Michigan HOA software for planned communities that the state law doesn't cover.
Michigan has a strong Condominium Act — but most Michigan HOAs are planned communities, and those boards have no equivalent statute. The Metro Detroit suburbs, Oakland County, Macomb County, and the Grand Rapids area are home to thousands of planned community HOAs that operate entirely under their CC&Rs, with no state oversight, no mandatory disclosure, and no ombudsman. If something goes wrong, the board's records are the only defense.
Michigan's Condo Act is strong — but it doesn't cover most HOAs
Michigan has a detailed Condominium Act (MCL § 559.101 et seq.) that covers condo associations thoroughly. But planned communities — the majority of Michigan HOAs — have no equivalent statute. They operate under their CC&Rs alone, with no state oversight, no mandatory disclosure, and no ombudsman. Metro Detroit's dense suburban HOA belt (Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw counties) is almost entirely covenant-only. Boards in these communities have significant responsibility and minimal statutory support — which makes organized records not just good practice, but the board's primary protection.
What Michigan boards use Hivepoint for
Covenant enforcement without a statute to cite
Michigan planned community boards have no state law to reference when homeowners contest violations. Hivepoint documents every enforcement action: observation date, notice sent, homeowner response, and follow-up. When a dispute goes to circuit court or arbitration, consistent documentation of a fair process is what the board needs — and what email threads can't provide.
Assessment collection and dues tracking
Without a state statute mandating collection procedures for planned community HOAs, the board's declaration governs assessment authority. Hivepoint tracks every dues payment and delinquency, provides a complete ledger, and gives the board clear data on which owners are current before any lien or enforcement action.
Governing document storage that survives board turnover
Oakland and Macomb county communities often have decades-old declarations with multiple amendment layers. When board members change, document continuity is the biggest risk. Hivepoint stores all governing documents — master declaration, bylaws, rules, and every amendment — centrally, so new board members inherit a complete record on day one.
What Michigan law says about HOA and condo governance
Where Michigan HOAs are concentrated — and why covenant-only governance is the norm
Michigan has one of the Midwest's largest per-capita HOA concentrations. Oakland County (Troy, Novi, Rochester Hills), Macomb County (Sterling Heights, Clinton Township), Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor suburbs), and Kent County (Grand Rapids suburbs) together account for thousands of planned community HOAs — almost all of them operating outside any state statutory framework.
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Oakland County — high-value communities, high expectations
Troy, Novi, and Rochester Hills have dense concentrations of planned community HOAs with active homeowners who expect organized governance. Without a state statute setting minimum standards, the board's own records are what homeowners scrutinize when they disagree with enforcement decisions or assessment levels.
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Macomb County — older communities with aging governing documents
Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, and surrounding communities developed heavily in the 1970s and 1980s, often under declarations that didn't anticipate modern enforcement scenarios. Boards operating under these older documents have narrower CC&Rs authority and rely entirely on consistent application of those documents to defend enforcement actions.
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Washtenaw County — university proximity, frequent turnover
Ann Arbor-area communities near the University of Michigan see homeowner turnover patterns similar to college towns — rental conversions, investment purchases, and ownership transitions that test the board's record continuity. When three homeowners on a five-member board change in two years, institutional memory disappears unless it's built into the system.
Common questions from Michigan HOA boards
Does Michigan have a law for HOAs?
Michigan has a detailed Condominium Act (MCL § 559.101 through § 559.276) that covers condo associations thoroughly. However, planned community homeowners associations — the majority of Michigan HOAs — have no equivalent statute. Michigan has no Planned Community Act. Planned community boards operate under their CC&Rs and declaration alone, with no state statutory framework governing their meetings, record-keeping, or enforcement authority.
What's the difference between a Michigan condo association and an HOA?
Michigan's Condominium Act (MCL § 559) applies to condominium associations and establishes specific requirements for master deed content, buyer disclosure, assessment collection, and lien rights. Planned community homeowners associations — where owners hold fee simple title to individual lots plus a share of common areas — have no equivalent Michigan statute. The governance framework, lien rights, and disclosure obligations differ significantly between the two structures. Boards must know which structure they are.
Do Michigan HOAs have to disclose financials?
Not by statute for planned community HOAs. Michigan's mandatory financial disclosure requirements apply to condominiums — sellers of new condo units must provide the Michigan Condominium Buyer's Handbook and related disclosures under MCL § 559.184. Planned community HOA boards have no equivalent statutory obligation to disclose financials to homeowners or prospective buyers. Some communities include disclosure requirements in their own governing documents; others do not. In the absence of a statutory requirement, organized records become even more important when disputes arise.
Can a Michigan HOA place a lien for unpaid dues?
Yes, if the CC&Rs or declaration grant that authority — but there is no automatic statutory lien for planned community HOAs in Michigan. Michigan condominiums have statutory lien rights under MCL § 559.208, which allows associations to lien for unpaid assessments. Planned community HOA lien rights depend entirely on the declaration. Boards should review their governing documents carefully and consult a Michigan real estate attorney before initiating lien proceedings.
Does Hivepoint work for Michigan HOAs?
Yes — Hivepoint works for both Michigan condo associations and covenant-only planned communities. For condo associations, Hivepoint helps track assessment collection, maintain the audit trail, and store governing documents required by the Michigan Condo Act. For planned community HOAs operating without a state statute, Hivepoint provides the organizational infrastructure those boards need: dues tracking, violation documentation with timestamps, governing document storage, and a complete audit trail — without requiring any statutory framework.
Where do Michigan HOA disputes get resolved?
Michigan has no state agency or ombudsman for planned community HOA disputes. Conflicts between homeowners and boards — whether in condo associations or planned community HOAs — are resolved through circuit court or private arbitration. Some governing documents include internal dispute resolution procedures. Michigan condo associations may have additional remedies under the Condominium Act. In all cases, organized documentation — violation records, notice histories, meeting minutes, and financial records — determines how quickly and favorably disputes resolve.
Managing a community in a neighboring state? See Hivepoint for Ohio HOA communities → or Indiana HOA communities →
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This page references Michigan statutes for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. HOA governance requirements vary by community type and governing documents. Consult a licensed Michigan attorney for advice specific to your association.