Washington law · Washington Homeowners' Associations Act (legacy)

RCW 64.38.020

Association powers

Covered in 3 owner guides

What this section does for you

The legacy Homeowners' Associations Act's parallel fine power: notice, a hearing, and a previously established, owner-furnished fine schedule.
Owner guide: Fines & violations in Washington
For legacy HOAs formed before July 1, 2018, meeting and voting mechanics generally come from the bylaws adopted under the association's general powers, since this chapter doesn't set its own detailed meeting statute.
Owner guide: Elections & meetings in Washington
The legacy HOA's parallel fine power, tying enforcement to notice, a hearing, and a previously furnished schedule, without WUCIOA's explicit arbitrary-or-capricious language.
Owner guide: Selective enforcement in Washington

The statutory text

Verbatim from the public record. The law itself is a government work — always confirm the current version on the official source before you rely on it.

RCW 64.38.020 — Association powers. (Repealed effective January 1, 2028.) Unless otherwise provided in the governing documents, an association may: (1) Adopt and amend bylaws, rules, and regulations; (2) Adopt and amend budgets for revenues, expenditures, and reserves, and impose and collect assessments for common expenses from owners; (3) Hire and discharge or contract with managing agents and other employees, agents, and independent contractors; (4) Institute, defend, or intervene in litigation or administrative proceedings in its own name on behalf of itself or two or more owners on matters affecting the homeowners' association, but not on behalf of owners involved in disputes that are not the responsibility of the association; (5) Make contracts and incur liabilities; (6) Regulate the use, maintenance, repair, replacement, and modification of common areas; (7) Cause additional improvements to be made as a part of the common areas; (8) Acquire, hold, encumber, and convey in its own name any right, title, or interest to real or personal property; (9) Grant easements, leases, licenses, and concessions through or over the common areas and petition for or consent to the vacation of streets and alleys; (10) Impose and collect any payments, fees, or charges for the use, rental, or operation of the common areas; (11) Impose and collect charges for late payments of assessments and, after notice and an opportunity to be heard by the board of directors or by the representative designated by the board of directors and in accordance with the procedures as provided in the bylaws or rules and regulations adopted by the board of directors, levy reasonable fines in accordance with a previously established schedule adopted by the board of directors and furnished to the owners for violation of the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the association; (12) Exercise any other powers conferred by the bylaws; (13) Exercise all other powers that may be exercised in this state by the same type of corporation as the association; and (14) Exercise any other powers necessary and proper for the governance and operation of the association.