Notice of meeting

My homeowners association by-laws, which were written in 1986, state that notices of meetings must be by mail, however, New York State Law provides that meeting notices can be sent electronically (e-mail). Does the New York State law supersede our Association's By-Laws and can we now send notices by email instead of mail? Thanks! NYS Law printed below.

New York Consolidated Laws, Not-For-Profit Corporation Law - NPC § 605. Notice of meeting of members

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
<[As amended by L.2021, c. 588, § 4.  See, also, § 605 as amended by another law.]>

(a) Whenever under the provisions of this chapter members are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, written notice shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, the means of electronic communication, if any, by which members may participate in the proceedings of the meeting pursuant to paragraph (a) of section six hundred three of this article and, unless it is an annual meeting, indicate that it is being issued by or at the direction of the person or persons calling the meeting.  Notice of a special meeting shall also state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  A copy of the notice of any meeting shall be given, personally, by mail, or by facsimile telecommunications or by electronic mail, to each member entitled to vote at such meeting.  If the notice is given personally, by first class mail or by facsimile telecommunications or by electronic mail, it shall be given not less than ten nor more than fifty days before the date of the meeting;  if mailed by any other class of mail, it shall be given not less than thirty nor more than sixty days before such date.  If mailed, such notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, with postage thereon prepaid, directed to the member at his address as it appears on the record of members, or, if he shall have filed with the secretary of the corporation a written request that notices to him be mailed to some other address, then directed to him at such other address.  If sent by facsimile telecommunication or mailed electronically, such notice is given when directed to the member's fax number or electronic mail address as it appears on the record of members, or, to such fax number or other electronic mail address as filed with the secretary of the corporation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, such notice shall not be deemed to have been given electronically (1) if the corporation is unable to deliver two consecutive notices to the member by facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail;  or (2) the corporation otherwise becomes aware that notice cannot be delivered to the member by facsimile telecommunication or electronic mail.  An affidavit of the secretary or other person giving the notice or of a transfer agent of the corporation that the notice required by this section has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated.  Whenever a corporation has more than five hundred members, the notice may be served by publication in a newspaper published in the county in the state in which the principal office of the corporation is located, once a week for three successive weeks next preceding the date of the meeting, provided that the corporation shall also prominently post notice of such meeting on the homepage of any website maintained by the corporation continuously from the date of publication through the date of the meeting.  A corporation shall send notice of meetings by first class mail to any member who requests in writing that such notices be delivered by such method.