Virginia association records requests
In Virginia, a member of a property owners' association or condominium gives written notice stating the purpose and the specific records. The records are then open on 5 business days' notice if the association is run by a common interest community manager, or 10 business days' notice if it is self-managed. These are notice periods before inspection, not response deadlines.
| Association | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| HOAs | 5 or 10 business days' notice5 if managed by a manager, 10 if self-managed | Va. Code 55.1-1815 |
| Condominiums | 5 or 10 business days' notice5 if managed by a manager, 10 if self-managed | Va. Code 55.1-1945 |
| Cooperatives | A reasonable timerecords reasonably available | Va. Code 55.1-2151 |
Property owners' associations
This section covers property owners' associations under the Virginia Property Owners' Association Act.
- Who may ask
- A member in good standing or an authorized agent. The request must relate to membership.
- What starts the clock
- Written notice stating the purpose and the specific records sought. Certified mail is not required.
- Deadline
- The records are open for examination on 5 business days' written notice if the association is managed by a common interest community manager, and on 10 business days' written notice if it is self-managed. These are notice periods before inspection, not response deadlines. Inspection is during reasonable business hours or at a mutually convenient time and place.
- Also
- Draft board minutes are open for inspection and copying within 60 days after the meeting or when distributed in the next agenda package, whichever comes first.
- Extensions
- None stated.
- Copies and costs
- Reasonable material and labor costs, not above actual cost, under a board-adopted cost schedule given to the requester at the time of the request. The requester also reimburses the reasonable cost of responding and of reviewing for redaction.
- What may be withheld
- Personnel matters and medical records; contracts under negotiation; pending or probable litigation; certain pending administrative proceedings; attorney-client communications; information whose disclosure would violate the law; executive session minutes and compiled materials prepared for executive session; and other owners' individual files.
- What must be protected
- A record may be withheld in full only if an exclusion covers its entire content. Otherwise the excluded parts are redacted and the rest is produced.
- If the deadline is missed
- The section states no penalty.
- Record keeping
- Lien records are kept at least as long as the lien remains effective.
Condominiums
This section covers condominiums under the Virginia Condominium Act.
- Who may ask
- A unit owner in good standing or an authorized agent. The request must relate to membership and not be for pecuniary gain or commercial solicitation.
- What starts the clock
- Written notice stating the purpose and the specific records. Certified mail is not required.
- Deadline
- The records are open for examination on 5 business days' written notice if the association is managed by a common interest community manager, and on 10 business days' written notice if it is self-managed. These are notice periods before inspection, not response deadlines. Inspection is during reasonable business hours or at a mutually convenient time and place.
- Extensions
- None stated.
- Copies and costs
- Reasonable material and labor cost under a board-adopted schedule given at the time of the request. The requester reimburses the cost of reviewing for redaction.
- What may be withheld
- Personnel and medical records; contracts under negotiation; pending or probable litigation; pending administrative enforcement; attorney-client communications; disclosure that would violate the law; executive session minutes and records; certain reports prepared for executive session; and other owners' individual files.
- What must be protected
- A record may be withheld in full only if an exclusion covers its entire content. Otherwise it is redacted.
- If the deadline is missed
- The section states no penalty.
Cooperatives
This section covers real estate cooperatives.
- Who may ask
- Any proprietary lessee and authorized agents.
- What starts the clock
- None stated.
- Deadline
- No number of days. All financial and other records must be made reasonably available for examination.
- If the deadline is missed
- The section states no penalty.
- Record keeping
- The lien record is kept as long as the lien is effective.
How HOAChime handles Virginia requests
Each association's state and type sets the notice period automatically, using business days and Virginia holidays, so the company can see when records must be ready for inspection. It sends reminder emails, shows a due-soon and overdue list across every association, and keeps a full history of the request. Records can be marked withheld with the state's reason, and copy costs are tracked as quoted, paid or waived.
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.