Michigan Court of Appeals

Bylaw & Covenant Enforcement April 8, 2026

Michigan Court Clarifies HOA Easement and Enforcement Limits

Can a homeowners association prevent a member from using a private subdivision road to access property located outside the subdivision? And what happens when a community association waits too long to challenge an easement that has been recorded for decades? In Carnegie Woods Property Owners Association v Czajka, unpublished per curiam opinion of the Court of Appeals, November 17, 2025…
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Construction Defects & Developer Turnover March 27, 2026

Michigan Court Limits Developer Rights in Condo Marina Dispute

In condominiums with marinas, disputes often arise over who controls access to shared amenities, such as boat slips, and how those costs are allocated. In many cases, rights to control the marina, access to boat slips, and cost-sharing for marina amenities are disputed. In Harbor Isles Marine, LLC v Estate of Chodock, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued…
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Maintenance Repairs & Common Elements March 25, 2026

Michigan Condo Case Upholds Cost-Sharing Agreement for Shared Amenities

 One reason individuals choose to live in a condominium is the amenities, such as a clubhouse, swimming pool, and tennis court. Condominiums located next to each other frequently share amenities, and issues such as how costs will be shared and who will make maintenance and repair decisions about the amenities are typically addressed in the master deeds or separate maintenance…
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Condo & HOA Insurance November 20, 2017

Michigan COA Rules that Condo Association’s Insurance Policy May Cover Water Damage Resulting from Construction Defects

In Walters Beach Condominium Association v Home-Owners Insurance Company, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued November 16, 2017 (Docket No. 335172), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that water damage caused by construction defects may be covered under a condominium association’s insurance policy.  At issue was a rain storm caused water damage to 4 units in the Walters…
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Document Amendments February 19, 2016

Michigan Court of Appeals Rules that Amendments to HOA Restrictions Require Unanimous Consent

The Michigan Court of Appeals recently made the following significant rulings that impact Michigan Homeowners’ Associations in Conlin v Upton, Michigan Court of Appeals Docket No. 322458 (November 24, 2015) (Published Opinion): The absence of an amendment provision in the original declaration of restrictions for a subdivision precluded a HOA from later amending its declaration with less than unanimous consent…
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