Maryland HOA Laws

Most Maryland community associations are created as nonprofit corporations and governed primarily by their recorded governing documents (the declaration of covenants, conditions and restrictions, the bylaws, and any rules and resolutions), together with several state statutes.

The main statutes depend on the type of community. Planned communities are governed by the Maryland Homeowners' Association Act (Title 11B of the Real Property Article). Condominiums are governed by the Maryland Condominium Act (Title 11 of the Real Property Article). Housing cooperatives fall under the Maryland Cooperative Housing Corporation Act (Title 5B of the Corporations and Associations Article). Assessment liens are enforced under the Maryland Contract Lien Act (Title 14 of the Real Property Article), and incorporated associations also follow the Maryland nonprofit and corporate provisions found in the Corporations and Associations Article.

Maryland's HOA Act includes important owner protections, such as required disclosures to buyers, open meeting and notice requirements, access to association records, and rules for how assessments, fines and liens are handled. Federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act, the FCC OTARD rule on satellite dishes and antennas, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act also apply, along with local ordinances.

Official and third-party sources: Maryland General Assembly statutes (mgaleg.maryland.gov); Maryland Department of Labor and Consumer Protection Division of the Attorney General (marylandattorneygeneral.gov); HOA-USA Maryland summary (hoa-usa.com/state-laws/maryland).

This overview is general information, not legal advice; consult a Maryland attorney or your association's counsel about how these laws apply to your community.

Assessments and liens: Maryland community associations fund shared expenses through assessments authorized by the declaration and bylaws. When assessments go unpaid, associations enforce collection through liens under the Maryland Contract Lien Act (Title 14, Real Property Article), which sets out the notice and procedural steps an association must follow before creating and enforcing a lien. The HOA Act and Condominium Act also regulate how late charges, interest and reasonable collection costs may be added, and owners are entitled to a clear accounting of amounts due.

Meetings, notice and records: The Maryland Homeowners' Association Act and Condominium Act require open meetings, advance notice to owners, and access to association books and records, including budgets and meeting minutes. Boards must generally adopt annual budgets and, in many communities, fund reserves for major repairs. Elections and board governance follow the bylaws and the Maryland nonprofit and corporate provisions in the Corporations and Associations Article.

Owner rights and disclosures: Maryland gives buyers and owners meaningful protections, including required resale disclosures for HOA and condominium units, limits on how fines and enforcement are imposed, and avenues to challenge improper actions. Federal laws such as the Fair Housing Act, the FCC OTARD rule on antennas and satellite dishes, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act also apply. Your specific rights and procedures depend on your recorded declaration and bylaws read together with state law.