Because most Missouri subdivision HOAs are nonprofit corporations, Mo. Rev. Stat. Chapter 355's general corporate-governance rules are your actual meeting law, not a real-estate-specific statute. Section 355.231 requires an annual membership meeting at the time your bylaws set, and § 355.236 lets members force a special meeting: if holders of at least 5% of the voting power sign and deliver a written demand describing its purpose, the corporation must call it, and if the corporation doesn't send notice within 30 days, the petitioning members can set the time and place themselves. Section 355.251 sets the notice floor: 10 to 60 days' notice for most meetings (30 to 60 days if notice isn't sent first-class or registered mail), and a special meeting's notice must describe exactly what will be decided — nothing else may be voted on at that meeting.
Quorum defaults matter here too. Section 355.281 sets member quorum at 10% of the votes entitled to be cast, unless your articles or bylaws set something else, and a bylaw amendment lowering that quorum can come from the board alone, while raising it requires a member vote. Unless one-third or more of the voting power actually shows up (in person or by proxy), only the matters described in the meeting notice can be voted on at all. For the board itself, § 355.401 requires a majority of directors in office to constitute quorum, with a floor: your bylaws can never set board quorum below the greater of one-third of directors or two directors, and a majority of a quorum decides unless a higher vote is required elsewhere.
Condo meetings run on their own numbers
If you're a Uniform Condominium Act condo owner (condo created September 28, 1983 or later), your meeting rules live in §§ 448.3-108 and 448.3-109 instead. There must be at least one association meeting a year; a special meeting can be called by the president or by 20% of either the executive board or the unit owners (or a lower percentage if your bylaws say so); notice must go out 10 to 60 days ahead and must describe the agenda, including any proposed amendment to the declaration or bylaws, budget changes, or a proposal to remove a director or officer. Quorum defaults to 20% of the votes eligible to elect the board for a general meeting, and 50% of the board for a board meeting, unless your bylaws set a different number. Pre-1983 condo owners don't get any of these defaults; § 448.180 just requires your bylaws to specify a method for calling meetings and a quorum percentage, so read your own bylaws directly.
The authority
The statutes behind this
Cited by name as authority, for your own reading. Informational only, not legal advice.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 355.236
Lets 5% of a nonprofit corporation's members force a special meeting by written demand, with a self-help option if the corporation doesn't notice it within 30 days.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 355.281
Sets nonprofit-corporation member quorum at 10% of votes entitled to be cast by default, and governs how that quorum can be raised or lowered.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 448.3-109
Sets Uniform Condominium Act quorum defaults: 20% of eligible board-election votes for a general meeting, 50% of the board for a board meeting.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 448.3-108
Requires at least one annual condo association meeting, sets who can call a special meeting, and the required notice and agenda content.
Step by step
How to assert meeting, notice, and quorum rights in Missouri
Steps to check quorum, force a meeting, and challenge a defective vote under Missouri's nonprofit-corporation and condo-act meeting rules.
- 01
Identify your governing statute
Chapter 355 nonprofit corporation (most HOAs), or the Uniform Condominium Act (§§ 448.3-108, 448.3-109, post-1983 condos); pre-1983 condo owners go straight to their own bylaws under § 448.180.
- 02
Check your quorum number before a contested vote
HOA: 10% member default (§ 355.281) unless your bylaws differ. UCA condo: 20% for a general meeting or 50% for a board meeting, per § 448.3-109.
- 03
Use the 5%-petition right if the board won't call a meeting
HOA members can force a special meeting under § 355.236 with a signed written demand from 5% of voting power; if the corporation doesn't notice it within 30 days, you can set the time and place yourself.
- 04
Confirm notice covered what was actually decided
Under § 355.251 (HOA) or § 448.3-108 (UCA condo), a special meeting can only decide what its notice described. A vote on an undisclosed matter is vulnerable.
- 05
Escalate a defective vote
If quorum, notice, or agenda requirements were skipped, raise the defect in writing and, if the board won't correct it, consult a Missouri attorney about challenging the specific violation.
Straight answers
Common questions
Can my Missouri HOA board meet without telling the members?
Member meetings are governed by § 355.251's notice rules (10 to 60 days, or 30 to 60 for non-priority mail), and any bylaw amendment or other matter requiring member approval has to be disclosed in that notice.
Can members force a special meeting if the board refuses?
Yes, for nonprofit-corporation HOAs. Section 355.236 lets 5% of the voting power sign and deliver a written demand for a special meeting; if the corporation doesn't send notice within 30 days, the petitioning members can set the time and place themselves.
What's quorum for my Missouri HOA's annual meeting?
Unless your articles or bylaws say otherwise, § 355.281 sets it at 10% of the votes entitled to be cast. Note that unless a full one-third of the voting power actually attends, only matters described in the notice can be voted on.
Do condo owners get different meeting rules than HOA members?
Yes, if you're in a Uniform Condominium Act condo created September 28, 1983 or later: §§ 448.3-108 and 448.3-109 set their own annual-meeting, special-meeting, notice, and quorum rules (20% general, 50% board), separate from Chapter 355. Pre-1983 condo owners rely on whatever their own bylaws set under § 448.180.