval of a physical change to property, pursuant to Section 4765.
(11)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(11) The mailing address for overnight payment of assessments, pursuant to Section 5655.
(12)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(a)(12) Any other information that is required by law or the governing documents or that the board determines to be appropriate for inclusion.
(b)CA Civil Law Code § 5310(b) The annual policy statement shall be made available to the members pursuant to Section 5320.

Section § 5320

Explanation

This law requires an association to share a report with its members. They can either send the full report or a summary that includes a description and instructions on getting the full version for free. If a member has asked for all reports in full, the association must send the complete report instead of a summary.

(a)CA Civil Law Code § 5320(a) When a report is prepared pursuant to Section 5300 or 5310, the association shall deliver one of the following documents to all members by individual delivery pursuant to Section 4040:
(1)CA Civil Law Code § 5320(a)(1) The full report.
(2)CA Civil Law Code § 5320(a)(2) A summary of the report that includes, on the first page, a general description of the content of the report and instructions, printed in at least 10-point boldface type, regarding how to request a complete copy of the report at no cost to the member.
(b)CA Civil Law Code § 5320(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), if a member has requested to receive all reports in full, the association shall deliver the full report to that member, rather than a summary of the report.