Maryland Condominium Act §11-116
One question that often comes up in condominium communities is:
What types of Association records can homeowners request to review?
Under Maryland Condominium Act §11-116, unit owners generally have the right to examine or copy Association books and records after providing reasonable notice.
The law specifically references items such as financial statements and meeting minutes, but the statute also broadly refers to “books and records” of the Association.
📂 Types of Records That May Exist
Depending on the circumstances, Association records may include:
- Financial statements and accounting records
- Board meeting minutes and agendas
- Contracts and procurement records
- Vendor proposals and communications
- Election and governance records
- Enforcement and violation-related records
- Emails and written correspondence
- Electronic records and communications
- Audio or video recordings maintained by the Association
Whether a particular document or communication qualifies as an Association record may depend on how it was created, maintained, retained, or used by the Association or its management company.
⚠️ Certain Records May Be Withheld
The statute also identifies certain categories of records that may be withheld from public inspection, including:
- Personnel records
- Medical records
- Personal financial information
- Written legal advice
- Certain closed-session meeting materials
🧭 Why This Matters
As condominium operations increasingly rely on electronic communication and digital platforms, Association records may exist in many different formats beyond traditional paper documents.
Understanding that records can include more than just meeting minutes or financial statements can help homeowners better understand how Association decisions, communications, and operations are documented over time.
📌 Final Thought
Transparency and proper recordkeeping are important parts of condominium governance.
Access to records helps homeowners and Board members better understand how decisions are made, how funds are managed, and how Association business is conducted.
Transparency benefits everyone.
