Planned residential communities and condominiums often have homeowners associations (HOAs) that create and enforce rules. These bylaws are often called Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs). Buying property in a community with an HOA means abiding by the CC&Rs and paying the dues necessary to keep the HOA running. Similar to an HOA board of directors, resident volunteers often form homeowner association committees to ensure that property owners stay involved in the rule-making process.

• HOA Architectural Control Committee (ACC) Property owners are sometimes surprised by the restrictions regarding what they can do with their home, townhouse or condo that is controlled by an HOA. ACC guidelines regularly cause frustrations. These rules determine everything from standards for home maintenance to the construction of children’s play sets.
  
  
• HOA Financial Committee The purpose of the financial committee is fairly straightforward. It handles all budgetary concerns, including managing investments and tracking expenses. 
  
  
• HOA Landscape Committee Can homeowners install irrigation systems? Which types of trees aren’t allowed? The landscape committee helps homeowners keep their property beautiful but also helps them avoid trouble. For instance, certain types of trees aren’t allowed because they’re more likely to attract pests.
  
  
• HOA Community Awareness Committee Sometimes called the Neighborhood Watch or Citizen Patrol, the community awareness committee organizes safety guidelines and works with local law enforcement to ensure residents stay safe. This committee organizes projects with other HOA committees to work together toward one goal. For instance, the members of the community awareness committee might advise the financial committee on lighting upgrades or work with the social committee to organize self-defense classes.

• HOA Social Committee Social committees organize events for community members to get to know each other. The very best homeowners association committees improve property value. The social committee can do so in a unique way by making a neighborhood a fun place to live. Popular organized activities include:

There are generally two types of committees: permanent committees and temporary or seasonal committees that address very specific, short-term or seasonal issues. Special committees encompass everything from storm drain studies to trick or treating. Special committees also can comprise subcommittees formed under a permanent committee.

HOAs each have their own rules regarding who can serve on the board of directors and the various homeowners association committees. Restrictions might include:

• Property owners.
• Community residents.
• Individuals with certain types of experience.

Having a contractor or pest control technician on the ACC, for instance, can provide guidance when it comes to regulating property updates.

CC&R guidelines typically limit committee meeting attendance to members of the HOA. However, this can cause a problem for communities with a high percentage of residents who are renting their homes. Some communities have adjusted their bylaws to allow for anyone with a vested interest in a property to attend.

The state’s Open Meeting Act controls HOA board meeting procedure. California Civil Code 4900-4955 is perhaps the most transparent in the nation. Even these guidelines call for privacy in certain situations.

There are times when members of the board, which range in number from three to eight or more⁠, require the protection of a private meeting. Serving on a board or a committee comes with risks. However, there are times when privacy protects property owners and the potential for a project to go forward too.

Read More: What Are HOA Declarations?

In most situations, homeowners association committees are not regulated by Open Meeting Act laws. There are exceptions. The CC&Rs determine whether certain types of HOA committees must host meetings in public.