A bill giving Maryland owners a veto over common-area work above $1,000 died without a vote
A bill giving Maryland owners a veto over common-area work above $1,000 died without a vote
2026-09-12 · Maryland · Legislation · Did not pass
What happened. Maryland statute does not expressly govern how a community association approves a substantial alteration of its common elements. A bill to change that — requiring majority owner approval for anything beyond ordinary maintenance or a job under $1,000 — was heard on 13 March 2026 and died in House Economic Matters without a committee report.1
House Bill 1577 came from Delegate Ross, had no cross-file, and was a first filing.
What it would have required
From the fiscal note:2
- A cooperative housing corporation, condominium or HOA governing body could not renovate, expand, upgrade, or otherwise substantially alter a common element or area without approval of a majority of the community's members — for condominiums and HOAs, a majority of owners in good standing.
- Approval could be obtained by any means to which all members or owners have access — deliberately flexible, allowing electronic voting rather than requiring a meeting.
- Two exemptions: ordinary maintenance or necessary repair or replacement of a common element, and any maintenance, repair or replacement request not exceeding $1,000.
The Department of Legislative Services found no state or local fiscal effect and a minimal small-business effect.
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Related Maryland HOA Topics
- House Bill 1577 (2026), Common Ownership Communities – Common Areas – Approval of Alterations — first reading 13 February 2026, heard 13 March, no committee report, died at sine die ↩
- Department of Legislative Services fiscal and policy note, HB 1577 (2026) — the majority-owner-approval requirement, the flexible approval method, the two exemptions including the $1,000 threshold, and the finding that Maryland statute does not expressly govern approval of substantial alterations of common elements ↩
- The Howard Research and Development Corporation v. IMH Columbia, LLC, No. 0752, September Term 2024, Appellate Court of Maryland — reported, filed 19 December 2025: a covenant enforcer breached by exercising an approval power the architectural review committee held ↩
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