Be direct about what Mississippi's condominium statute actually promises here: not much, and none of it as an owner's direct inspection right. The only records-related provision in the whole chapter, § 89-9-17(4), simply lets a recorded declaration of restrictions provide "for independent audit of the accounts of any management body." That's permissive, not mandatory: it authorizes a declaration to set up an audit if it wants to, and it's an audit conducted by an outside party, not a right for you personally to walk in and examine the books, minutes, or contracts on demand. If your declaration didn't adopt an audit provision, or adopted one but never funds it, the statute itself gives you no separate lever to force one.
There's no statutory list of records the association must keep, no response deadline, and no copy-cost rule, nothing comparable to what other states spell out for HOA and condo transparency. Whatever inspection right you actually have, if your declaration or bylaws promise owners access to minutes, contracts, or financial statements, comes entirely from those documents, not from Chapter 89-9. Read your declaration directly rather than assuming a state floor exists underneath it.
What you can always get, no matter what your declaration says
Two things are public regardless of your board's cooperation, because the statute itself requires them to be filed with the chancery clerk. The recorded plan, survey map, floor plans, and consent certificate under § 89-9-9, and the recorded declaration of restrictions itself under § 89-9-17, are both public county records; anyone, not just an owner, can request copies directly from the chancery clerk's office. Likewise, any notice of assessment or lien recorded against a specific unit under § 89-9-21, and the corresponding notice of satisfaction and release once it's paid, are recorded in the county's condominium lien book and are public too. If your board won't hand you a copy of the declaration itself, or won't confirm whether a lien against a unit was released, you don't need their cooperation: that paperwork lives at the courthouse.
The authority
The statutes behind this
Cited by name as authority, for your own reading. Informational only, not legal advice.
Miss. Code § 89-9-17
The chapter's only records-adjacent provision: lets, but doesn't require, a recorded declaration provide for independent audit of a management body's accounts; creates no owner examination right.
Miss. Code § 89-9-9
Requires the condominium's plan, survey map, floor plans, and consent certificate to be recorded with the chancery clerk, a public record regardless of the board's cooperation.
Miss. Code § 89-9-21
Requires notices of assessment, liens, and their satisfaction and release to be recorded in the county's condominium lien book, public records anyone can request directly from the chancery clerk.
Step by step
How to get HOA or condo information in Mississippi
A practical path to get real documents out of a Mississippi condominium association and the public record backing it.
- 01
Read your own declaration and bylaws first
Since the statute creates no general inspection right, find out exactly what access, if any, your recorded declaration or bylaws actually promise owners.
- 02
Ask the board in writing regardless
Put a dated, written request for minutes, contracts, and financial statements to the board even without a statutory backstop; a documented request is what you'll need if there's ever a dispute.
- 03
Pull the recorded plan and declaration at the chancery clerk
Request copies of the condominium's recorded plan (§ 89-9-9) and declaration of restrictions (§ 89-9-17) directly from the county chancery clerk's office; these are public regardless of board cooperation.
- 04
Check the lien book for your unit
If you want to confirm whether a prior lien against your unit was recorded and released, ask the clerk to search the condominium lien book under § 89-9-21.
- 05
Ask about the audit provision specifically
If your declaration adopted an independent-audit clause under § 89-9-17(4), ask the board directly whether an audit has actually been performed and request the results.
Straight answers
Common questions
Does Mississippi law give condo owners a right to inspect the association's books?
Not directly. The only records provision, § 89-9-17(4), lets a declaration set up an independent audit; it doesn't create a personal inspection right. Whatever access you have comes from your own declaration or bylaws.
What can I get without the board's help?
The recorded plan (§ 89-9-9) and declaration of restrictions (§ 89-9-17), plus any recorded lien notices and releases (§ 89-9-21), are public county records available directly from the chancery clerk.
Is there a deadline for the board to respond to a records request?
No. Mississippi's condominium statute sets no response timeline for records requests. Check your declaration and bylaws for any deadline they promise.
What if I'm in a subdivision HOA rather than a condo?
This statute doesn't apply to you at all under § 89-9-9's recorded-plan gate. Your records rights, like your fining and enforcement rights, run entirely on your declaration and general contract law, since Mississippi hasn't enacted a general HOA statute.