For volunteer board members

Minnesota HOA Rules for Board Members (2026)

Most Minnesota board members are volunteers who just want to get it right. Below is a plain-English summary of the Minnesota rules that come up when a board enforces its documents, each paired with its statute section and the official text.

Minnesota condominiums, planned communities (such as townhome associations) and cooperatives covered by chapter 515B, generally those created on or after June 1, 1994. Check this first: older planned communities and cooperatives, small 1994-2006 planned communities, and single-family-lot communities where no association maintains any home are generally outside chapter 515B unless they opted in; follow your documents there. Where a step comes from your documents, Kindly Board says so. A new law changes several steps on January 1, 2027; those changes are marked as dated notes.

The short version: Minnesota law sets no periods for these steps today, so Kindly Board uses the dates from your notice (your documents set them). If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, ask a Minnesota attorney.

Updated October 2026. Not legal advice.

Which Minnesota law applies

Chapter 515B (the Minnesota Common Interest Ownership Act) applies to common interest communities created in Minnesota on and after June 1, 1994. Condominiums created earlier under chapters 515 or 515A are covered by many of its sections, including the fine and notice rules in §515B.3-102. Unless the community elected to come under it, chapter 515B generally does not apply to planned communities and cooperatives created before June 1, 1994; planned communities created June 1, 1994 to July 31, 2006 with 3 to 12 units; and communities made up only of lots for detached single-family homes (or farms) where no association or master association has an obligation to maintain any building containing a home. If that describes you, the 515B steps are not required by statute; your declaration and bylaws set the process.
Minn. Stat. §515B.1-102(a), (b), (d), (e)(2)
The association may levy reasonable fines for violations of the declaration, bylaws and rules only after notice and an opportunity to be heard before the board or a committee it appoints. If an owner disputes a fine and asks for a hearing, attorney fees and costs may not be charged unless, after the hearing, the board or committee adopts a resolution levying the fine. Minnesota law today sets no cure period, hearing-notice period, deadline to hold a hearing, or fine cap; your documents control those.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(a)(11)
Dated note (2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82, effective January 1, 2027): a fine for a single violation may not exceed $100, unless owners with a majority of the votes approve more at a board meeting, the fine is for a repeat of the same conduct, or the violation involves health or safety, damage, or using the property for financial enrichment, such as renting against your rules. If your documents allow fines, every owner gets a list of fines for common violations and the remedies, again whenever it changes. Owners ask for a hearing within 30 days after receiving the notice, unless your declaration sets another period, and may be advised by an attorney or a designated representative at the hearing; the final resolution goes to them within 30 days of adoption, with an explanation if the fine is upheld. The fine notice must also describe the steps to schedule a hearing and say that dispute resolution and information services are available from the common interest community ombudsperson. Until then, current law applies.
§515B.3-102(a)(11), (c)(5), (c)(7), as amended by 2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82

How Minnesota counts days

Minnesota's general rule for a period fixed by law: don't count the first day; count the last day, but if the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, that day is left out. Legal holidays are listed in §645.44, subd. 5 (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas). Minnesota law sets no periods for a violation today, so whether this rule reaches a period set by your own documents is a question for a Minnesota attorney.
Minn. Stat. §645.15; 645.44, subd. 5

Violation notices and the chance to fix in Minnesota

Minnesota law sets no cure (fix-by) period in days and requires no courtesy notice; your documents control. 10 to 30 days is common practice, not a legal rule.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(a)(11) (no cure period set)
Minnesota law requires the fine notice to be dated and in writing but sets no delivery method for a violation notice (the hand-delivery or mail rule in §515B.3-108(b) is for owners' meetings); follow your documents and keep proof of the date and how it was sent.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(c); 515B.3-108(b)

Hearings in Minnesota

Minnesota law doesn't sort violations into types. Your documents decide whether an ongoing violation gets a period to fix it, and how long; a fine still needs notice and an opportunity to be heard first.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(a)(11)
Minnesota law sets no separate path for a one-time violation: a fine still needs notice and an opportunity to be heard first.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(a)(11)

Fines in Minnesota

Every fine (for fines levied on or after January 1, 2024) needs a dated, written notice to the owner that states: the amount and reason; the violation and the date of the levy; the specific section of the declaration, bylaws or rules violated; that unpaid fines and assessments are liens which, if not satisfied, could lead to foreclosure; the owner's right to be heard by the board or its committee; that the amount may increase with attorney fees and collection costs; and that homeownership assistance is available from the Minnesota Homeownership Center.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(c); 2023 Minn. Laws ch. 57, art. 5, §12

Assessments, late fees and liens in Minnesota

The fine notice must say that unpaid fines and assessments are liens which, if not satisfied, could lead to foreclosure. Talk to a Minnesota attorney before any lien or foreclosure step.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(c); 515B.3-116
On written request, the association furnishes a statement of unpaid assessments within 10 business days after receiving the request.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-116(g)
Dated note (2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82, effective January 1, 2027): on late common expenses and special assessments, a late fee of no more than the greater of $20 or 5% of the amount owed, and interest of no more than 8%. Payments go to assessments before fines and fees, with narrow exceptions; consider a reasonable payment plan. Adopt a collection policy and give it to all owners, with at least 3 notices (one by certified mail) before an account goes to a law firm or collection agency. No foreclosure unless assessments are more than three months delinquent. Which fines stay liens after that date is unclear; ask a Minnesota attorney.
§§515B.3-102(a)(17)-(18), (h); 515B.3-1151(k); 515B.3-116(h), as amended by 2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82

Meetings and votes in Minnesota

Dated note (2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82, effective January 1, 2027): rules must be reasonable, with at least 21 days' notice to owners before a vote to adopt, change or revoke a rule (temporary rules allowed in an emergency). Board meetings: agenda and documents to be approved available to owners; owners may speak on an agenda item before the vote. Tell an owner in advance before sending their inquiry to the association's lawyer (§515B.3-125).
§§515B.3-102(a)(1), 515B.3-103, 515B.3-125, as amended or added by 2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82
Board meetings are open to owners, with reasonable notice where practicable; a meeting may be closed only to discuss personnel matters, pending or potential litigation or adversarial matters with owners, or criminal activity, and minutes of a closed portion may be kept confidential.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-103(g)
Annual meeting notice goes 21 to 30 days before; special meeting notice 7 to 30 days before, hand delivered or sent postage-prepaid U.S. mail. Unless the bylaws say otherwise, special meetings are called on the written petition of a majority of the board or owners with at least 20% of the votes. An annual report goes to each owner at or before the annual meeting.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-108(a), (b); 515B.3-106(b)-(c)

Records in Minnesota

Records must be reasonably available to owners; Minnesota sets no response deadline. Copy fee: actual cost, or no more than 25 cents a page for 100 or fewer black-and-white, letter or legal size pages.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-118

Flags, signs, solar and other owner rights

Rules may regulate the exterior appearance of the property, including balconies and patios, window treatments, and signs and other displays.
Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(a)(1)(v)
Minnesota law today sets no general deadline for an architectural decision; use your declaration, bylaws or guidelines. Roof-mounted solar: decide in writing within 60 days or the application is deemed approved, unless the delay comes from a reasonable request for more information. Dated note (2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82, effective January 1, 2027): for 515B communities, the decision must be in writing and reasonable, and made within 90 days of a complete application unless your declaration, bylaws or rules set a different period.
Minn. Stat. §500.216; 515B.3-107(e) as amended by 2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82

Step by step: a Minnesota violation case

The order Kindly Board walks a Minnesota board through, from the first look to the last letter.

Check before you start Every case
Find the rule, and the steps your own documents require.
Courtesy reminder Optional
A friendly first note before any formal notice.
Formal notice of violation Before any fine (per your documents)
The rule, the facts, the fix-by date and how to be heard, in the form your documents require.
Hearing (if the owner asks, or your documents require one) Per your documents
A fair chance to be heard before the Board decides.
Board vote on the fine Before a fine
Only if your documents allow fines, at a proper board meeting.
Notice of fine After the vote
Amount, due date, how to pay, and the rule behind it.
Close the case Every case
Record how it ended and keep the file.

Minnesota HOA rules: FAQ

What HOA law applies in Minnesota?

How are days counted for Minnesota HOA deadlines?

Minnesota law sets no periods for these steps today, so Kindly Board uses the dates from your notice (your documents set them). If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, ask a Minnesota attorney.

What does Minnesota law say about HOA fines?

Every fine (for fines levied on or after January 1, 2024) needs a dated, written notice to the owner that states: the amount and reason; the violation and the date of the levy; the specific section of the declaration, bylaws or rules violated; that unpaid fines and assessments are liens which, if not satisfied, could lead to foreclosure; the owner's right to be heard by the board or its committee; that the amount may increase with attorney fees and collection costs; and that homeownership assistance is available from the Minnesota Homeownership Center. (Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(c); 2023 Minn. Laws ch. 57, art. 5, §12)

What does Minnesota law say about violation hearings?

Minnesota law doesn't sort violations into types. Your documents decide whether an ongoing violation gets a period to fix it, and how long; a fine still needs notice and an opportunity to be heard first. (Minn. Stat. §515B.3-102(a)(11))

Can Minnesota owners see the association's records?

Records must be reasonably available to owners; Minnesota sets no response deadline. Copy fee: actual cost, or no more than 25 cents a page for 100 or fewer black-and-white, letter or legal size pages. (Minn. Stat. §515B.3-118)

Official text

Nearby and related states

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