For volunteer board members
Michigan HOA Rules for Board Members (2026)
Most Michigan board members are volunteers who just want to get it right. Below is a plain-English summary of the Michigan rules that come up when a board enforces its documents, each paired with its statute section and the official text.
Michigan condominium associations (the Condominium Act, MCL 559.101 and following, including site condominiums) and homeowners associations in platted subdivisions (no statute of their own; most are nonprofit corporations under MCL 450.2101 and following). A condominium may fine only as its documents provide and only after notice and hearing; an HOA's fining power and process come from its recorded declaration or deed restrictions. Michigan law sets no cure period, hearing timeline or fine cap; your documents control.
- Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Michigan rule): michigan 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 Michigan rule): no Michigan 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 Michigan deadlines at a glance
| Deadline | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Michigan rule) | Michigan 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. MCL 559.206(c); no HOA statute (none set) |
| Kindly Board's suggested hearing date (10 days after the hearing notice; not a Michigan rule) | No Michigan 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. MCL 559.206(c); no HOA statute (none set) |
Which Michigan law applies
Michigan has no single statute for homeowners associations in platted subdivisions; their violation, hearing and fine process comes from the recorded declaration or deed restrictions, bylaws, rules and any enforcement policy. No Michigan statute sets a courtesy notice, cure period, notice contents, delivery method, hearing deadline, hearing-notice period, fine cap or appeal for HOA or condominium violations. Michigan law sets no cure period or hearing timeline; your documents control.
Condominiums (including site condominiums) are governed by the Condominium Act, MCL 559.101 and following, and by the master deed, condominium bylaws and rules. Each co-owner, tenant and non-co-owner occupant must comply with the master deed, bylaws, rules and regulations and the Act.
Condominiums: fines are allowed only as the condominium documents provide, and only after notice and hearing; late charges for unpaid assessments as the bylaws or rules provide. HOAs: no statute grants fining power, so the power and the amount must come from your recorded declaration or deed restrictions and governing documents (a board rule on its own may not be enough).
How Michigan counts days
This section applies to the statutes and administrative rules. In computing a period of days, the first day is excluded and the last day is included. If the last day of any period or a fixed or final day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the period or day is extended to include the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.
Assessments, late fees and liens in Michigan
Condominiums: unpaid assessments with interest, collection and late charges, attorney fees and fines in accordance with the condominium documents are a lien on the unit; no foreclosure may start without recording a notice of lien and serving it by first-class mail at least 10 days before. HOAs: any lien right comes from the declaration or deed restrictions, not a state HOA statute. Talk to a Michigan attorney before any lien or lawsuit.
A condominium default allows a lawsuit for damages, injunctive relief, foreclosure of the lien for unpaid assessments, or a combination; the successful party recovers costs and reasonable attorney fees as the court determines, to the extent the condominium documents expressly so provide.
Meetings and votes in Michigan
Most subdivision HOAs and condominium associations are nonprofit corporations, so the Nonprofit Corporation Act (MCL 450.2101 and following) governs their meetings, board action and records.
Michigan's laws for these communities set no open-meeting rule for board meetings; your bylaws decide whether owners may attend.
Condominium Act and Nonprofit Corporation Act (no open-meeting rule)
Nonprofit corporation board action: the vote of a majority of directors present at a meeting with a quorum (a majority of directors in office unless the articles or bylaws set another number, not less than one-third). Directors may join by phone or other remote means where all can communicate, unless the articles or bylaws restrict it.
Records in Michigan
A nonprofit corporation must keep books and records of account and minutes of member, board and committee proceedings. Condominium books, records, contracts and financial statements are open to co-owners and their mortgagees at convenient times.
Step by step: a Michigan violation case
The order Kindly Board walks a Michigan board through, from the first look to the last letter.
- Check before you start Every case
Know whether you're a condominium or an HOA, what process your documents set, 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 Condominiums: before any fine (MCL 559.206(c)). HOAs: Kindly Board's fair-process order
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 Condominiums: before any fine (MCL 559.206(c)). HOAs: Kindly Board's fair-process order
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 as your documents provide and record the vote (majority of directors present with a quorum, MCL 450.2523). - Notice of fine Only after notice and the chance to be heard
Condominiums: fines only as the documents provide, after notice and hearing (MCL 559.206(c)). HOAs: your declaration or deed restrictions. No statutory cap. - Close the case Every case
Confirm the fix and keep the file. Owners may inspect association records.
Michigan HOA rules: FAQ
What HOA law applies in Michigan?
Michigan condominium associations (the Condominium Act, MCL 559.101 and following, including site condominiums) and homeowners associations in platted subdivisions (no statute of their own; most are nonprofit corporations under MCL 450.2101 and following). A condominium may fine only as its documents provide and only after notice and hearing; an HOA's fining power and process come from its recorded declaration or deed restrictions. Michigan law sets no cure period, hearing timeline or fine cap; your documents control. The main sources: Michigan law (the Condominium Act, MCL 559.101 and following, and the Nonprofit Corporation Act; no HOA statute).
How are days counted for Michigan HOA deadlines?
Michigan sets no statutory notice or hearing days for associations; your documents set the periods. Kindly Board counts calendar days. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, ask a Michigan attorney.
What are the key deadlines in a Michigan HOA violation case?
Kindly Board's suggested check-in on the fix (not a Michigan rule): michigan 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. (MCL 559.206(c); no HOA statute (none set)) Kindly Board's suggested hearing date (10 days after the hearing notice; not a Michigan rule): no Michigan 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. (MCL 559.206(c); no HOA statute (none set))
Can Michigan owners see the association's records?
A nonprofit corporation must keep books and records of account and minutes of member, board and committee proceedings. Condominium books, records, contracts and financial statements are open to co-owners and their mortgagees at convenient times. (MCL 450.2485; 559.157(1))