The January 2028 Deadline Is Bigger Than You Think
Three statutes are repealed entirely on January 1, 2028: RCW 64.32 (Horizontal Property Regimes Act), RCW 64.34 (Washington Condominium Act), and RCW 64.38 (Homeowners' Association Act). Every HOA, condominium, and cooperative in Washington will operate under RCW 64.90 (WUCIOA) exclusively.
Provisions in governing documents that conflict with WUCIOA become automatically invalid on this date. Not "should be updated" - invalid. Board actions based on invalid provisions can be challenged in court.
What Else Changes in 2028
- Insurance mandates: fidelity insurance and property insurance required for all associations
- Reserve study requirements: annual updates and visual inspections every three years
- Financial reporting: accrual-based accounting, annual audits for $50,000+ associations, two-signature rules for reserve disbursements
- Rules and enforcement: two notices required before adopting new rules or fine schedules
- Records and transparency: 10/21-day response timelines for records requests
What Your Board Should Do Now
Form a governing documents committee now and begin reviewing current CC&Rs and bylaws against WUCIOA requirements. Consider the opt-in option under RCW 64.90.095. Engage an attorney for the restatement. A 67% supermajority vote is difficult to achieve on a compressed timeline - start building consensus early.
How My HOA Voice Supports the 2028 Preparation Process
The Documents module stores current CC&Rs, bylaws, and proposed restated documents with version history. The Announcements module is the right tool for community-wide owner education - post updates on what is changing and why, with a timestamped archive that helps demonstrate notice obligations were met. The Surveys module lets your board gauge homeowner sentiment on proposed changes before a formal vote - identifying concerns early and building the consensus needed to clear the 67% threshold. The Voting module handles the supermajority ratification vote with full secret ballot compliance.