State compliance guides / Washington
Washington HOA violation letters: what the law requires
Under both the current HOA chapter and WUCIOA, a Washington association may impose only reasonable fines, only after notice and an opportunity to be heard, and only under a fine schedule the board previously adopted and furnished to owners — no schedule, no fine. Neither statute fixes day counts or dollar amounts. Boards should also plan for January 1, 2028, when WUCIOA takes over for all associations.
Before you send: Washington notice requirements
Homeowners' Associations (RCW ch. 64.38, until January 1, 2028) and the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA, RCW ch. 64.90 — all communities from January 1, 2028)
- Fines require notice and an opportunity to be heard by the board (RCW 64.38.020(11), for HOAs until January 1, 2028).
- Fines must be reasonable and levied in accordance with a previously established schedule adopted by the board and furnished to the owners.
- Communities subject to WUCIOA follow the same rule — reasonable fines, after notice and opportunity to be heard, per a previously established schedule furnished to owners (RCW 64.90.405(2)(l)).
- WUCIOA applies to common interest communities created on or after July 1, 2018, and — under 2024 legislation — to all common interest communities effective January 1, 2028 (RCW ch. 64.38 is repealed on that date).
- No statutory dollar cap or fixed response window in either chapter — set both in your adopted fine schedule and rules.
Fines: No dollar cap, but a fine is invalid unless it is reasonable, preceded by notice and an opportunity to be heard, and drawn from a fine schedule the board adopted and distributed to owners beforehand (RCW 64.38.020(11); RCW 64.90.405(2)(l)).
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Washington HOA letter FAQ
Can a Washington HOA fine a homeowner without warning?
No — both RCW 64.38 and WUCIOA require notice and an opportunity to be heard before fines, and the fine must come from a previously adopted fine schedule furnished to owners. A fine with no pre-existing schedule behind it is statutorily defective.
Is there a cap on HOA fines in Washington?
No dollar cap, but fines must be reasonable and must follow the adopted, distributed fine schedule. Amounts are otherwise set by your governing documents and board resolutions.
Does WUCIOA apply to my Washington HOA?
WUCIOA currently applies to common interest communities created on or after July 1, 2018, and to older communities that opt in. From January 1, 2028, all associations operate under WUCIOA (RCW 64.90), which carries the same fine standard.
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Official sources
- RCW 64.38.020 — Association powers (WA Legislature)
- RCW 64.90.405 — Powers of unit owners association, WUCIOA (WA Legislature)
Last reviewed against the sources above on 2026-07-11.
This guide summarizes commonly applicable rules for general information only — it is not legal advice, statutes change, and your governing documents may impose different procedures. Confirm current law with a licensed Washington attorney before taking enforcement action.