If you own a lot in an Ohio HOA, Ohio Rev. Code § 5312.07(A) gives you the right to examine and copy the books, records, and minutes the association is required to keep under § 5312.06(C) — the accounting of common-element receipts and expenditures, the records of how common expenses were collected from owners, the minutes of association and board meetings, and the names and addresses of owners. The board can set reasonable standards for how you exercise that right (what documents are covered, when and where you can see them, a reasonable copying fee), but it can't use those standards to just say no.
There are real limits, and it's worth knowing them so you can tell a legitimate refusal from stonewalling. Under § 5312.07(B), the board doesn't need your request approved case-by-case, but it can withhold, without separate board approval, records more than five years old, and records touching personnel matters, attorney-client communications or work product on pending or potential litigation, contracts currently under negotiation or subject to confidentiality, information about the enforcement of the declaration against other owners, or anything disclosure of which is barred by other state or federal law. Outside those categories, the examine-and-copy right applies.
If you're a condo owner
The condominium chapter takes a different shape. Ohio Rev. Code § 5311.09(A) requires the unit owners association to keep correct and complete books and records of account for the common elements, records showing how common profits, losses, and expenses were allocated and collected, minutes of association and board meetings, and the names, addresses, and undivided interests of unit owners — but, as written, it doesn't spell out the same examine-and-copy mechanics that § 5312.07 gives HOA lot owners. That's a real, useful thing to know: as a condo owner, your strongest textual argument is that these records must exist under § 5311.09, and a board that can't produce them has a compliance problem. Check your declaration and bylaws for the specific request procedure, since Ohio's statute leaves more of that mechanics to the documents on the condo side than it does for planned communities.
One more lever specific to newer condo associations: § 5311.09(B) requires the developer or declarant to hand over complete copies of all these books, records, and minutes — plus the declaration, bylaws, recorded drawings, and articles of incorporation — the moment elected owners take control of the board. If the developer won't cooperate, the board can sue in the court of common pleas for injunctive relief or damages for the failure to comply.
The authority
The statutes behind this
Cited by name as authority, for your own reading. Informational only, not legal advice.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5312.07
Gives a planned-community (HOA) lot owner the right to examine and copy the association's books, records, and minutes, subject to reasonable board standards and specific exemptions.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5312.06(C)
Lists exactly what a planned-community owners association must keep — the accounting, collection records, meeting minutes, and owner names/addresses — that § 5312.07 lets you reach.
Ohio Rev. Code § 5311.09
Requires a condo unit owners association to keep the same categories of books, records, and minutes, and requires the developer to hand over complete copies when owners take control of the board.
Step by step
How to request HOA or condo records in Ohio
A clean, statute-anchored records request that invokes § 5312.07 (HOA) or § 5311.09 (condo) and preserves your remedies.
- 01
Put it in writing and date it
Email or mail (certified is ideal) a written, dated request. A documented request is what you'll need if the board stalls or refuses.
- 02
List the specific record categories
Name the categories from § 5312.06(C) or § 5311.09(A): the common-element receipts-and-expenditures accounting, the collection and allocation records, board and association meeting minutes, and the owner list.
- 03
Cite the statute
Reference Ohio Rev. Code § 5312.07 (HOA) or § 5311.09 (condo) by section number so it's clear you know the right, and for HOA requests, ask the board to point to its actual recorded standard governing timing, location, and copy fees.
- 04
Know the legitimate exemptions
For HOA lot owners, records over five years old, or falling into the personnel, legal, active-negotiation, other-owner-enforcement, or legally-barred categories under § 5312.07(B), can be withheld without board approval. Outside those categories, a refusal is harder to justify.
- 05
Escalate a stonewall
If a condo board can't or won't produce records it's required to keep under § 5311.09, or an HOA board denies access outside a valid § 5312.07(B) exemption, put the denial in writing and consider a civil action; § 5311.19 lets any owner sue over the association's own noncompliance.
Straight answers
Common questions
What HOA records can I see in Ohio?
Under Ohio Rev. Code § 5312.07, a planned-community lot owner can examine and copy the books, records, and minutes described in § 5312.06(C) — the common-element accounting, collection records, meeting minutes, and owner names and addresses.
Are there HOA records the board can legally withhold?
Yes. Section 5312.07(B) lets the board withhold, without approval, records over five years old and records touching personnel matters, privileged legal communications, active contract negotiations, enforcement against other owners, or information barred from disclosure by other law.
I own a condo — do I have the same right to inspect records?
Ohio's condo chapter, § 5311.09, requires the association to keep the same categories of books, records, and minutes, but it doesn't spell out the examine-and-copy mechanics the way § 5312.07 does for HOA lots. Cite § 5311.09 to demand the records exist and be produced, and check your declaration and bylaws for the specific request procedure.
The board just took over from the builder — can I get the original paperwork?
For condos, § 5311.09(B) requires the developer to hand over complete copies of the books, records, minutes, declaration, bylaws, recorded drawings, and articles of incorporation once elected owners control the board, and lets the board sue for injunctive relief or damages if the developer refuses.