The 68th Washington State Legislature (the “Legislature”) passed legislation in the summer of 2024 that will require Homeowners’ Associations and Condominium Associations to operate in compliance with the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (“WUCOIA”) – RCW Chapter 64.90 – beginning January 1, 2028.

WUCOIA will replace the Horizontal Property Regimes Act (RCW 64.32), the Washington Condominium Act (RCW 64.34) and the Homeowners’ Association Act (RCW 64.38), and will require many Associations to make significant changes to their governing documents. While WUCOIA is ultimately intended to provide a uniform, consistent set of rules for Associations in the future, the transition will require major adjustments in how Associations may have operated in the past in areas ranging from budgeting to the powers of the Board of Directors.

Given that the Legislature continues to revise WUCOIA, with two (2) bills impacting WUCOIA sponsored in this legislative session, we advise that Associations not begin revising their governing documents until, at the earliest, January 1, 2027. However, we highly recommend that Associations begin now to budget for the expense of reviewing and revising their governing documents to bring them into compliance with WUCOIA.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the attorneys in our Community Association Practice Group at your earliest convenience. Our office continues to monitor legislative changes to WUCOIA, and we are committed to assisting our Community Association clients through the transition to WUCOIA.