Attending HOA Meetings in Massachusetts

Massachusetts does not have a single open-meeting statute for community associations. What meeting rights you have depends on the kind of community you live in and on the recorded governing documents. For your specific situation, a licensed Massachusetts attorney is the right resource. This is general information, not legal advice.

Condominiums: Chapter 183A and the master deed

For condominiums, the Massachusetts Condominium Act (M.G.L. ch. 183A) supplies the basic framework, with the master deed, declaration of trust or articles of organization, and bylaws filling in most of the operational detail. The bylaws typically govern:

• The frequency, notice, and quorum requirements for unit owner meetings
• The election of the board of managers (or trustees, for trust-form condos)
• Notice and conduct of board meetings
• Voting rules and proxies

Chapter 183A leaves most procedural detail to the master deed and bylaws, which is why reading those documents is the starting point for any meeting-related question. In fact, M.G.L. ch. 183A, § 11 requires that a condominium's bylaws provide at all times for certain core items, including "the manner of collecting from the unit owners their share of the common expenses" and "the method of adopting and of amending administrative rules and regulations governing the details of the operation and use of the common areas and facilities."

Electronic and remote meetings (ch. 183A, § 24)

Since 2024, condominium meetings and voting can be conducted remotely as a matter of statute. The Affordable Homes Act (St. 2024, c. 150) added M.G.L. ch. 183A, § 24, effective August 6, 2024, permanently authorizing electronic meetings and voting. The statute provides that the governing body "may conduct regularly scheduled or special meetings of the organization of unit owners or its governing body by telephonic, video conferencing or other interactive electronic communication" so long as all participants can simultaneously communicate, and it allows unit owners to vote by mail-in or electronic ballot. The governing body may adopt its own policies on electronic meetings and voting consistent with the condominium's governing documents.

Non-condo HOAs: CC&Rs plus Chapter 180

For non-condo HOAs, there is no Massachusetts statute analogous to Chapter 183A. Meeting rights flow from:

• The recorded CC&Rs — typically set out the basic meeting framework, voting rights, and assessment-approval procedure
• The bylaws — fill in notice, quorum, and operational detail
• The Nonprofit Corporation Law, M.G.L. ch. 180 — for incorporated HOAs, supplies director and member meeting procedures, voting rules, and recordkeeping requirements

Chapter 180 imposes baseline requirements on incorporated nonprofits, including the obligation to hold annual member meetings and to keep records of corporate actions.

What people generally do

Owners who want a real voice in their Massachusetts community association often:

• Read the recorded documents (master deed/CC&Rs and bylaws) for the specific meeting and notice mechanics
• For incorporated HOAs, identify which Chapter 180 procedures supplement the bylaws
• Attend annual meetings and document any procedural irregularities
• Request meeting minutes and notices to confirm how decisions were made
• Consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney if the bylaws appear to have been ignored or if Chapter 180 requirements have been bypassed by an incorporated HOA

Sources

• M.G.L. ch. 183A — Condominiums
• M.G.L. ch. 183A, § 11 — By-laws; mandatory provisions
• M.G.L. ch. 183A, § 24 — Electronic meetings and voting
• St. 2024, c. 150 — Affordable Homes Act
• M.G.L. ch. 180 — Nonprofit corporation law