Arkansas HOA Laws and Regulations
Know your association’s laws
Arkansas Community Association Law
Homeowners associations in Arkansas are also known as Property Owners’ Associations (POA). In legal documents, they are referred to as Horizontal Property Regimes. All HOAs/POAs must file as corporations with the state; most opt to file as non-profit and are therefore subject to the state’s non-profit laws. The Horizontal Property Act was created to provide additional details regarding the management of community associations.
Starting a Horizontal Property Regime (HOA)
To create a homeowners’ association or property owners’ association, the master deed of the community along with the adopted bylaws must be submitted to the office of the clerk in the county where the property is located. This deed must be certified by a state licensed architect or engineer. The deed must include:
- A description of the land and units expressing boundaries.
- A general description of each unit.
- A description of all common areas.
- Any planned additions or new constructions.
- The value of each property and the percentage of the total common elements that are comprised of the property.
Property owners belonging to an HOA or POA in Arkansas get voting power based on the value of their property in the terms of a percentage of the whole. An association member with a property worth $200,000 will get a larger voting percentage compared to an association member with a property valued at $120,000. They will also receive a higher percentage of the cost of maintaining common areas.
Homeowners Association’s Rights and Responsibilities
The board of directors must create and maintain detailed financial records. This information must be readily available to all community members at convenient hours on working days that are set and announced for general knowledge. The board of directors is responsible for compiling and filing annual tax information for the community association.
To adopt any decisions regarding the community association, it must receive a majority vote of owners representing at least 51% of the total community value. Owners representing 2/3 of the total community value can alter the administration of the board of directors.
The board of directors may impose assessments and dues on homeowners to cover the cost of common area maintenance. They may also impose liens on the property if accounts become delinquent.
Arkansas Horizontal Property Act
Please note that CSM is not a licensed attorney and cannot provide legal advice. If you have questions about interpreting your state’s legal requirements or the association’s governing documents, please contact an attorney that is licensed in your state.
If you have questions about our company or would like additional information about our HOA financial management services, please contact us for more information.