Wisconsin HOA Law Changes 2021–2025: What Every Board Needs to Know

<h2>Overview of Wisconsin HOA Law Changes 2021–2025</h2>

<p>Wisconsin community associations are governed by the Wisconsin Condominium Ownership Act (Wis. Stat. § 703) for condominiums and the Wisconsin Planned Community Act for planned community HOAs. Between 2021 and 2025, Wisconsin enacted several significant updates — permanent electronic meeting and notice authority, solar energy rights for condominium unit owners, mandatory reserve studies, annual financial disclosure requirements, EV charging protections, and assessment collections reform. Here is a session-by-session breakdown.</p>

<h2>2021 Legislative Session</h2>

<h3>AB 68 / Act 83 — Electronic Notice and Meeting Authority</h3>

<p>AB 68 / Act 83 amended Wis. Stat. § 703 and the Wisconsin Planned Community Act to permanently authorize electronic delivery of all required association notices and to permit board meetings and unit owner meetings to be conducted by video conference or telephone conference. Remote participation counts toward quorum. Boards must provide electronic meeting access instructions at least 48 hours before any electronic meeting. This permanent authorization eliminated the uncertainty that had led some Wisconsin boards to question whether electronic meetings remained valid after the COVID-19 emergency ended. Boards that resumed in-person-only meetings after 2021 may return to electronic or hybrid formats without further board action.</p>

<h2>2023 Legislative Session</h2>

<h3>SB 502 — Solar Energy Rights in Condominiums</h3>

<p>SB 502 prohibited Wisconsin condominium associations from adopting or enforcing restrictions that prohibit the installation of solar energy systems on units or limited common elements (such as exclusive-use balconies, patios, or roof decks) assigned to individual units. Community solar arrangements on general common elements — where the association installs panels on the common roof and allocates net metering credits pro rata to unit owners based on their proportionate share — are expressly authorized. Given Wisconsin's cold climate and rising energy costs, community solar on common rooftops is an increasingly cost-effective option for Wisconsin condo boards. Boards interested in community solar should engage a licensed solar developer for a feasibility assessment and consult with counsel about the credit allocation methodology.</p>

<h3>AB 616 — Reserve Study Requirement</h3>

<p>AB 616 required Wisconsin condominium associations with more than 20 units to conduct a reserve study within 3 years of the act's effective date and update the study every 5 years. The reserve study must assess all major common elements — building envelope, roofing, mechanical systems, elevators, parking surfaces, recreational facilities — and project reserve funding needs over a 20-year horizon. The study must be performed by a licensed professional engineer, licensed architect, or certified reserve analyst (RS designation from the Community Associations Institute). Annual reserve fund status disclosures — including the current funded percentage and the recommended annual contribution — must be provided to all unit owners with the annual budget. Wisconsin boards that have never commissioned a professional reserve study must engage a qualified analyst promptly.</p>

<h2>2025 Legislative Session</h2>

<h3>AB 114 — HOA Transparency and Financial Disclosure</h3>

<p>AB 114 required Wisconsin homeowners associations and condominium associations with 25 or more units to provide members with an annual financial disclosure within 120 days of fiscal year end. The disclosure must include a balance sheet showing the association's assets and liabilities, an income statement comparing actual revenues and expenses to the adopted budget, and a reserve fund summary. Associations must also make financial records available for member inspection within 10 business days of a written request. Members who request electronic copies of financial records may not be charged copying fees. Boards that have been providing only adopted annual budgets without actual year-end financial statements must significantly expand their annual financial disclosure practices.</p>

<h3>SB 229 — EV Charging Rights</h3>

<p>SB 229 prohibited Wisconsin community associations from restricting the installation of EV charging equipment in owners' assigned parking spaces. Approval requests must be processed within 60 days. Associations may require licensed installation by a certified electrician, prior written board approval within the 60-day window, and owner-maintained liability insurance for the equipment. Associations may not deny compliant EV charging installation requests without documented cause. Wisconsin boards should adopt written EV charging installation policies specifying the application process, required documentation, and approval timeline before the first request is received.</p>

<h3>AB 372 — Assessment Collections Reform</h3>

<p>AB 372 added a 30-day pre-lien cure notice requirement for Wisconsin community associations, requiring certified mail delivery of a delinquency notice before recording an assessment lien. The notice must itemize all amounts due and inform the owner of the right to cure within 30 days. The bill also prohibited foreclosure for delinquencies of less than $1,000 in principal assessments, and added a requirement that associations offer a written payment plan to any delinquent owner before initiating foreclosure. Wisconsin boards should update their management agreements and collections policies to reflect these three changes: pre-lien notice, $1,000 minimum, and payment plan offer obligation.</p>

<h2>Board Action Checklist</h2>

<ul>

<li>Confirm your electronic meeting and notice procedures are current under Act 83 — provide 48-hour advance access instructions</li>

<li>Audit CC&amp;Rs and rules for solar installation restrictions and repeal any outright bans in condominium governing documents</li>

<li>Commission a reserve study if your association has 20+ units and no study has been performed in the past 3 years</li>

<li>Prepare and distribute annual financial disclosure within 120 days of fiscal year end (25+ unit associations)</li>

<li>Establish a 10-business-day financial record inspection response procedure</li>

<li>Adopt a written EV charging installation policy with a 60-day approval timeline</li>

<li>Update collections policy to require 30-day certified mail pre-lien notice, $1,000 minimum delinquency, and payment plan offer</li>

</ul>

<h2>How APM Helps Wisconsin HOA Boards Stay Compliant</h2>

<p>APM's remote HOA management service monitors Wisconsin HOA and condominium law updates and provides client boards with compliance guidance on reserve studies, financial disclosures, solar and EV charging policies, and collections procedures. <a href="/remote-hoa-management/wisconsin">Learn about our Wisconsin remote management services</a>.</p>

<p><em>Legal disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney for guidance specific to your community.</em></p>