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One of the most important factors in the success of a homeowners association (HOA) is the composition of its board of directors. A well-sized, well-structured community association board helps ensure sound decision-making, fair representation, and legal compliance. But how many HOA board members are required?
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on your governing documents, state laws, and the makeup of your community. Today we’ll walk through the legal requirements, best practices, and how Kuester Management Group is recognized as a top HOA management company in Charlotte area, Huntersville NC, Wilmington NC, Myrtle Beach SC, and Fort Mill SC. Kuester can support your homeowners’ association in building and maintaining the right board structure.
Is There a Legal Requirement for the Number of HOA Board Members?
Yes, however, it varies.
In most states, the law establishes minimum HOA board member requirements for incorporated associations. For example, many state nonprofit corporation statutes require at least three board members for the entire community, but leave the upper limit flexible. Your governing documents, namely your bylaws and articles of incorporation, typically define:
- Minimum and maximum number of board members
- Term lengths
- How vacancies are filled
- Whether HOA board size can be changed
If your governing documents are silent on the board’s size, your state’s nonprofit corporation laws or HOA statutes will serve as the default.
A best practice here is to review both state law and your community association’s bylaws when determining what’s required.
What Is the Typical Number of Board Members in an HOA?
Most HOAs have between three and seven board members. Here’s what’s typical based on community size:
- Small HOAs (under 50 homes): 3 members
- Medium-sized HOAs (50–200 homes): 3 to 5 members
- Large HOAs (200+ homes): 5 to 7 members or more
This range provides enough diversity of perspective while still being manageable in terms of scheduling, communication, and collaboration.
What Factors Should Determine the Size of the Board?
While state law and homeowners’ association bylaws set the framework, determining the ideal board size depends on:
- Community Size: Larger communities often need more board members to adequately represent homeowners.
- Complexity of Operations: Communities with many amenities, common areas, committees, or vendors may need more board oversight.
- Volunteer Availability: Smaller HOAs may struggle to find enough willing and qualified candidates.
- Desire for Representation: A larger board can provide more diverse viewpoints, but also more voices to manage.
Ultimately, the goal is to balance representation with functionality. Too few members can lead to bottlenecks; too many can hinder decision-making.
Can the Number of Board Members Change Over Time?
Yes. HOAs can amend their bylaws to increase or decrease the number of board members, provided the process is followed correctly.
This may involve:
- Holding a special meeting or including the change on the agenda of an annual meeting.
- Getting approval from the required percentage of homeowner votes (usually a majority or supermajority).
- Filing the amended bylaws with the appropriate state or local agency, if required.
It’s best to make these changes with legal or professional property management company guidance to ensure full compliance.
What Happens If There Are Too Few Board Members?
If your board doesn’t meet the required minimum number of members, or you fall below quorum due to resignations or vacancies, your HOA may face serious issues, including:
- Inability to conduct official business (no quorum)
- Stalled decision-making and project delays
- Potential violations of bylaws or state law
- Risk of legal challenges or loss of nonprofit status
- Exposure to liability due to inadequate oversight
HOAs in this situation should act quickly to fill vacancies–either by appointment (if allowed) or by calling a special election. Kuester Management Group often helps communities navigate these challenges smoothly and legally.
What’s the Ideal Number of HOA Board Members for a Small HOA?
For small communities (typically fewer than 50 homes), a three-member board is often ideal. This usually includes:
- President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
Three is the legal minimum in most jurisdictions and allows the HOA to meet quorum requirements and carry out essential governance functions. It strikes a balance between efficient decision-making and appropriate oversight, enabling clear delegation of responsibilities without requiring a large number of volunteers.
However, small boards can also face challenges if even one member steps down or disengages, making continuity and commitment essential. That’s why it’s so important that each member is not only willing to serve, but also properly trained and equipped to lead.
What’s the Ideal Board Size for a Large HOA?
For larger communities, typically those with over 100 homes, multiple phases of development, or significant amenities such as clubhouses, pools, gated entries, or private roads, a five- to seven-member board is generally recommended.
This size allows the HOA to effectively manage the broader scope of responsibilities that naturally come with a larger or more complex community.
A larger board can include:
- A full roster of officers, such as a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, each with clearly defined responsibilities.
- Multiple at-large members who represent the broader homeowner base, ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in decision-making.
- Board members who can be assigned to oversee specific areas, such as vendor management, compliance enforcement, legal matters, architectural review, or communications.
With more people at the table, the board is better equipped to:
- Distribute workload evenly, preventing burnout and ensuring no single member is overwhelmed or making decisions in isolation.
- Improve oversight of committees, projects, and initiatives by assigning board liaisons to monitor progress and report back.
- Ensure decisions are made with proper checks and balances, reducing the risk of conflicts of interest or unilateral action.
- Provide broader representation, which fosters greater trust among homeowners and can lead to increased engagement and participation.
A larger board can also be particularly helpful when managing:
- Complex budgets with multiple line items, reserves, and capital improvement projects
- High volumes of homeowner requests, architectural reviews, or rule enforcement cases
- Frequent vendor relationships, service contracts, and maintenance obligations
- Community-wide initiatives like technology upgrades, sustainability programs, or master planning
If your community is growing or already operating at scale, a larger board structure, combined with professional support, can offer the stability, structure, and strategic leadership needed to protect property values and promote homeowner satisfaction.
Can an HOA Operate with Just One or Two Board Members?
In most cases, no–at least not effectively or legally. HOA bylaws, along with state nonprofit laws, typically require a minimum of three board members. This structure ensures checks and balances, promotes transparency, and enables the board to meet quorum, which is the minimum number of members needed to legally conduct business.
When a board is reduced to just one or two members, several critical issues arise:
- Quorum cannot be met, which means the board is unable to hold valid meetings or make official decisions.
- No official votes can be taken, leaving the HOA unable to approve budgets, sign contracts, adopt policies, or enforce rules.
- The HOA may be unable to take essential actions such as paying vendors, addressing violations, or responding to emergencies.
- Legal and financial risks increase. A nonfunctioning board may fail in its fiduciary duties, opening the door to potential lawsuits or regulatory issues.
- Homeowner confidence can erode. A dysfunctional or understaffed board can lead to resident dissatisfaction, apathy, and further difficulty recruiting new volunteers.
What Can You Do if Your HOA Doesn’t Have Enough Board Members?
If your board is struggling to maintain adequate membership, it’s essential to take proactive steps to restore functionality and leadership:
- Recruit volunteers. Reach out to community members individually, explain the importance of board service, and host informational meetings to encourage participation.
- Provide training and onboarding. Many homeowners hesitate to volunteer because they feel unqualified. Offering education and guidance can help new board members feel more prepared and confident.
- Partner with a professional management company. An experienced firm like Kuester Management Group can assist with board recruitment, support interim operations, ensure legal compliance, and provide long-term governance solutions.
An HOA Management Company Can Help Maintain Board Structure
At Kuester Management Group, we help HOA communities throughout the Carolinas build and maintain effective, well-structured boards that foster good governance and resident trust. Whether your association is just getting started, struggling to maintain participation, or needs to realign its leadership structure, we offer the tools and expertise to guide you every step of the way.
Our team can:
- Interpret bylaws and assess board size requirements
- Assist in recruiting, training, and retaining qualified board members
- Facilitate smooth, fair elections and fill open seats promptly
- Ensure compliance with state laws, nonprofit statutes, and governing documents
- Promote transparency, accountability, and homeowner engagement
Strong boards are the backbone of successful communities. If your HOA is ready to build a more stable, efficient, and compliant leadership team, Kuester is ready to help.
Reach out today to learn how our expert HOA property management services can support your board and strengthen your community for the long term.
