Articles

What IS Exclusive Use Common Area May 09, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., HOA Homefront Column  

Condominium projects typically consist of three categories of property – the “separate interest” (normally called the “un...

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HOA Security Camera Issues May 02, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column 

Many HOAs inquire about installing security monitoring cameras. Such cameras may or may not be required by the specif...

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Are Personal Security Cameras OK? Apr 27, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column

Dear Kelly: What is the law when it comes to doorbell cameras mounted on outside, pointing at your neighbor’s front do...

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Does Your HOA Have “Nonfunctional Turf”? Apr 17, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column

In 2029, a new law will ban watering of “nonfunctional turf” with potable water. What is “nonfunctional turf,” and mus...

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Tips For Successful Virtual Board Meetings Apr 12, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column 

Civil Code 4926 permits 100% virtual meetings as an alternative to solely in-person or hybrid board meeting formats. ...

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Must We Have Virtual Meetings? Apr 03, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq. CCAL, HOA Homefront Column

Mr. Richardson: It appears during the pandemic that state law changed to allow HOAs to hold board meetings by Zoom. Th...

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Can They Have a Rule on THAT? Mar 27, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., CCAL, HOA Homefront Column

Dear Mr. Richardson: I asked our HOA management company about owners displaying flags inside windows, on individual u...

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Is It a Rule? What’s Allowed and What Isn’t Mar 23, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., HOA Homefront Column 

Dear Mr. Richardson: Our HOA board recently changed the rules without notifying owners. Does this invalidate the changes? ...

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Senate Bill 1007: A TERRIBLE HOA Bill Mar 14, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., HOA Homefront Column

The previous two columns featured four bills helpful to HOAs and five unhelpful bills. However, one final bill, Senate Bill...

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Five Bad Pending HOA Bills Mar 08, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., HOA Homefront Column

Here are five pending bills that would not help HOAs:

SB 1238 would create many problems. It proposes to add to Civil Code...

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Four Pending Bills (as Currently Drafted) Would Help HOAs Mar 01, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., HOA Homefront Column

The Legislature is more active this year regarding common interest developments than it has been in many years. There are p...

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What Minutes Are… and Aren’t Feb 22, 2026

By Kelly G. Richardson, Esq., HOA Homefront Column

Corporation are legal fictions - a game of pretend in which fictional entities are created registering with the state. Once...

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