CCM CCM Governance & Community Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident files a formal violation notice appeal. What is the MOST important element of a fair hearing process?
- The board votes before the resident is heard
- The resident has an opportunity to present their case before a decision is made (Correct answer)
- The community manager issues the final ruling alone
- The appeal is decided only by the resident's neighbors
Correct answer: The resident has an opportunity to present their case before a decision is made
Due process requires that the accused resident be given notice and an opportunity to be heard before the board renders a decision on the appeal.
Question 2: Which term describes the process by which a community association formally notifies a homeowner that they are in violation of the governing documents?
- Cease and desist order
- Violation notice (or notice of non-compliance) (Correct answer)
- Unlawful detainer action
- Foreclosure notice
Correct answer: Violation notice (or notice of non-compliance)
A violation notice formally communicates the specific rule infraction and required corrective action, initiating the enforcement process.
Question 3: When a community association's rules conflict with a federal fair housing law, which takes precedence?
- The association's CC&Rs always take precedence
- Federal law overrides the association's rules (Correct answer)
- State law takes precedence over both
- The board has full discretion to decide
Correct answer: Federal law overrides the association's rules
Federal law—including the Fair Housing Act—supersedes any association rule or restriction that would constitute unlawful housing discrimination.
Question 4: A community manager is asked to enforce a rule inconsistently—applying it to some owners but not others. This practice violates which key governance principle?
- Fiscal transparency
- Selective enforcement prohibition / uniform enforcement (Correct answer)
- Open meeting requirements
- Reserve study mandate
Correct answer: Selective enforcement prohibition / uniform enforcement
Selective enforcement exposes the association to discrimination claims and is generally prohibited; rules must be applied uniformly to all owners.
Question 5: Which document typically specifies the roles, terms, and election procedures for the community association's board of directors?
- The reserve study
- The bylaws (Correct answer)
- The rules and regulations
- The master insurance policy
Correct answer: The bylaws
The bylaws govern the internal operations of the association, including board composition, officer roles, terms of office, and election procedures.
Question 6: What must a community association generally provide to a unit owner who requests a copy of the association's financial records?
- A verbal summary only
- Access to or copies of the records within the timeframe required by governing documents or state law (Correct answer)
- Only the current year's budget
- Financial records are confidential and need not be shared
Correct answer: Access to or copies of the records within the timeframe required by governing documents or state law
Owners generally have a statutory or contractual right to inspect and copy association financial records within defined timeframes.
CCM CCM Governance & Community Standards 2
A resident files a formal violation notice appeal.
What is the MOST important element of a fair hearing process?