For volunteer board members
Indiana HOA Rules for Board Members (2026)
New to a Indiana HOA or condo board? Before you send a violation letter or set a fine, it helps to know what the law actually says. Here are the Indiana rules in plain words, each with its statute section and a link to the official text.
Indiana homeowners associations under the Homeowners Association Act (IC 32-25.5). The fine rule (§3-12), the board meeting and records rules (§3-3(e)-(o)) and the grievance process (chapter 5) apply to every Indiana HOA. Condominiums follow IC 32-25; whether the fine rule reaches them isn't settled. Indiana requires a fine schedule and notice before a fine, but sets no cure period, hearing requirement or delivery method; your documents control those.
- Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Indiana rule): indiana law sets no cure period. The fix-by date you wrote in the notice (from your documents, or 10 to 30 days if they're silent) controls; this is only a 14-day reminder to check.
- Kindly Board's suggested hearing date (10 days after the hearing notice; not a Indiana rule): no Indiana statute sets a hearing-notice period. Kindly Board suggests at least 10 days so the owner can prepare; your documents control if they say otherwise.
Updated October 2026. Not legal advice.
Key Indiana deadlines at a glance
| Deadline | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Indiana rule) | Indiana law sets no cure period. The fix-by date you wrote in the notice (from your documents, or 10 to 30 days if they're silent) controls; this is only a 14-day reminder to check. IC 32-25.5-3-12 (none set) |
| Kindly Board's suggested hearing date (10 days after the hearing notice; not a Indiana rule) | No Indiana statute sets a hearing-notice period. Kindly Board suggests at least 10 days so the owner can prepare; your documents control if they say otherwise. IC 32-25.5-3-12 (none set) |
Which Indiana law applies
The Act covers an HOA established after June 30, 2009 that can impose mandatory dues, and an older HOA whose members elect to be governed by it. Some sections apply to every Indiana HOA, opted in or not, including the fine rule (§3-12), the meeting and records rules in §3-3(e)-(o), and the grievance process in chapter 5. Governing documents are the articles and bylaws plus the covenants recorded with the county recorder.
An HOA may fine a member for violating a recorded covenant only after the board adopts a schedule of fines listing the violations subject to a fine, the amount for each, whether a fine recurs and how it is calculated, and a maximum total for any single violation; a recurring fine may not exceed that maximum. Members get notice of the meeting that adopts or amends the schedule, with the proposed schedule, and the schedule must be available to any member on request. Before assessing a fine, the board must give the member notice of the violation, the amount, the date the fine will be assessed, and, if it recurs, that fact and how it is calculated. The accrued amount must be available on request. Fining doesn't waive other remedies in the documents. In effect from July 1, 2026. The statute speaks of recorded covenants and doesn't say how fines for unrecorded board rules work; ask an Indiana attorney.
Indiana's Homeowners Association Act sets no cure period, no hearing requirement and no delivery method for violation or fine notices, and no dollar cap on fines other than the maximum the board's fine schedule must state. Your documents may add these steps. Indiana law sets no cure period or hearing timeline; your documents control.
Indiana condominiums are governed by IC 32-25 (the Horizontal Property Law). Co-owners may attend board meetings (private only for delinquent assessments and litigation with counsel), and condominiums have their own grievance chapter (IC 32-25-8.5). Whether the HOA Act's fine rule (§3-12) also reaches condominium associations isn't settled in the text; ask an Indiana attorney.
Violation notices and the chance to fix in Indiana
Before starting a lawsuit or administrative proceeding about the governing documents or a dispute among the HOA, the board and members, the claimant must give a written notice of claim (what happened, the basis, what the claimant wants, that the other side may ask to meet in writing within 10 business days, and a contact). At impasse, either side may ask in writing within 10 days for mediation or binding arbitration (the asker pays). HOA claims to collect assessments are exempt, but a claim involving a §3-12 fine is not.
Assessments, late fees and liens in Indiana
Unpaid assessed common-expense sums become a lien when a notice of lien is recorded with the county recorder; a foreclosure complaint may not be filed earlier than 90 days after recording (with exceptions) and must be filed within 5 years, or the lien is void. Whether unpaid fines can join an assessment lien isn't stated in the statute. Talk to an Indiana attorney before any lien or lawsuit.
Meetings and votes in Indiana
Members may attend any board meeting. The board must give at least 4 days' advance written notice of each board meeting, with an agenda, by hand delivery, U.S. mail, or email or other electronic means. The board may meet in private only to discuss delinquent assessments, and with legal counsel about starting litigation or litigation pending or threatened in writing.
Records in Indiana
Members may get financial records on written request and board minutes on request; access may not be unreasonably denied or conditioned on stating a purpose, and there's no search or copy fee. Records created more than 2 years before the request, other members' account information and communications with the HOA's lawyer need not be produced. In a dispute, the communications about it must be made available to the homeowner. The statute sets no number of days to produce records.
Step by step: a Indiana violation case
The order Kindly Board walks a Indiana board through, from the first look to the last letter.
- Check before you start Every case
Know whether you're an HOA or a condominium, that the board has adopted a fine schedule, and that the rule is one you can enforce. - Courtesy reminder Optional
Optional friendly reminder. It isn't the written notice unless your documents say so. - Written notice and time to fix Before any fine (IC 32-25.5-3-12(f))
Written notice to the owner's address on file, with a fix-by date from your documents (10 to 30 days if silent). Certified plus first-class mail is good practice. - Opportunity to be heard Kindly Board's fair-process order (your documents may require it)
Give the owner a chance to be heard before any fine. Kindly Board suggests 10 days' notice of the hearing. - Decide and record it Before any fine
Decide at a board meeting (4 days' written notice with an agenda; members may attend) and record it in the minutes. - Notice of fine Only after notice and the chance to be heard
Only for a violation on the board's adopted fine schedule, after written notice of the violation, amount and fine date (IC 32-25.5-3-12). No dollar cap beyond the schedule's maximum. - Close the case Every case
Confirm the fix and keep the file. Members may ask for records and the communications about their dispute.
Indiana HOA rules: FAQ
What HOA law applies in Indiana?
Indiana homeowners associations under the Homeowners Association Act (IC 32-25.5). The fine rule (§3-12), the board meeting and records rules (§3-3(e)-(o)) and the grievance process (chapter 5) apply to every Indiana HOA. Condominiums follow IC 32-25; whether the fine rule reaches them isn't settled. Indiana requires a fine schedule and notice before a fine, but sets no cure period, hearing requirement or delivery method; your documents control those. The main sources: Indiana law (the Homeowners Association Act, IC 32-25.5, and IC 32-25 for condominiums).
How are days counted for Indiana HOA deadlines?
Indiana sets no statutory notice or hearing days for HOA violations; your documents set the periods. Kindly Board counts calendar days. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, ask an Indiana attorney.
What are the key deadlines in a Indiana HOA violation case?
Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Indiana rule): indiana law sets no cure period. The fix-by date you wrote in the notice (from your documents, or 10 to 30 days if they're silent) controls; this is only a 14-day reminder to check. (IC 32-25.5-3-12 (none set)) Kindly Board's suggested hearing date (10 days after the hearing notice; not a Indiana rule): no Indiana statute sets a hearing-notice period. Kindly Board suggests at least 10 days so the owner can prepare; your documents control if they say otherwise. (IC 32-25.5-3-12 (none set))
Can Indiana owners see the association's records?
Members may get financial records on written request and board minutes on request; access may not be unreasonably denied or conditioned on stating a purpose, and there's no search or copy fee. Records created more than 2 years before the request, other members' account information and communications with the HOA's lawyer need not be produced. In a dispute, the communications about it must be made available to the homeowner. The statute sets no number of days to produce records. (IC 32-25.5-3-3(g)-(m))