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SteveC25 (Florida)
Posts: 9
Posted:
I find plenty of information of what must be posted as official records on the Condominium Website.
However, I can't find anywhere that says what must be public and what is only available for the BOD and Management Company.

For instance, Contracts with vendors, bids, building permits, etc. only when requested?

I know some things like agendas and minutes should be available at any time to members who have access but, other things would only be upon written request.

Does anyone have any help for these questions?
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
You'll probably need to check your documents and state law, but generally association documents are only available to members of the association, mortgage companies or prospective owners (those who've paid earnest money and starting the buying process). Some association's post some information on the community website like the Bylaws and CCRs or board meeting minutes and anyone can read them

Some record availability may depend on what you're asking for and why. For instance association members should be able to get a copy of a vendor who was hired by the association, but not bids for the work because they may contain proprietary information. You don't have access to a property manager's employee files because they don't work directly for the association. If the association hired a person directly, there are confidentiality laws concerning employee records, so you still may not get certain information.

Consider what you want and why (you may need to give a reason in your request.) Most of us aren't attorneys so your best bet may be to contact a private attorney. I believe there are separate state laws in Florida for condo associations and single family homes, so go to your state government website and fire up the search button (look in the legislative section, which should have current state statutes


If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Public = anyone who happens upon the website

Governing Documents
Board members
links to local schools
perhaps newsletters

Members Members of the Association

Minutes of Board meetings, general membership meetings and committee meetings
calendar of events
Architectural request forms
Budget info

Board members/Management committee

everything above plus everything else
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,334
Posted:
Beyond what the law requires, best practices for official records posted to the web site, in my opinion:

Public
Maybe the Declaration, Bylaws and board-created Rules and Regs. Nothing more.

Accessible to All Owners
Governing documents. Approved Minutes and possibly well-marked "Draft" Minutes. Approved annual budget. Procedures such as architectural applications; complaint form; parking permit form; and the like. Newsletter. Automatic withdrawal yada info. Reserve study (yes, every page). Possibly more (just ask).

Accessible to Board Members
Nothing. Too much trouble in general. Board members get material by email.

All other records to be available by request, consistent with the law and the governing documents.

MichaelS56 (Minnesota)
Posts: 858
Posted:
Besides what has been mentioned we have houses for sale within the association.
LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009
Posted:
I'm going to assume that by "public" you mean the members of the association. No information on the website needs to be available to non-members of the association, and in fact all the official records are required to be in a password protected area.

FS 718 and other documentation tells you what official records must be available to the members. There's no reason not to put everything that's an official record on the website. That eliminates records requests, because you can point an owner to the website.

There really shouldn't be anything on the website for the directors/management company only. If there is any information like that (correspondence with owners, bids in progress, etc.) you can keep that on a separate server.
TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By LoriM15 on 06/11/2025 8:10 AM
I'm going to assume that by "public" you mean the members of the association. No information on the website needs to be available to non-members of the association, and in fact all the official records are required to be in a password protected area.

Unaware of the requirement.

We have been told by Realtors that they loved our site as it allowed buyers to review and see if they were ok purchasing in the area.
It also helps demonstrate transparency and provide good general information to current owners and potential buyers.

Good general info would be:

Links to local schools servicing the development
Links to local parks
etc.
LoriM15 (Florida)
Posts: 1,009
Posted:
We do have our governing documents in a non-protected area of the website (but we're an HOA and not a COA so different rules). I think it's a great idea to have it available to potential buyers - but in Florida a buyer has to sign an acknowledgment that they have received a copy of the governing documents. Not that anyone reads them ...

The condo laws in Florida are overkill, but they do eliminate the secrecy that used to be an issue in condo associations, where the boards didn't want people to see the finances, or the contracts, or other documents. Now they have to be available and a website is supposed to make it easier.

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