Q: Can an HOA board president make unilateral decisions or agreements without first obtaining the approval of the majority of the other directors? I’m concerned that our president might be overstepping their authority. — D.H., Apple Valley

A: HOA power is exercised by the board, not the president.

Boards may delegate specific authority to presidents; but otherwise, presidents actually have very little power in HOAs.

Each director’s vote counts the same as the others – including the president’s vote. Many presidents do not understand that nonprofit mutual benefit corporations (such as HOAs) operate differently from for-profit corporations, in which presidents are very powerful.

A president acting without board authority does so at their peril because that board could disavow the preside

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