Vermont is one of the states where a comprehensive act genuinely reaches non-condo HOAs: the Vermont Common Interest Ownership Act, 27A V.S.A., covers planned communities as well as condominiums. That said, coverage has real limits — smaller and older communities can fall outside the Act's full scope, so it's worth confirming where yours lands before assuming every provision applies.

Fines: what your HOA can and can't charge

The Act gives associations fine authority as part of its general enforcement powers, generally requiring notice and an opportunity to be heard before a fine takes effect. The Act doesn't set a specific dollar cap — amounts are governed by your declaration and bylaws within the Act's general reasonableness framework.

See our guide on how to fight an HOA fine for the general playbook.

Unpaid assessments, liens, and foreclosure

Section 3-116 of the Act gives the association a lien for unpaid assessments, and — unlike many states — Vermont's lien carries a genuine six-month super-priority over a first mortgage for a limited slice of unpaid common expense assessments. Foreclosure of the lien is judicial only in Vermont; there's no non-judicial power-of-sale shortcut for HOA liens.

More on this in our guide to what happens if you don't pay HOA dues.

Meetings and quorum

The Common Interest Ownership Act sets meeting-notice and quorum defaults for covered communities, though the specifics can be modified by your declaration within the limits the Act allows. If your community falls under one of the Act's exemptions for small or older communities, check your bylaws directly, since the statutory defaults may not apply.

Board elections

The Act includes general governance provisions covering board authority and transitions of control from a developer, with detailed candidate-eligibility and removal mechanics otherwise left to your declaration and bylaws.

For the general mechanics, see how HOA board elections work.

Buying a home in a Vermont HOA

Communities covered by the Common Interest Ownership Act are generally subject to its resale-disclosure requirements, giving buyers access to financial and governance information about the association before closing. Confirm your specific community's coverage, since Vermont's exemptions for small or pre-Act communities can mean a narrower or absent disclosure obligation.

Know before you buy: ask early whether your community is fully covered by the Common Interest Ownership Act or falls under one of its small-community or pre-1999 exemptions — that answer determines what disclosure, if any, you're legally entitled to before you close.

See our full buying checklist for homes in an HOA before you make an offer.

This guide covers general Vermont law affecting homeowners associations as of 2026, including the Vermont Common Interest Ownership Act, 27A V.S.A., which contains exemptions for certain small and pre-Act communities, and is for general education only — it isn't legal advice. For anything binding, talk to a Vermont HOA attorney.

Need help with a Vermont HOA issue? Find an HOA attorney in Vermont, or find a management company in Vermont.