On Friday, September 10, 2010, the Ohio Planned Community Act became effective. The law, which established Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5312, provides for the statutory framework of the governance and operation of Ohio’s planned communities. Similar to the statute enacted for condominiums, Ohio’s community association owners now enjoy significant consumer protections designed at preserving their communities and property values.

Also important for community associations is that the new law requires that all community association bylaws or code of regulations be recorded within one hundred eighty (180) days after the law became effective. If your association’s bylaws or code of regulations are not recorded, please contact our office immediately for more information regarding the easiest and most cost effective way for your association to be in compliance with the new law. More importantly than the simple act of recording, the Bylaws or Code of Regulations must reference the Declaration and incorporate proper language so that it appears in the chain of title of all homes within the community.

Kaman & Cusimano, LLC Service Option Client community association board members recently received a “special edition” Kaman Report detailing all of the important components of this new law. This includes information on the new laws governing reserves, cost of collections and enforcement, board powers, and records reviews. If your community association is not a Kaman & Cusimano, LLC Service Option Client, please Contact Us for more information on how to receive this important edition of the “Kaman Report.”

A full copy of the law is available at http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5312