Know Your LawMD
Which Maryland Laws Govern Your HOA or Condo?
By The HOARebel Team · June 1, 2026 · 3 min read · Updated June 2, 2026
Maryland spreads homeowner rights across a few statutes rather than one omnibus code, so the first step is knowing which law answers which question. For your specific situation, a licensed Maryland attorney is the right resource. This is general information, not legal advice.
Homeowners associations: the HOA Act (Real Prop. Title 11B)
The Maryland Homeowners Association Act, Real Property Article, Title 11B, is the main statute for non-condominium associations. It is a governance and transparency law more than a comprehensive code, and it covers:
- Open meetings — board and association meetings open to members, with an owner comment period (§11B-111)
- Books and records — the duty to make records available, with delivery deadlines (§11B-112)
- Resale disclosures — what a seller's association must provide to a buyer
The HOA Act also sets out a fine procedure in §11B-111.10 — written notice identifying the violation, a cure period of at least 15 days, and a right to request a hearing before the board — though the underlying authority to fine for a particular violation still traces to the recorded governing documents.
Reserve studies: 2022 HB 107
A 2022 law (Ch. 664 / HB 107, effective Oct. 1, 2022) requires Maryland condominiums and cooperatives — and HOAs whose common elements have a combined cost of at least $10,000 — to obtain an independent reserve study and fund reserves toward the recommended level over time, updated every five years. Boards may raise assessments to meet the funding requirement even over a governing-document cap.
Liens and foreclosure: the Maryland Contract Lien Act (Title 14, Subtitle 2)
When assessments go unpaid, the Maryland Contract Lien Act, Real Property Article §§14-201 to 14-206, controls. It is the procedure an association must follow to create a lien (§14-203 requires written notice and gives the owner a right to a circuit-court probable-cause hearing) and to foreclose it (§14-204 — foreclosed like a mortgage, but limited to assessments, interest, and costs, not fines). This statute is where Maryland's strongest homeowner protections live.
Condominiums: the Condominium Act (Real Prop. Title 11)
If you own a condominium, the Maryland Condominium Act (Title 11) governs instead of Title 11B. It is a separate, more detailed statute with its own records, meeting, lien, and fine provisions — a licensed Maryland attorney can explain the differences.
The nonprofit corporation law
Most Maryland associations are incorporated as nonstock corporations under the Maryland General Corporation Law (Corporations and Associations Article). That entity law supplies director duties and member-meeting procedures that supplement the HOA Act.
How the layers fit
- The recorded governing documents — declaration, bylaws, and rules. The HOA Act sets the floor; the documents add detail (including most fine authority) but cannot subtract statutory owner rights.
- The HOA Act (Title 11B) for governance, meetings, and records — or the Condominium Act (Title 11) for condos.
- The Contract Lien Act (Title 14, Subtitle 2) for assessment liens and foreclosure.
- The nonprofit corporation law for the incorporated entity.
- Federal law — the Fair Housing Act, ADA, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, OTARD, and the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act.
From records to fines to the assessment lien, knowing which statute applies is the starting point for most Maryland homeowner questions.