California association records requests
California members of a common interest development can request association records under the Davis-Stirling Act. Current fiscal year records are due within 10 business days of the request, and the two previous fiscal years within 30 calendar days. If access was unreasonably withheld, the court must award costs and attorney's fees and may add a civil penalty of up to $500 for each denied written request.
| Association | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| HOAs and condominiums: this fiscal year's records | 10 business daysafter the association receives the request | Cal. Civ. Code 5210(b) |
| HOAs and condominiums: the two prior fiscal years | 30 calendar daysafter the association receives the request | Cal. Civ. Code 5210(b) |
Common interest developments (Davis-Stirling Act)
Article 3 of the Davis-Stirling Act covers member access to association records in condominiums, planned developments, community apartment projects and stock cooperatives.
- Who may ask
- A member of the association.
- What starts the clock
- A request from the member or the member's designated representative. Certified mail is not required.
- Deadline
- Records for the current fiscal year are due within 10 business days following the association's receipt of the request. Records for the previous two fiscal years are due within 30 calendar days.
- Also
- Minutes of committees with decision-making authority are due within 15 calendar days following approval.
- Also
- Board and member meeting minutes follow the timing in Civ. Code 4950(a).
- Also
- The membership list follows the timing in Corp. Code 8330.
- Copies and costs
- The association may charge the direct and actual cost of copying and mailing. It must state the amount and the member must agree before copying. Redacting enhanced association records (invoices, receipts, canceled checks, statements) may be charged up to $10 an hour, capped at $200 per written request, with an estimate and the member's agreement first. Electronic copies are limited to direct cost.
- What may be withheld
- Records likely to lead to identity theft, fraud or privacy compromise; privileged material and confidential settlement agreements; personal identification information; executive session minutes; personnel records; interior architectural plans with security features; individual a la carte goods and services; and other members' disciplinary, collection or payment-plan records.
- What must be protected
- Employee pay may not be withheld but must be listed by job title, not name. Signed voter envelopes may be inspected but not copied. Records may not be sold or used commercially.
- If the deadline is missed
- If access was unreasonably withheld, the court must award the member costs and reasonable attorney's fees and may assess a civil penalty of up to $500 for the denial of each separate written request. Small claims court is allowed.
- Checklist or log
- When the association denies or redacts a record, the member can ask for a written explanation of the legal basis (Civ. Code 5215).
- Record keeping
- Records are open for the current and previous two fiscal years. Meeting minutes are kept permanently. Election materials are kept one year after the election.
How HOAChime handles California requests
Each association's state and type sets the deadline automatically: 10 business days for current records and 30 calendar days for older records, counted with California holidays. HOAChime sends reminder emails, shows a due-soon and overdue list across every association, and lets you mark records withheld with the reason. It also finds and blacks out Social Security, card, bank, licence, phone and email numbers before release, supports a copy-cost quote the owner accepts, and keeps a full history of the request.
Checked against the statute text on 2026-11-13. This page is a plain-English guide, not legal advice. Laws change; follow the citation links for the current text, and ask the association's attorney about a specific request.