States
Oklahoma special assessments: what your board must do.
Condo and HOA assessments can become liens; Oklahoma's statutes set no owner vote.
Condos
Does the board need an owner vote?
Oklahoma's Unit Ownership Estate Act (60 O.S. 501-530) has no section requiring an owner vote on a special assessment. It says maintenance, repair, additions and improvements are carried out only as the bylaws provide, and the bylaws must say how common expenses are collected and that a majority of unit owners adopts decisions. The Act applies only to buildings whose owners recorded a declaration submitting them to it.
60 O.S. 509; 60 O.S. 520(b), (d); 60 O.S. 502What notice must owners get?
The Act sets no notice period for assessments or meetings. It requires the bylaws to say how owners are called to assemble.
60 O.S. 520(b)Your right to see the records
The administrator or board must keep a chronological book of receipts and expenditures for the common elements, and the vouchers behind each entry. All unit owners can examine the book and vouchers at convenient hours on working days that are set and announced. The section sets no deadline and does not mention copies.
60 O.S. 521Payment plans, late fees and liens
Unpaid common-expense assessments are a lien on your unit that ranks ahead of other liens except past-due taxes, earlier judgments, earlier recorded mortgages and certain mechanics' liens. The council of unit owners can foreclose the lien by suit, as with a mortgage, or sue for a money judgment without giving up the lien. The Act sets no interest or late-fee cap, no notice before the lien and no payment-plan right.
60 O.S. 524HOAs (houses and townhouses)
Owner vote
Oklahoma's owners-association statute (60 O.S. 851-857) sets no owner vote on assessments. It lets an owners association enforce membership obligations by a levy or assessment that may become a lien. These powers apply only to owners associations created after the act took effect in June 1975.
60 O.S. 852(C); 60 O.S. 855Notice
Owners are usually entitled to written notice that states the amount, the purpose and the due dates. Many states also require the board meeting where it was approved to be open to owners and noticed in advance.
Records
Owners generally have a legal right to inspect and copy the association's records, including the budget, reserve study, contracts, bids and minutes. Ask in writing and keep proof that you sent it.
Payment, late fees and liens
An owners association can enforce a levy or assessment through a lien on your lot, which may be foreclosed like a mortgage or deed of trust, and the winning side in that action recovers reasonable attorney's fees. No lien may be placed or mortgage foreclosed unless you were told in writing, when you joined, about the association's restrictions and rules and your possible financial liability. These powers apply only to associations created after June 1975, and the statute sets no interest or late-fee cap.
60 O.S. 852(C); 60 O.S. 855Summarised from the statutes in November 2026. Not legal advice; your declaration and bylaws may add more rules.