In Vermont, condominiums and most planned communities are governed primarily by the Vermont Common Interest Ownership Act (VCIOA), codified at Title 27A of the Vermont Statutes. VCIOA is Vermont's adoption of the Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act, so its themes — notice, transparency, and due process — echo the model law. The statute sets the floor; your association's declaration and bylaws, Vermont's nonprofit corporation law, and federal law such as the Fair Housing Act all apply alongside it.
Vermont has the highest share of residents living in common-interest communities of any state, yet relatively little plain-English material exists on what the law actually provides. These guides aim to fill that gap — and because how the law applies turns on your community's own documents and facts, a licensed Vermont attorney is the right resource for your specific situation.
Fines and penalties (§ 3-102)
A Vermont association's authority to fine is conditioned on process. Among the powers the Act grants, the association may:
"impose charges for late payment of assessments and, after notice and a hearing, may impose reasonable fines for violations" — 27A V.S.A. § 3-102(a)(11)
So a fine for a rule violation generally follows notice and a hearing, and must be reasonable. See Challenging an HOA Fine in Vermont.
Records requests (§ 3-118)
The association's records are open to its owners. Under the Act, records:
"must be available for examination and copying by a unit owner or the owner's authorized agent" — 27A V.S.A. § 3-118
A request is generally made on five days' notice reasonably identifying the records, and the association may charge a reasonable fee. See Getting Your HOA's Records in Vermont.
Open meetings (§ 3-108)
Vermont's statute builds in transparency at the board level:
"Meetings shall be open to the unit owners except during executive sessions." — 27A V.S.A. § 3-108(b)(1)
Notice of each executive board meeting generally goes to owners at least 10 days before, stating the time, date, place, and agenda. See Open Meetings: Your Right to Attend the Board in Vermont.
The assessment lien and foreclosure (§ 3-116)
Unpaid assessments can become a lien on the unit, and the Act sets out how it is enforced:
"may be foreclosed pursuant to 12 V.S.A. chapter 172" — 27A V.S.A. § 3-116
The lien has priority over many other encumbrances, with key exceptions including first mortgages recorded before the assessment became delinquent. See Can a Vermont HOA Foreclose Over Unpaid Dues?.
Dues and assessments (§ 3-115)
Common-expense assessments are set through the association's budget process. How dues are raised — and the owner's role in the budget — is covered in How Much Can a Vermont HOA Raise Dues?.
Frequently asked questions
Can my HOA fine me without a hearing?
Under § 3-102(a)(11), fines for violations come "after notice and a hearing" and must be reasonable.
How long does the HOA have to give me records?
A request under § 3-118 is made on five days' notice reasonably identifying the records.
Can the HOA foreclose over unpaid dues?
The assessment lien may be foreclosed under § 3-116, which points to the judicial foreclosure process in 12 V.S.A. chapter 172.