Quick Answer
Vermont has a comprehensive statute for many associations: the Vermont Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act, 27A V.S.A. Articles 1 through 4. It applies fully to condominiums created after January 1, 1999 and to other communities of 12 or more residential units created after that date, with only some provisions reaching older communities. Older condominiums also fall under 27 V.S.A. Chapter 15.
Which laws govern HOAs and condominiums in Vermont
Vermont adopted the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (1994 version) as Title 27A of the Vermont Statutes Annotated. Section 1-201 provides that Title 27A applies to condominiums in the state after January 1, 1999 that may be used for residential purposes, and to other common interest communities that contain 12 or more residential units and are created after that date. Which law applies to your community therefore depends on its age, its size and its type.
- Title 27A (Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act): Article 1 general provisions, Article 2 creation and termination, Article 3 management of the community, Article 4 protection of purchasers.
- Older communities: under Section 1-204, a community created before January 1, 1999 is subject to a specified subset of Title 27A, including the lien and records sections (3-116 and 3-118), and, for events after December 31, 2011, sections such as 3-103 (board duties), 3-108 (meetings) and 3-110 (voting). Those sections do not invalidate existing provisions of its declaration or bylaws.
- 27 V.S.A. Chapter 15: the earlier condominium statute, still relevant to older condominiums. Section 1-201 says its subchapter 1 does not apply to communities created after December 31, 1998.
- Small planned communities: Sections 1-203 and 1-204(b) provide exceptions for small projects, so a small older planned community may be subject to very little of Title 27A.
- Vermont nonprofit corporation law (Title 11B): Section 3-103 refers to Title 11B for the standards of care and loyalty applied to non-declarant board members.
- Governing documents: declaration, bylaws and rules. See our overview of governing documents.
Because applicability turns on facts like creation date and unit count, small or older Vermont associations should have an attorney confirm which sections of Title 27A actually govern them.
Vermont HOA law at a glance
Citations are to 27A V.S.A. For older or small communities, confirm which sections apply.
| Topic | What Vermont law says |
|---|---|
| Assessments and liens | Section 3-115: assessments are made at least annually based on an adopted budget; interest on past-due amounts at a rate set by the association, not exceeding the legal rate. Section 3-116: the association has a statutory lien for assessments and fines; recording the declaration is record notice; the lien is extinguished unless enforcement begins within three years; the association must provide an unpaid-assessment statement within 10 business days of a written request. Foreclosure generally requires an owner to owe at least three months of assessments, to have not complied with an offered payment plan, and a board vote on that specific unit. |
| Records access | Section 3-118: the association must retain listed records (financial records, minutes, owner list, rules, three years of financial statements and tax returns, current contracts, architectural decisions, voting records). Owners may inspect and copy on five days' notice during reasonable business hours, subject to withholding categories such as personnel, litigation, privileged communications and executive sessions. Reasonable copy fees are allowed; information may not be used for commercial purposes. |
| Meetings and elections | Section 3-108: annual owner meeting; special meetings on request of the president, a majority of the board or at least 20% of votes (or a lower bylaw percentage); notice 10 to 60 days before the meeting stating agenda items. Section 3-110: owners may vote in person, by absentee ballot, by proxy, or by electronic or paper ballot in no-meeting votes, unless documents limit it. Section 3-122: owners may remove board members and owner-elected officers with or without cause at a meeting where the removal was noticed. |
| Reserves | Section 3-123: the board must provide owners a budget summary that includes any reserves and a statement of the basis on which reserves are calculated and funded. The statute as reviewed does not set a mandatory reserve percentage; see your documents. |
| Fines and enforcement | Section 3-102(a)(11): after notice and a hearing, the association may impose reasonable fines for violations of the declaration, bylaws and rules. Section 3-120: rules must be reasonable and adopted after notice to owners and consideration of comments. |
| Rental restrictions | Section 3-120(f): rules affecting use of residential units are limited to implementing the declaration, regulating behavior that violates the declaration or harms others, or restricting leasing to meet institutional lender underwriting requirements. Any rental cap otherwise depends on the declaration. |
| Architectural review | Section 3-120(c): if the declaration so provides, the association may adopt design standards and approval procedures, including a reasonable response time and the consequence of failing to act. Section 3-118 requires records of design approval decisions. |
| Board duties | Section 3-103: declarant-appointed directors owe the care and loyalty of a trustee; other directors owe the care and loyalty of corporate directors under Title 11B and are subject to its conflict-of-interest rules. The board may not amend the declaration or bylaws, or elect board members, except as the statute allows. |
Key points boards often miss
Foreclosure is restricted
Section 3-116 limits when a Vermont association may foreclose. The owner must generally owe at least three months of assessments and have not accepted or complied with a payment plan, and the board must vote to foreclose on that particular unit. Consistent collection letters, documented payment plan offers and board minutes are therefore important. Our enforcement guide covers process basics.
Budget ratification
Under Section 3-123, the board adopts a proposed budget, sends owners a summary within 30 days, and sets a ratification meeting 10 to 60 days later. The budget is ratified unless a majority of all unit owners (or any larger number in the declaration) reject it, whether or not a quorum attends. Special assessments follow the same process, with an emergency exception for a two-thirds board vote. See reserve funds explained and board member responsibilities.
Condominiums and associations
If you are unsure how condo ownership differs from other community types, read our complete condo association guide.
Recent changes
The Vermont Statutes Online shows that a 2025 act (2025, No. 168) amended Section 1-204 effective July 1, 2026, to extend Section 3-125 (electric vehicle supply equipment) to certain older communities with 12 or more residential units for events after June 30, 2026. See Vermont HOA law changes 2021-2025 for more context.
Remote HOA management in Vermont
Volunteer boards in Vermont, particularly in smaller communities, can use remote management to reduce administrative load. A cloud dashboard keeps budgets, minutes and owner records in one place, which helps with the record retention list in Section 3-118. Online dues collection produces clean assessment ledgers, digital violation tracking documents notice and hearing steps before any fine, and the board gets support by phone, email and video, including for budget ratification and annual meeting preparation.
See how it works in remote HOA management in Vermont and review our pricing. Rules on manager licensing and registration vary by state; we have not confirmed a Vermont licensing requirement for community association managers, so associations should confirm what applies in Vermont. You can also read what HOA management involves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a statewide HOA law in Vermont?
Yes, for many communities. Title 27A, the Vermont Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act, applies to post-1998 condominiums and to larger post-1998 communities, with limited provisions reaching older ones.
Can a Vermont HOA place a lien on my home?
Under Section 3-116, the association has a statutory lien for unpaid assessments and fines, and the recorded declaration serves as notice. Foreclosure has additional prerequisites, including a payment plan offer and a board vote.
Can I look at my Vermont association's records?
Generally yes. Section 3-118 lets owners inspect and copy retained records on five days' notice, subject to listed exceptions like litigation, personnel and attorney-client communications.
Can owners remove Vermont board members?
Section 3-122 allows owners to remove directors and owner-elected officers with or without cause at a properly noticed meeting with a quorum, if votes in favor exceed votes against, with limits during declarant control.
Does Vermont require HOA reserves?
Section 3-123 requires the board to disclose reserves and how they are calculated and funded in the budget summary, but the statute reviewed does not set a minimum reserve amount.
How APM Helps
Association Property Managers provides remote HOA and condo management to boards nationwide, with offices in East Lansing, Michigan and Dublin, California. Explore our association management services or request a free proposal; we respond within 3 business days. Call 810.777.7060 to talk it through.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and associations differ; consult a licensed attorney in Vermont. Last verified October 25, 2026.
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