Jim Turffs' Esq.
Community Law Insights, Updates and Legal Analysis
Florida Community Association Board Basics: A Practical Guide for New Directors, Part I
Congratulations! You’ve just been elected or appointed to your community association’s board of directors. Maybe you volunteered because you wanted to help improve the neighborhood. Maybe you were “voluntold” because nobody else raised a hand. Either way, serving on a Florida association board is a real responsibility, and understanding the basics can...
Keeping up With the Times: Elections and Voting for Florida Managed Communities
Voting in Florida community associations used to be a fairly straightforward affair: mail a notice, hold a meeting, count the ballots, and hope no one accuses you of a coup. Today, the process is an evolving ecosystem of statutory requirements, cybersecurity threats, electronic voting platforms, and case law that seems to grow more complicated each...
HB 913 — Key Revisions to Chapter 718, the Florida Condominium Act
Pre-Suit Mediation Demystified Alternative Dispute Resolution In Action
Living in a managed community can provide many benefits to owners, such as shared amenities and protection of property values. In a perfect world, everyone obeys their restrictions, and neighbors live in peace. We do not live in a perfect world, howe...
Free Parking HOAs and Parking Under 720.3075(3)(b)
Homeowners Associations in Florida have a long history of regulating parking within communities to maintain a neat and orderly appearance and easy access through residential streets. However, as of July 1, 2024, HOAs (at least those with public stree...
Governing Documents for Managed Communities in Florida: Differentiating Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Declaration
As a member of a condominium or homeowners association board in Florida, it's crucial to clearly understand the legal documents that govern your community's operations. The Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Declaration of Condominium form the co...
Your HOA Is Not Doing Anything “Illegal”
The sunshine of Florida beckons, but nestled amongst the palm trees and sparkling water lies a different kind of code – the HOA and Condominium Acts. These laws and the association's governing documents outline the community's rules and restrictions,...
Director-To-Director Emails: Official Records Or Not?
By statute, almost any document relating to the operation and management of a condominium or HOA is to be kept as an Official Record available for member inspection. Over time, through administrative decision, the Florida Department of Business and P...
Sunshine and Structure: Mastering HOA Board Meetings in Florida
In Florida, the successful operation of HOAs hinges on a crucial forum: the board of directors meeting. These gatherings, governed by Chapter 720 of the Florida Statutes and guided by the principles of Robert's Rules of Order, ultimately determine ho...
The First Amendment And Managed Communities
Homeowners associations often look like mini governments. If you ask a lot owner facing a fine or other violation, they will probably tell you that their HOA is an authoritarian regime oppressing the innocent owners in the community or that the Board...