RCW 64.90.550

Reserve study — Contents

Specifies the required contents of a WUCIOA reserve study. The study must identify each major reserve component, state its estimated remaining useful life and replacement cost, and recommend a funding plan. Used alongside RCW 64.90.545 (which sets the reserve study cadence) to define the statutory reserve-study regime under WUCIOA.

Status Active
Verified May 23, 2026
Source Official text

Reviewed · Washington changes feed

Statutory Text Verified May 7, 2026 · LEG_WA_GOV
(1) Any reserve study is supplemental to the association's operating and maintenance budget. (2) A reserve study must include: (a) A reserve component list, including any reserve component, the replacement cost of which exceeds one percent of the annual budget of the association, excluding contributions to the reserves for that reserve component. If one of these reserve components is not included in the reserve study, the study must explain the basis for its exclusion. The study must also include quantities and estimates for the useful life of each reserve component, the remaining useful life of each reserve component, and current major replacement costs for each reserve component; (b) The date of the study and a disclosure as to whether the study meets the requirements of this section; (c) The following level of reserve study performed: (i) Level I: Full reserve study funding analysis and plan; (ii) Level II: Update with visual site inspection; or (iii) Level III: Update with no visual site inspection; (d) The association's reserve account balance; (e) The percentage of the fully funded balance to which the reserve account is funded; (f) Special assessments already implemented or planned; (g) Interest and inflation assumptions; (h) Current reserve account contribution rates for a full funding plan and a baseline funding plan; (i) A recommended reserve account contribution rate for a full funding plan to achieve one hundred percent fully funded reserves by the end of the thirty-year study period, a recommended reserve account contribution rate for a baseline funding plan to maintain the reserve account balance above zero throughout the thirty-year study period without special assessments, and a reserve account contribution rate recommended by the reserve study professional; (j) A projected reserve account balance for thirty years based on each funding plan presented in the reserve study; (k) A disclosure on whether the reserve study was prepared with the assistance of a reserve study professional, and whether the reserve study professional was independent; and (l) A statement of the amount of any current deficit or surplus in reserve funding expressed on a dollars per unit basis. The amount is calculated by subtracting the association's reserve account balance as of the date of the study from the fully funded balance, and then multiplying the result by the fraction or percentage of the common expenses of the association allocable to each unit; except that if the fraction or percentage of the common expenses of the association allocable vary by unit, the association must calculate any current deficit or surplus in a manner that reflects the variation. (3) A reserve study must also include the following disclosure: "This reserve study should be reviewed carefully. It may not include all common and limited common element components that will require major maintenance, repair, or replacement in future years, and may not include regular contributions to a reserve account for the cost of such maintenance, repair, or replacement. The failure to include a component in a reserve study, or to provide contributions to a reserve …
Reserves
Ref Requirement
(2)(a) The reserve study must identify every major component the HOA must eventually replace — roof, siding, paving, HVAC, elevator, plumbing, paint, fencing — and state how long each one was designed to last and how much remaining life it has now.
(2)(a) For every major component, the study must show what it would cost to replace today. The 1%-of-budget threshold filters out trivial items so the study focuses on the large-dollar future obligations.
(2)(e) The "percent funded" number is the single most important reserve metric — it tells you how much of the theoretical fully-funded balance the HOA actually has on hand today. Below 30% is generally considered weak; above 70% is strong.
(2)(j) The study must run two 30-year financial projections — one that funds reserves to 100% of theoretical full funding, and one that funds at a baseline level enough to meet cash needs when components actually fail. The board can choose either path; the projection makes both options visible.
(2)(l) The deficit-per-unit number is what each owner's share would be if the HOA needed to make up the reserve gap today. Buyers and lenders look at this number to gauge future special-assessment risk.
(3) Every reserve study must carry a built-in disclosure: this study is the best estimate but not a guarantee, and components could fail earlier than predicted, requiring special assessments or HOA borrowing. The warning prevents over-reliance on the study by buyers, lenders, and board members.
Legal references last verified May 23, 2026. This content is educational and informational. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal guidance specific to your situation.
Login