A formal change to the HOA's governing documents, requiring a member vote to ratify.
An amendment is a formal modification to one of the HOA's foundational governing documents — the CC&Rs or bylaws. Because these documents carry legal weight and bind all owners, changing them requires a formal process: typically a written proposal, advance notice to all members, a vote (often a supermajority), and for CC&Rs, re-recording the amendment with the county recorder. The amendment process is more stringent than passing a simple board resolution or adopting a rule. Rules and policies can generally be changed by board vote alone; CC&Rs and bylaws require member participation. Some amendments also require approval from a percentage of first mortgage holders.
The difficulty of amending governing documents is by design — it protects owners from boards unilaterally changing the fundamental rules they relied on when purchasing. This protection also means that outdated, unfair, or problematic provisions can be hard to fix.
CC&Rs
Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions — the primary deed-recorded document governing what owners can and cannot do.
Bylaws
The document governing the HOA's internal operations — meetings, elections, officer duties, and board procedures.
Supermajority
A vote threshold higher than simple majority — often two-thirds or three-fourths — required for major decisions.
Restatement
A comprehensive redraft of the governing documents that consolidates all prior amendments into a single updated document.
LotWize handles amendment tracking automatically — along with violations, ARC requests, meeting minutes, and homeowner communications, all in one platform built for self-managed HOAs.
Start 14-Day Free TrialThis page provides general information only — not legal or financial advice. HOA laws vary by state and community. Always consult your governing documents and an HOA attorney for guidance specific to your situation.