Washington’s Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA, chapter 64.90 RCW) sets how much notice an HOA or condo association must give before owners’ meetings, board meetings and budget meetings. Here are the rules, section by section.
Which law applies to your community?
- Created on or after July 1, 2018: WUCIOA applies in full.
- Created before July 1, 2018: several WUCIOA sections already apply, including meetings (RCW 64.90.445), budgets (64.90.525) and reserve studies (64.90.545), and they override conflicting rules in the older acts (RCW 64.90.365).
- Opting in: an older community can adopt WUCIOA in full by amending its declaration: the amendment passes if owners holding at least 30% of the votes take part and at least 67% of the votes cast are in favor (RCW 64.90.370).
- From January 1, 2028: WUCIOA covers all Washington common interest communities, and the older HOA, condo and horizontal property acts are repealed.
The old Homeowners’ Association Act notice rule (RCW 64.38.035: 14 to 60 days) is repealed from January 1, 2026.
Owners’ meetings
- Annual meeting: “A meeting of the association must be held at least once each year” (RCW 64.90.445(1)).
- Special meetings: called by the president, a majority of the board, or owners holding at least 20% of the votes (or a lower percentage in your documents).
- Notice window: at least 14 and at most 50 days before the meeting.
- Notice contents: time, date, place and agenda, including any proposed amendment to the declaration or organizational documents and any proposal to remove a director or officer.
- Quorum: unless your organizational documents say otherwise, owners holding 20% of the votes present at the start of the meeting (RCW 64.90.450).
- Remote meetings: allowed if the notice explains how to join, everyone can hear and speak, votes are by roll call or voice, and anyone entitled to attend can join by telephone (RCW 64.90.445(3)).
Board meetings
- Open to owners, except executive sessions on a limited list of topics (attorney advice, litigation, personnel, contracts in negotiation, privacy). No final vote is taken in executive session.
- Notice: at least 14 days, with time, date, place and agenda, unless the meeting is on a schedule already given to owners.
- Emergency meetings: at least 7 days’ notice, sent electronically to owners whose contact information the association has.
- Owner comment: owners get at least 15 minutes at the start of each meeting to comment on agenda items.
- No proxies: directors may not vote by proxy or absentee ballot.
Budget and special-assessment meetings
- Send owners the proposed budget within 30 days after the board adopts it (RCW 64.90.525).
- Hold the ratification meeting 14 to 50 days after sending the budget.
- The budget is ratified unless owners holding a majority of all votes reject it, even without a quorum. If rejected, the last ratified budget continues.
- Special assessments follow the same steps.
How notice may be given
Notice must be given “in the form of a record”: mail, delivery, or another method reasonably calculated to reach the owner (RCW 64.90.515). Email or app notice counts only for owners who consented in a record and named the address or system to use. An owner can withdraw that consent, and consent is treated as withdrawn after two electronic notices in a row fail.
Summary
| Meeting | Notice | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Owners’ annual or special meeting | 14 to 50 days | RCW 64.90.445(1) |
| Board meeting | 14 days (or a published schedule) | RCW 64.90.445(2) |
| Emergency board meeting | 7 days, electronic | RCW 64.90.445(2) |
| Budget ratification meeting | 14 to 50 days after sending the budget | RCW 64.90.525 |
| Ballot without a meeting | Deadline at least 14 days after notice | RCW 64.90.455(4) |
How BAB helps
BAB includes a Washington WUCIOA profile for formal ballots: a 14-day minimum notice, a default quorum of 20% that you can change to match your documents, secret ballots for board elections, removals and amendments, and consent before electronic voting. Owners see live quorum in units. See HOA voting.
FAQ
How much notice does a Washington HOA need for an owners’ meeting?
At least 14 and no more than 50 days (RCW 64.90.445(1)).
How much notice for a board meeting?
At least 14 days, unless the meeting is on a schedule already given to owners; 7 days for an emergency meeting.
Can notice go by email?
Yes, to owners who consented in a record and named the address to use (RCW 64.90.515).
What is the default quorum for owners’ meetings?
Owners holding 20% of the votes, unless the organizational documents say otherwise (RCW 64.90.450).
Does WUCIOA apply to an HOA created before 2018?
Its meeting, budget and reserve-study sections already do (RCW 64.90.365), and from January 1, 2028 the whole act applies.
Sources
- RCW 64.90.445: meetings
- RCW 64.90.450: quorum
- RCW 64.90.455: voting
- RCW 64.90.515: notice
- RCW 64.90.525: budgets
- RCW 64.90.360: applicability
- RCW 64.90.365: pre-2018 communities
- RCW 64.90.370: opting in
- RCW 64.38.035 (repealed 2026)
Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal advice. Statutes change and your governing documents may add stricter rules, so check with your association’s attorney before a binding meeting or vote. Last updated: October 2026.