HOA rules in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania splits planned communities and condominiums into parallel Title 68 subparts. If you live in a house or townhome in a planned community with mandatory assessments, the Uniform Planned Community Act — 68 Pa.C.S. Chapters 51–54 — is the main overlay. If you own a condominium unit, the Uniform Condominium Act (Chapters 31–34) applies instead. Do not mix those chapters. Confirm which statute your recorded declaration cites, then confirm the current text on the Pennsylvania General Assembly site and in your bylaws and rules. This page is general information, not legal advice. Statutes and documents change.

Under the Planned Community Act, the association may, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, levy reasonable fines for violations of the declaration, bylaws, and rules, and may suspend certain rights while assessments are delinquent or violations remain uncured (68 Pa.C.S. § 5302(a)(11)). The retrieved text does not set a statutory dollar fine cap or a numbered hearing-day count. Do not invent either.

Financial and other association records must be made reasonably available for examination by any unit owner and authorized agents (68 Pa.C.S. § 5316(a)). Planned communities with more than 12 units (or certain flexible communities) must prepare annual financial statements within 180 days after the fiscal year closes, and you may request a copy; the association must furnish it within 30 days. If it does not, you may complain to the Bureau of Consumer Protection in the Office of Attorney General (§ 5316(b)–(c)). That complaint path is not a statewide HOA ombudsman that decides CC&R fights.

Unpaid assessments and fines become a statutory lien from the time they become due; recording the declaration perfects the lien (68 Pa.C.S. § 5315). The lien is generally junior to first mortgages recorded before the assessment due date, and to taxes. A limited six-month common-expense amount is protected in a judicial sale context under § 5315(b)(2). Enforcement proceedings must generally start within four years after the assessments become payable. Pennsylvania has no statewide HOA ombudsman in the Planned Community Act chapters retrieved.

This is general information from an AI helper, not legal advice. Confirm it against your documents and your state's law. If a deadline or hearing is coming up, talk to a licensed lawyer.