Evontar Blog
Practical guides and perspectives for HOA board members, community managers, and neighborhood organizers.
- 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Common Area WiFi: Network Design, Segmentation, Bandwidth Management, and Liability
WiFi in HOA common areas has become an expected amenity that creates operational complexity a consumer router cannot handle. A guide to commercial WiFi network design, why network segmentation from building systems is critical, bandwidth and user management for shared networks, DMCA liability and acceptable use policies for shared internet access, and managed service versus self-managed infrastructure.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Vendor Background Checks: Screening Contractors, Staff, and Service Providers with Building Access
Contractors and service providers with unescorted building access represent a security risk that background screening can mitigate. A guide to screening requirements for different access levels, background check components, FCRA and ban-the-box legal constraints, requiring screening compliance in vendor contracts, management company employee screening, and documenting compliance for liability protection.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Solar Access Rights and Tree Shading Disputes: California Civil Code §714 and Solar Easements
California Civil Code §714 limits HOA authority over solar installations, but doesn't guarantee solar access. Learn about solar easements, the Solar Shade Control Act, when shading is legal, and what options solar owners have when neighbors' trees reduce output.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
Suing Your HOA in Small Claims Court: What California Owners Need to Know
California small claims court lets HOA members pursue monetary disputes up to $12,500 without an attorney. Learn which disputes are suitable, Davis-Stirling pre-litigation requirements, what to expect at a hearing, and what remedies are available.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Notice Delivery Requirements: California Civil Code Rules for Mailing, Email, and Electronic Delivery
California Davis-Stirling Act establishes specific requirements for how HOAs must deliver notices. Learn when first-class vs. certified mail is required, how electronic delivery consent works under Civil Code §4040–§4045, and what happens when a notice uses the wrong method.
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HOA Owner Insurance Requirements: Requiring HO-6 Coverage and Collecting Proof
Many HOAs require unit owners to maintain HO-6 insurance. Learn what governing document authority is needed, what coverage amounts to require, why loss assessment coverage is critical in California, how to collect proof of insurance, and how owner HO-6 interacts with the master policy.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA CC&R Enforcement Defenses: When Owners Can Challenge Enforcement Actions
California courts recognize several defenses owners can raise against HOA enforcement: selective enforcement, laches, equitable estoppel, FHA/ADA reasonable modification rights, and rule ambiguity under contra proferentem.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
SB 326 Balcony Inspection Requirements for California HOAs: Civil Code §5551 Compliance Guide
California SB 326 (Civil Code §5551) requires HOAs to have exterior elevated elements inspected every nine years. The first deadline was January 1, 2025. Learn what elements are covered, the three finding categories, and the difference between SB 326 and SB 721.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Loans for Capital Improvements: When Borrowing Makes More Sense Than a Special Assessment
When an HOA faces a large capital project, borrowing money and repaying it through increased monthly assessments often causes less financial hardship than a lump-sum special assessment. Learn how HOA association loans work, what legal authority boards have to borrow, what lenders specialize in community association financing, and when a loan is the better choice.
Read post → - 6 min readJeremy Diaz
HOA Enforcement and Attorney Fee Recovery: How Civil Code §5975 Works
California Civil Code §5975 gives the prevailing party in any action to enforce HOA governing documents the right to recover reasonable attorney fees — and it applies symmetrically to both HOAs and owners. Learn how the prevailing party is determined, how pre-litigation IDR and ADR requirements affect fee recovery, and how boards should factor fee exposure into enforcement decisions.
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