The Homeowners’ Energy Policy Act, MCL 559.301 et seq. (“HEPA”) was enacted into law with the aim of removing condominium associations’ and homeowners associations’ traditional architectural authority over solar panels and other energy-saving improvements or modifications. As of April 1, 2026, HEPA requires all homeowners associations in Michigan to adopt a written solar energy policy. HEPA provides guidance on the…
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The governing documents of a homeowners association, whether called a declaration of easements (a declaration), covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs), or otherwise, will identify the provisions and restrictions that apply to the lot owners. The original developer of the subdivision likely wrote the original governing documents some years ago and created the restrictions to reflect what the developer envisioned for…
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The start of a new year is a natural time to look forward to what the future holds. But before everyone starts focusing on their resolutions, let’s take a moment to look back on what happened in 2025 from a legislative standpoint. This past year saw a number of new statutes that affect condominium associations and homeowners associations in Michigan. …
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3 Essential Policies for Michigan HOAs and Condo Associations The governing documents of a homeowners association identify the rights and restrictions that apply to the members of that association. Governing documents include the master deed and bylaws of a condominium association, and the declaration or deed restrictions. However, these governing documents typically only identify what a member is required to…
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Fair Housing & HOAs: Can an Emotional Support Animal Be Denied if Another Unit Owner Has Allergies? In typical circumstances, each owner in a homeowners association must comply with the restrictions defined in the governing documents. Most governing documents contain some restriction concerning pets, whether it be a restriction on the number of pets that may be kept or an…
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Chickens are becoming increasingly trendy animals for people to own. At least part of the driving force behind people keeping chickens is the fresh supply of eggs. With increasing awareness around farming practices and consciousness about health, many people are keeping chickens in their backyards. For those who are part of a homeowners association in a suburban setting, though, there…
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