Texas association records requests
Texas owners in property owners' associations and condominiums can request records by certified mail. The association must produce them, or give dates for inspection, on or before the 10th business day after it receives the request. If it cannot, it must send written notice with a date no later than the 15th business day after that notice.
| Association | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| HOAs | 10 business daysafter a certified-mail request is received | Tex. Prop. Code 209.005 |
| Condominiums | 10 business daysafter a certified-mail request is received | Tex. Prop. Code 82.1141 |
Property owners' associations
This section covers property owners' associations under Chapter 209. Associations that fall under the Government Code's open records chapter are handled differently.
- Who may ask
- A member or owner, or a person the owner names in a signed writing as agent, attorney or CPA.
- What starts the clock
- A written request sent by certified mail to the address on the association's most recent management certificate. It must describe the records in enough detail and say whether the owner wants to inspect them first or receive copies.
- Deadline
- For inspection, the association must send written notice of available dates on or before the 10th business day after it receives the request. For copies, it must produce them on or before the 10th business day.
- Also
- If the association cannot comply in 10 business days, it must give written notice with a date no later than the 15th business day after the date of that notice.
- Also
- The final invoice for costs is due on or before the 30th business day after the information is delivered.
- Also
- Any refund is due not later than the 30th business day after the invoice is sent.
- Also
- The owner must give at least 10 business days' written notice before suing.
- Extensions
- The association may take until the 15th business day after its written notice if it cannot comply within 10 business days.
- Copies and costs
- The board must adopt and record a records production and copying policy. Without a recorded policy, no charge may be made. Costs may include reasonable materials, labor and overhead, not above the Texas Administrative Code rates. The association may require advance payment of the estimated cost.
- What may be withheld
- An individual owner's violation history, owner personal financial information including payment records, owner contact information other than address, employee information including personnel files, attorney files (except fee invoices) and attorney work product and privileged communications.
- What must be protected
- The withheld categories stay protected unless the owner gives express written approval or a court orders release. Aggregate information that does not identify an owner may be released.
- If the deadline is missed
- The owner may petition the justice of the peace. The court may order release of the records and award court costs and attorney's fees. If the association wins, it recovers its costs and fees.
- Record keeping
- Associations with more than 14 lots must adopt a retention policy. Minimums: governing documents permanent; financial books, minutes and tax and audit records 7 years; owner account records 5 years; contracts 4 years after they expire.
Condominiums
Tex. Prop. Code 82.114, 82.1141
This section of the Texas Uniform Condominium Act covers condominium associations and follows the same steps as Chapter 209.
- Who may ask
- A unit owner, or an agent, attorney or CPA named in a signed writing.
- What starts the clock
- A written request sent by certified mail to the address on the most recent management certificate, describing the records and saying whether the owner wants to inspect or copy.
- Deadline
- For inspection, written notice of dates on or before the 10th business day after the association receives the request. For copies, produce them on or before the 10th business day.
- Also
- If the association cannot comply, it must give written notice with a date no later than the 15th business day after that notice.
- Also
- The final invoice is due on or before the 30th business day after delivery, and any refund within 30 business days after the invoice is sent.
- Also
- The owner must give at least 10 business days' written notice before suing.
- Extensions
- The association may take until the 15th business day after its written notice if it cannot comply within 10 business days.
- Copies and costs
- A recorded production and copying policy is required before the association charges anything. Advance payment of estimated costs is allowed.
- What may be withheld
- Attorney files except fee invoices, work product and privileged communications, an owner's violation history, owner personal financial information, owner contact information other than address, and employee information.
- What must be protected
- The same categories stay protected unless the owner gives written approval or a court orders release.
- If the deadline is missed
- The owner may petition the justice court, which may order the records released and award court costs and attorney's fees. If the association wins, it recovers its costs and attorney's fees.
- Record keeping
- The statute lists records to keep (financial statements, plans, owner names and addresses, minutes) but sets no number of years.
How HOAChime handles Texas requests
Each association's state and type sets the deadline automatically: 10 business days, with a second clock for the 15 business day delay notice and the 30 business day invoice, counted with Texas holidays. HOAChime records the certified-mail receipt date that starts the clock, sends reminder emails, and shows a due-soon and overdue list across every association. It also lets you mark records withheld with the state's reason, track charges as quoted, paid or waived, 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.