Indiana homeowners are covered by a small set of focused statutes rather than one omnibus act. The Indiana Homeowners Associations Act, IC 32-25.5, handles governance, records, budget meetings, and (since July 1, 2026) fine procedures; the Homeowners Association Lien Act, IC 32-28-14, handles liens and judicial foreclosure; the Condominium Act, IC 32-25, governs condos; and a separate Political Signs Act, IC 32-21-13, gives owners a distinctive election-period sign right that beats the declaration. Your recorded covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs), the Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act of 1991, and federal law all apply alongside. For your specific situation, a licensed Indiana attorney is the right resource. This is general information, not legal advice.
The full Indiana stack typically includes:
- The Indiana Homeowners Associations Act, IC 32-25.5 — the main governance statute for HOAs. It covers financial records, annual budgets and budget-meeting notice, board-meeting attendance and notice, and recordkeeping (IC 32-25.5-3-3), and, since July 1, 2026, fine schedules and fine notices (IC 32-25.5-3-12).
- The Homeowners Association Lien Act, IC 32-28-14 — sets out how an HOA records and judicially forecloses an assessment lien, with a 90-day waiting period before foreclosure.
- The Condominium Act, IC 32-25 — governs condominiums separately, with its own records, meeting, and lien rules.
- The Display of Political Signs Act, IC 32-21-13 — limits HOA bans on election-period political signs.
- The recorded CC&Rs and bylaws — Indiana's HOA Act sets governance, records, and fine-procedure floors, but most rule authority flows from the recorded covenants.
- The Indiana Nonprofit Corporation Act of 1991, IC 23-17 — entity law for incorporated associations.
- IC 32-21-13.5 — since July 1, 2026, limits association rules on displaying the U.S. and Indiana state flags, including from a flagpole.
- Federal law — Fair Housing Act, ADA, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, OTARD, and the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act.
Financial records on written request
Under IC 32-25.5-3-3, "[f]inancial records, including all contracts, invoices, bills, receipts, and bank records, of a homeowners association must be available for inspection by each member of the homeowners association upon written request." The statute adds two important protections: the request only needs to "identify with reasonable particularity the information being requested," and the member's ability to inspect "shall not be unreasonably denied or conditioned upon provision of an appropriate purpose for the request." A board cannot interrogate the owner about why they want the records. Since July 1, 2026, the HOA "may not charge a fee for the copying of a record" when the member asks for a written copy, and it "may not charge a fee to search for a record" (IC 32-25.5-3-3(g), (m)). IC 32-25.5-3-3.1 says the 2026 amendments by HEA 1152-2026 do not apply to certain older associations whose documents allowed a 110% no-quorum budget, so how the fee rules reach a particular older HOA is a question for a licensed Indiana attorney.
The statute also imposes a two-year retention duty for communications relating to financial transactions, and members may request copies. See Getting Your Indiana HOA's Records.
The annual budget meeting and notice
IC 32-25.5-3-3 requires the HOA to prepare an annual budget. Before the meeting where it is approved, the association must give members written notice that a copy of the proposed budget is available upon request at no charge to the member, plus written notice of the amount of any increase or decrease in regular annual assessments that would result if the proposed budget is approved. The budget must be approved at a meeting of the association members by a majority of members in attendance, called and conducted under the governing documents. Without a quorum, the board may adopt up to 100% of the last approved budget; since July 1, 2026, higher no-quorum budgets (110% in the first five years after the developer's first sale, then the lesser of 105% or a Midwest housing CPI increase) require governing documents that "expressly allow" them (IC 32-25.5-3-3(f), 3-3.2, 3-3.3), with a carve-out for some older associations in IC 32-25.5-3-3.1.
The right to attend board meetings
The HOA Act provides a direct right: "[a] member of a homeowners association has the right to attend any meeting of the homeowners association board, including an annual meeting of the board." That language reaches working board meetings, not just the annual membership meeting. Since July 1, 2026, the statute also requires "at least four (4) days advance written notice of the meeting" for each board meeting, and "[t]he meeting notice must include an agenda for the meeting" (IC 32-25.5-3-3(g)). Other mechanics, such as any owner-comment period, come from the governing documents. See Attending HOA Meetings in Indiana.
Fines — a statutory schedule, plus the CC&Rs
Since July 1, 2026, IC 32-25.5-3-12 (added by HEA 1115-2026, P.L.155-2026) sets fine rules for every Indiana HOA. An association "may assess a fine for a member's violation of a covenant described in IC 32-25.5-2-3(2) if the board first adopts a schedule of fines" that lists the violations, the fine for each, how any recurring fine is calculated, and "a maximum aggregate fine amount for any single violation." Before assessing a fine, the board must notify the member of the violation, the amount, and the date the fine will be assessed. The statute sets no dollar cap and no hearing; any hearing right comes from the recorded CC&Rs and bylaws, which the association also has to follow. A fine for conduct the CC&Rs don't address, one missing from the adopted schedule, or one imposed without the required notice, is exposed. See Challenging an HOA Fine in Indiana.
The Homeowners Association Lien Act and judicial foreclosure
Under IC 32-28-14, an HOA's lien attaches to real estate "upon the recording of a notice of lien by the homeowners association in the office of the recorder of the county in which the real estate is located." Foreclosure runs through the courts: the association files a complaint in the circuit or superior court of the county where the property is located, and the court orders a sale. Indiana is a judicial foreclosure state for HOA liens — there is no power-of-sale shortcut. The act also requires a 90-day waiting period before foreclosure begins, giving owners a window to resolve the issue before litigation. See Can an Indiana HOA Foreclose Over Dues?.
Political-sign rights: 30 days before to 5 days after
Indiana's Display of Political Signs Act, IC 32-21-13, gives homeowners a specific statutory protection that overrides CC&Rs. A homeowners association may not prohibit a member from displaying a political sign "during the period beginning thirty (30) days before and ending five (5) days after" the election to which the sign relates. The association may set reasonable rules on size, number, and location — but it cannot prohibit display in a window on the homeowner's property or on the ground that is part of the homeowner's property.
When a rule may not hold up
An Indiana rule has to fit within authority the CC&Rs grant, follow the documents' own procedure, be applied evenhandedly, and yield to federal and Indiana law (including the political-signs protections and, since July 1, 2026, the flag-display rule in IC 32-21-13.5). Since March 12, 2026, only members who use their property as a homestead may vote on a rental prohibition or restriction (IC 32-25.5-3-11(d)). See When Is an Indiana HOA Rule Unenforceable?.
Frequently asked questions
Can my Indiana HOA make me explain why I want records?
No. Under IC 32-25.5-3-3, the member's inspection right "shall not be unreasonably denied or conditioned upon provision of an appropriate purpose for the request." A licensed Indiana attorney can confirm how that applies to your specific request.
How does an Indiana HOA foreclose for unpaid dues?
Under the Homeowners Association Lien Act (IC 32-28-14), the HOA must record a notice of lien and then go to court — Indiana does not allow non-judicial power-of-sale foreclosure of HOA liens. A 90-day waiting period applies before foreclosure begins. A licensed Indiana attorney can map the timeline.
Can my Indiana HOA ban political yard signs during an election?
No, not categorically. Under IC 32-21-13, an HOA may not prohibit display "during the period beginning thirty (30) days before and ending five (5) days after" the election. Reasonable size, number, and location rules are permitted, but cannot prohibit display in a window or on the homeowner's ground. A licensed Indiana attorney can advise on a specific dispute.
Does Indiana law cap HOA fines?
Not with a dollar figure. Since July 1, 2026, IC 32-25.5-3-12 requires the board to adopt a schedule of fines that includes "a maximum aggregate fine amount for any single violation," and a recurring fine "may not exceed the maximum aggregate amount stated in the schedule of fines." Members can demand a special meeting to amend the schedule, which takes a majority of members present. A licensed Indiana attorney can review a specific fine.
Sources
- IC 32-25.5 — Homeowners Associations, including IC 32-25.5-3-3 (records, board meetings, budget) and IC 32-25.5-3-12 (fines) — Indiana Code 2026, Title 32
- HEA 1115-2026 (P.L.155-2026) — enrolled act adding IC 32-25.5-3-12, effective July 1, 2026
- IC 32-28-14 — Homeowners Association Liens (Title 32)
- IC 32-21-13 — Display of Political Signs Act (Title 32)
- IC 32-25 — Condominium Act (Title 32)