Pennsylvania HOA Rules for Board Members (2026)

Key Pennsylvania deadlines at a glance

Which Pennsylvania law applies

• The Uniform Planned Community Act, 68 Pa.C.S. §5101 and following, applies in full to Pennsylvania planned communities created after it took effect on February 2, 1997. Older planned communities get only listed sections (including the fine and suspension power, the lien, records and resale certificates) for events since then, without invalidating specific provisions already in their documents. A community of 12 units or fewer is largely outside the Act unless its declaration adopts it.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5102(a)-(c)

• Condominiums follow the Uniform Condominium Act, 68 Pa.C.S. §3101 and following (in effect since October 30, 1980), which has matching sections: §3302(a)(11) for fines and suspensions, §3315 for the lien, §3316 for records. Condominiums created before 1980 get listed sections only.

  68 Pa.C.S. §§3102, 3302(a)(11)

• Subject to the declaration, the association may, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, levy reasonable fines for violations of the declaration, bylaws and rules and regulations of the association. The power reaches planned communities created before 1997 (for events since the Act) and condominiums created before 1980.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5302(a)(11)(i); §3302(a)(11)(i)

How Pennsylvania counts days

• When any period of time is referred to in any statute, it is computed by excluding the first day and including the last; whenever the last day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, or on any day made a legal holiday by the laws of Pennsylvania or of the United States, that day is omitted from the computation.

  1 Pa.C.S. §1908

Hearings in Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania law requires notice and an opportunity to be heard before a fine, but sets no notice content, delivery method, cure period, hearing deadline, hearing-notice period, decision deadline or dollar cap for violation fines; fines must be reasonable. Pennsylvania law sets no cure period or hearing timeline; your documents control.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5302(a)(11) (no procedure set)

Assessments, late fees and liens in Pennsylvania

• After notice and an opportunity to be heard, the association may also suspend an owner's rights (voting, serving on the board or committees, and use of common elements, recreational facilities or amenities) for any period during which assessments are delinquent or a violation remains uncured.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5302(a)(11)(ii); §3302(a)(11)(ii)

• Unless the declaration provides otherwise, fees, charges, late charges, fines and interest, and reasonable costs of collection and enforcement including legal fees, are enforceable as assessments, and the association has a lien for assessments and fines from the time they become due. A lien is extinguished unless enforcement proceedings start within four years after the amounts become payable. Collections and liens go to a Pennsylvania attorney.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5315(a), (e); §3315(a), (d)

• Past-due assessments bear interest at a rate the association sets, not more than 15% a year. Unless the declaration provides otherwise, payments go first to interest, then late fees, then costs and reasonable attorney fees, then the delinquent assessment.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5314(b); §5315(i)

Meetings and votes in Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania law does not require executive board meetings or hearings to be open to owners; your bylaws decide. Unless the bylaws provide otherwise, a person may take part in a board or association meeting by telephone or other technology where everyone can hear each other, and that counts as attending in person.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5308(c); Ch. 53 (no open-meeting rule)

Other rules boards should know

• The association may adopt and amend rules and regulations and regulate the use, maintenance, repair, replacement and modification of common elements, and may make reasonable accommodations or permit reasonable modifications for people with disabilities.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5302(a)(1), (6)

• Board members and officers are fiduciaries: they must act in good faith, in the reasonable belief that their actions are in the best interests of the association, and with the care of an ordinarily prudent person.

  68 Pa.C.S. §5303(a)

• The association must keep financial and other records reasonably available for examination by owners and their agents, and provide a copy within 30 days of a written request (copy fees not over cost).

  68 Pa.C.S. §5316

Step by step: a Pennsylvania violation case

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

1. Check before you start Every case
   Know which Pennsylvania Act covers you, what process your documents set, and the exact rule.
2. Courtesy reminder Optional
   Optional friendly reminder. It isn't the notice the law requires before a fine.
3. Written notice and time to fix Before any fine (68 Pa.C.S. §5302(a)(11))
   Notice comes before any fine or suspension. Give a fix-by date from your documents (10 to 30 days if silent). Certified plus first-class mail is good practice.
4. Opportunity to be heard Before any fine (68 Pa.C.S. §5302(a)(11))
   Give the owner an opportunity to be heard before any fine or suspension. Kindly Board suggests 10 days' notice of the hearing.
5. Decide and record it Before any fine
   Decide as your documents provide and record it. Board members are fiduciaries (§5303(a)).
6. Notice of fine Only after notice and the opportunity to be heard
   A reasonable fine under your documents (§5302(a)(11)). No dollar cap in the statute.
7. Close the case Every case
   Confirm the fix and keep the file. Owners may examine association records (§5316).

Pennsylvania HOA rules: FAQ

Official text

• 68 Pa.C.S. Chapters 51-54, Uniform Planned Community Act
• 68 Pa.C.S. Chapters 31-34, Uniform Condominium Act
• Act 93 of 2006 (flag display in planned communities and condominiums)
• 1 Pa.C.S. §1908, Computation of time