Michigan Court of Appeals Clarifies HOA Lake Access: Do You Need a Permit for Seasonal Boat Docks? Introduction For homeowners associations (HOAs) managing lakefront or shared access to Michigan’s inland lakes, one of the most pressing questions is whether installing or operating docks requires state permits. This question is especially relevant for HOAs whose members use seasonal docks for boating…
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Many Michigan condominium associations and HOAs understand the value of general liability or directors and officers insurance. However, another type of coverage, workers’ compensation insurance, is less well-known but can be extremely valuable. Whether your community association has staff, hires vendors, or relies on volunteers, it’s crucial to know when workers’ compensation insurance is legally required in Michigan and when…
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When you purchase property in a master-planned resort community, it’s easy to assume that all amenities such as yacht clubs, golf courses, or clubhouses are simply part of the package. But what happens when the fine print in your master deed obligates you to become a member of a private club, and then that club changes? That’s exactly what happened…
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In 2024, over 500,000 bankruptcy cases were filed in the U.S., a 14% increase from the prior year. With 2025 expected to bring even more filings, many condominium and HOA boards are facing a harsh reality: how to handle bankrupt owners while staying compliant with federal law and protecting the association’s finances. Missteps in handling bankruptcy can cost your association…
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Understanding Easement Rights Between Adjoining Condos: What Hunters Woods Teaches Us Easement disputes between adjoining condominium associations can often lead to complicated and contentious legal battles. This is especially true in phased developments where multiple condominium communities share infrastructure, utilities, or access roads, yet their ownership and use rights may not always be clearly defined. One such case, Hunters Woods…
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“[R]estrictions for residence purposes, if clearly established by proper instruments, are favored by definite public policy. The courts have long and vigorously enforced them by specific mandate.” Oosterhouse v Brummel, 343 Mich 283, 287; 72 NW2d 6 (1955). Property owners within community associations across Michigan and the nation are increasingly installing swim spas in their backyards, though often in violation…
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