Washington HOA compliance, enforced as code

Decision body — the board

The board imposes reasonable fines after notice and an opportunity to be heard. RCW 64.90.405

In CommonGround: CommonGround routes the fine decision to the board and requires the recorded decision before any fine is assessed.

Notice, opportunity to be heard, and a recorded decision

Fines only after notice and an opportunity to be heard, in accordance with a previously established fine schedule, on a recorded decision. RCW 64.90.405

In CommonGround: The workflow has no path around it: the notice must be sent, the opportunity to be heard must be offered, and the decision must be recorded — in that order — before a fine can exist.

Adopted fine schedule / policy required

Fines must accord with a previously established schedule of fines adopted by the board and furnished to owners. RCW 64.90.405 / RCW 64.90.505

In CommonGround: No fine can be generated without the adopted fine policy or schedule on file — CommonGround checks for the artifact before the workflow opens.

WUCIOA protected categories. Enforcement requires recorded attestation citing the statutory exception (reasonable time/place/manner or condition rules each section allows). RCW 64.90.510 (am. 2024 c 321 § 322), 64.90.512, 64.90.513

• US or wa flag display — Display of the US flag OR the Washington state flag on/within a unit or limited common element cannot be prohibited (US-flag time/place/manner rules only where tied to a substantial interest); flagpole installation protected with location/size rules allowed. RCW 64.90.510(1)
• Candidate or ballot sign — Signs regarding candidates for public or association office, or ballot issues, on/within a unit or limited common element cannot be prohibited (placement/manner rules allowed). RCW 64.90.510(2)
• Solar energy panel — Solar energy panels on/within a unit cannot be prohibited subject to health/safety standards and certification; allowed aesthetic rules: roofline visibility, slope conformity, paint coordination, ground-mount shielding costing <= 10% performance loss, indemnity. RCW 64.90.510(3), (5)–(6)
• Waste receptacle storage — Storing garbage/compost/recycling containers cannot be prohibited (screening and collection-day rules allowed). RCW 64.90.510(4)
• Peaceful assembly — Unit owners may peacefully assemble on the common elements (time/place/manner rules allowed). RCW 64.90.510(9)
• Protected landscaping — Drought-resistant landscaping, pollinator habitat, and wildfire-ignition-resistant landscaping protected. RCW 64.90.512
• EV charging station — EV charging stations protected. RCW 64.90.513

In CommonGround: Violation intake screens every new case against Washington's protected categories and flags the citation before a notice ever goes out.