Ohio has two statutes that govern its community associations: the Condominium Act (ORC 5311) and the Planned Community Act, which governs homeowner associations and other residential non-condominium communities (ORC 5312). The Ohio Condominium Act was initially in enacted in 1963, updated in 1978 to provide consumer protection provisions, amended...
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Be Aware and Plan for Rising Material Costs By: Andrew F. Meinert, Esq.
In recent years, the cost of construction materials has increased dramatically. During 2020 when shelter-in-place orders were in effect, many manufacturing businesses were unable to operate, decreasing supply for materials like lumber. At the same time, individuals began purchasing these materials at a greater rate to perform their own...

Who Is Qualified To Be A Board Member? BY Michelle Polly-Murphy, Esq.
A successful community association begins with the board. A competent and productive board is an integral part of that success. But who can be board members? What qualifications must board members have? Can a delinquent owner serve on the board? Even though community association boards are comprised of volunteers,...

Save the Dream Ohio, By: M. Katherine Bushey, Esq.
Recently, Save the Dream Ohio administered by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) and funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Homeowner Assistance Fund, announced it is accepting applications to help Ohio homeowners who are facing economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) was...

Can you operate a business from home while living in a community association? By: John A. Izzo, Esq.
Most Declarations contain a provision prohibiting commercial or business activity from being conducted or operated from a unit or home within an association. Deed restrictions prohibiting business or commercial activity are consistently upheld in Ohio courts as valid and enforceable. But what is “business” or “commercial” activity? Ultimately, it...