What the New Legislation Means for Washington HOAs
“Good enough” is officially no longer good enough.
Marci Cornell-Feist · Founder, Minutes Mojo · April 8, 2026 · 2 min read
The Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA)
WUCIOA is aimed at raising standards for HOA governance—establishing stricter meeting practices, mandatory owner participation, and requirements for records access and retention. Major transparency rules take effect January 1, 2026, for all communities—even those formed before 2018. By 2028, all HOAs in the state will be required to comply.
Key takeaways from the legislation
- Minutes are mandatory. Every board and owner meeting must have a written record of all decisions made—no more relying on memory or informal notes.
- Minutes have to reflect the owner comment period. Every board meeting must begin with a 15-minute owner comment period. If your minutes don’t show that this happened before you voted, those votes can be challenged as invalid.
- 14 days’ notice for regular meetings. If you miss this window, your decisions are void and you’ll have to hold a second meeting to redo them.
- Shared access to materials. If the board gets a packet or a report to review before a meeting, the owners must be given access to it at the same time.
- The right of inspection. Owners have a legal right to see your minutes. If you can’t produce them, a court can force you to—and make the association pay the owner’s legal fees.
The bottom line: boards are now responsible for managing a public record, not just a private meeting.
If your "minutes" are actually Zoom recordings or handwritten notes, languishing on personal drives or floating around the boardroom, this is your sign to get organized; these practices are no longer sufficient to meet legal standards. At best, it’s bad housekeeping. At worst, it’s voided votes, homeowner lawsuits, and liability for board members (for more information, see “What makes minutes legal?”)
These resources are for general guidance only; for specific questions consult with an attorney.
Frequently asked questions
- Are HOA meeting minutes required in Washington?
- Yes. Under the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA), every board and owner meeting must have a written record of all decisions made — informal notes or memory are no longer sufficient. Major transparency rules took effect January 1, 2026, with full compliance required of all HOAs by 2028.
- What is the owner comment period under WUCIOA?
- Every board meeting in Washington must begin with a 15-minute owner comment period. Your minutes must show this happened before any vote was taken — if they don't, those votes can be challenged as invalid.
- How much notice is required for a Washington HOA meeting?
- WUCIOA requires 14 days' notice for regular meetings. If you miss that window, the decisions made at the meeting are void, and the board has to hold a second meeting to redo them.