On January 10, the Legislative Working Group on Common Interest Communities (CIC) and Homeowners Associations (HOA) met to discuss potential recommendations regarding CIC and HOA powers and regulations in Minnesota. The goal of this group is to make recommendations for how to improve the experiences of homeowners and residents in CICs and HOAs.
Nick Erickson, senior director of housing policy for Housing First Minnesota, presented to the working group. He highlighted the disproportionately high cost of housing in Minnesota compared to the rest of the region, how HOAs can further increase housing costs, and unlawful ordinances that directly or indirectly require new developments to have an HOA.
“In Minnesota we have to buy zoning from local governments through the Planned Unit Development variance. […] In this process they can make a direct request to form an HOA or it can be done indirectly by mandating common property.” Erickson said.
The working group is comprised of legislators, representatives from housing and legal organizations, CIC/HOA board members, and homeowners. The group will have two more virtual sessions (Fri., Jan. 17 and Fri., Jan. 24 from 10am-12pm) before submitting a final report with recommendations to the legislature no later than February 2025.
Your Housing First Minnesota advocacy team is working with legislators on bill language that would ban municipal governments from requiring homeowners associations. Watch for more discussion this legislative session.
