RCW 64.90.410
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Board members, officers, and committees
Governs the composition, duties, and authority of an association's board of directors, officers, and committees under WUCIOA. Covers election procedures, qualifications, terms, removal, and the standard of care applicable to board members acting in their fiduciary capacity.
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Statutory Text
Verified May 7, 2026 · LEG_WA_GOV
(1)(a) Except as provided otherwise in the governing documents, subsection (4) of this section, or other provisions of this chapter, the board may act on behalf of the association. (b) In the performance of their duties, officers and board members must exercise the degree of care and loyalty to the association required of an officer or director of a corporation organized, are subject to the conflict of interest rules governing directors and officers, and are entitled to the immunities from liability available to officers and directors under chapter 24.06 RCW. The standards of care and loyalty, and conflict of interest rules and immunities described in this section apply regardless of the form in which the association is organized. (2)(a) Except as provided otherwise in RCW 64.90.300 (9), effective as of the transition meeting held in accordance with RCW 64.90.415 (4), the board must be comprised of at least three members, at least a majority of whom must be unit owners. However, the number of board members need not exceed the number of units then in the common interest community. (b) Unless the declaration or organizational documents provide for the election of officers by the unit owners, the board must elect the officers. (c) Unless provided otherwise in the declaration or organizational documents, board members and officers must take office upon adjournment of the meeting at which they were elected or appointed or, if not elected or appointed at a meeting, at the time of such election or appointment, and must serve until their successor takes office. (d) In determining the qualifications of any officer or board member of the association, "unit owner" includes, unless the declaration or organizational documents provide otherwise, any board member, officer, member, partner, or trustee of any person, who is, either alone or in conjunction with another person or persons, a unit owner. (e) Any officer or board member of the association who would not be eligible to serve as such if he or she were not a board member, officer, partner in, or trustee of such a person is disqualified from continuing in office if he or she ceases to have any such affiliation with that person or that person would have been disqualified from continuing in such office as a natural person. (3) Except when voting as a unit owner, the declarant may not appoint or elect any person or to serve itself as a voting, ex officio or nonvoting board member following the transition meeting. (4) The board may not, without vote or agreement of the unit owners: (a) Amend the declaration, except as provided in RCW 64.90.285 ; (b) Amend the organizational documents of the association; (c) Terminate the common interest community; (d) Elect members of the board, but may fill vacancies in its membership not resulting from removal for the unexpired portion of any term or, if earlier, until the next regularly scheduled election of board members; or (e) Determine the qualifications, powers, duties, or terms of office of board members. …
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Governance
| Ref | Requirement |
|---|---|
| (1) | A WUCIOA HOA must have at least 3 board members, and most of them must be unit owners (not outside professionals). The board cannot be larger than the community itself. |
| (1) | Board members and officers owe the same fiduciary duties as nonprofit corporation directors — duty of care, duty of loyalty, business judgment rule. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed and handled under the chapter 24.06 RCW framework. |
| (3) | Once developer control ends and the transition meeting occurs, the developer cannot stay on the board — not as a voting member, not as an ex officio member, not in any capacity. Owner-elected governance is mandatory thereafter. |
| (4) | Some actions require an owner vote — the board cannot make them alone. Major governance changes (amending the declaration, dissolving the community, seating new directors, or imposing eligibility rules on candidates) require owner approval. |
| (6) | An HOA committee can only make binding decisions if at least two board members are on it and they alone hold the voting power. Owner-only committees are advisory — they can recommend, but the board itself must vote on any binding decision. |
| (7) | By default, board members elect the officers (president, secretary, treasurer) themselves. Owners can elect officers directly only if the declaration or bylaws explicitly provide for that. |
Other sections in this chapter
- RCW 64.90
- RCW 64.90.365
- RCW 64.90.370 — Election of preexisting common interest communities, plat communities, miscellaneous communities
- RCW 64.90.445 — Board Meetings — Notice and Conduct
- RCW 64.90.450 — Quorum
- RCW 64.90.455 — Unit owner voting
- RCW 64.90.470 — Insurance
- RCW 64.90.480 — Assessments and capital contributions
- RCW 64.90.485
- RCW 64.90.490 — Other liens
- RCW 64.90.495 — Association records
- RCW 64.90.513 — Electric vehicle charging stations
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Legal references last verified May 23, 2026.
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