Wisconsin HOA & Condo Laws

Assessment Collection Compare across states

How HOAs and condominium associations charge, collect, and enforce regular and special assessments. Covers dues billing, delinquency notices, late fees, lien filing, judicial and non-judicial foreclosure, statute of limitations, and …

Wis. Stat. §703.16

Condominium Ownership Act — Common Expenses and Common Surpluses

Common surpluses are credited to unit owners' assessments in proportion to their percentage interests in common elements or as otherwise provided in the declaration. Establishes …

Wis. Stat. §703.165

Condominium Ownership Act — Lien for Unpaid Common Expenses

Establishes the association's lien on units for unpaid common expenses, damages, and penalties. A statement of lien must be filed within 2 years after the …

Wis. Stat. §703.335

Condominium Ownership Act — Payoff Statement

Requires the association to provide a payoff statement for unpaid assessments and other obligations upon request. Establishes the timeline and format for providing financial status …

Reserve Requirements Compare across states

Statutory requirements for reserve studies, reserve funding, component inventory, funding plans, and board fiduciary duty regarding major repair and replacement obligations.

Wis. Stat. §703.161

Condominium Ownership Act — Annual Budget

Requires adoption of an annual budget for the condominium. Common expenses must be assessed against unit owners. Budget must include reserve fund contributions if a …

Wis. Stat. §703.163

Condominium Ownership Act — Statutory Reserve Account

Provides for a statutory reserve account for condominiums. Associations for condominiums created before November 1, 2004 must establish a reserve account within 18 months of …

Meetings and Notice Compare across states

Board and owner meeting requirements — open meeting mandates, advance notice periods, agenda requirements, minimum owner comment periods, executive session limits, remote participation, and materials access rules.

Wis. Stat. §181.0101

Wisconsin Nonstock Corporation Law

The Wisconsin Nonstock Corporation Law is the primary governance framework for HOAs incorporated as nonstock corporations. Covers formation, board of directors and officers, meetings and …

Wis. Stat. §703.15

Condominium Ownership Act — Association of Unit Owners

Establishes the association of unit owners as a legal entity for all purposes, even if unincorporated. All policy and operational decisions are made by the …

Elections and Voting Compare across states

Director elections, board member removal votes, governing document amendments, secret ballot requirements, quorum rules, proxy voting, electronic voting, and inspector of election requirements.

Wis. Stat. §181.0101

Wisconsin Nonstock Corporation Law

The Wisconsin Nonstock Corporation Law is the primary governance framework for HOAs incorporated as nonstock corporations. Covers formation, board of directors and officers, meetings and …

Records Access and Inspection Compare across states

Unit owner rights to inspect association records — financial statements, meeting minutes, governing documents, contracts, and correspondence. Response timelines, allowable copying fees, and executive session materials exceptions.

Wis. Stat. §703.20

Condominium Ownership Act — Association Records; Financial Audits

Requires associations to maintain records and provide for unit owner inspection rights. Includes provisions for financial audits and reporting requirements.

Enforcement and Fines Compare across states

Association authority to enforce governing documents through fines, suspension of privileges, and legal action. Covers fine limits, hearing requirements, notice-and-opportunity procedures, and limitations on enforcement authority.

Wis. Stat. §703.02

Wisconsin Condominium Ownership Act — Definitions

Definitions and scope of the Wisconsin Condominium Ownership Act. Establishes the legal framework for all condominiums created in Wisconsin. Defines condominium, unit, common elements, limited …

Resale Disclosure Compare across states

Resale certificate and transfer disclosure requirements at the time of unit sale. Covers disclosure timing, content, fee caps, delivery deadlines, buyer rescission rights, and association liability for inaccurate information.

Wis. Stat. §703.33

Condominium Ownership Act — Disclosure Requirements

Requires disclosure of specified information in connection with the sale of a condominium unit. Disclosures must address financial status, reserve accounts, insurance, pending litigation, and …

Wis. Stat. §703.335

Condominium Ownership Act — Payoff Statement

Requires the association to provide a payoff statement for unpaid assessments and other obligations upon request. Establishes the timeline and format for providing financial status …

Insurance Requirements Compare across states

Statutory insurance requirements for HOAs and condominiums — property insurance, liability coverage, directors and officers, fidelity bonds, flood insurance, and cyber liability. Coverage minimums, deductible assessments, and claims procedures.

Wis. Stat. §703.17

Condominium Ownership Act — Insurance

Insurance requirements for condominium associations including property and liability coverage on common elements. Establishes minimum coverage requirements and allocation of insurance costs.

Fiduciary Duty Compare across states

Board member fiduciary obligations — duty of care, duty of loyalty, business judgment rule, conflict of interest disclosure, and personal liability exposure. Statutory duties imposed on directors and officers of …

Wis. Stat. §703.15

Condominium Ownership Act — Association of Unit Owners

Establishes the association of unit owners as a legal entity for all purposes, even if unincorporated. All policy and operational decisions are made by the …

Governance Documents Compare across states

The foundational documents governing common interest communities — declarations (CC&Rs), bylaws, articles of incorporation, rules and regulations, architectural guidelines, and resolutions. Document hierarchy, amendment procedures, and recording requirements.

Wis. Stat. §181.0101

Wisconsin Nonstock Corporation Law

The Wisconsin Nonstock Corporation Law is the primary governance framework for HOAs incorporated as nonstock corporations. Covers formation, board of directors and officers, meetings and …

Wis. Stat. §703.02

Wisconsin Condominium Ownership Act — Definitions

Definitions and scope of the Wisconsin Condominium Ownership Act. Establishes the legal framework for all condominiums created in Wisconsin. Defines condominium, unit, common elements, limited …

Wis. Stat. §703.15

Condominium Ownership Act — Association of Unit Owners

Establishes the association of unit owners as a legal entity for all purposes, even if unincorporated. All policy and operational decisions are made by the …

Wis. Stat. §703.161

Condominium Ownership Act — Annual Budget

Requires adoption of an annual budget for the condominium. Common expenses must be assessed against unit owners. Budget must include reserve fund contributions if a …

Wis. Stat. §703.365

Condominium Ownership Act — Small Condominiums

Simplified governance provisions for small condominiums. Allows reduced formality in management and governance for small associations.

Foreclosure and Liens Compare across states

Assessment lien filing, priority, extinguishment, and foreclosure procedures. Minimum thresholds for foreclosure, pre-foreclosure notice requirements, mediation mandates, super-priority provisions, and the interaction between HOA liens and mortgage liens.

Wis. Stat. §703.165

Condominium Ownership Act — Lien for Unpaid Common Expenses

Establishes the association's lien on units for unpaid common expenses, damages, and penalties. A statement of lien must be filed within 2 years after the …

Legal Facts by Category
Common surpluses are credited to unit owners' assessments in proportion to their percentage interests in common elements or as otherwise provided in the declaration. Wis. Stat. §703.16
Establishes the framework for allocation of common expenses and distribution of surpluses. Wis. Stat. §703.16
Establishes the association's lien on units for unpaid common expenses, damages, and penalties. Wis. Stat. §703.165
May be foreclosed in the same manner as a mortgage on real property Wis. Stat. §703.165
Must mail a written notice to a condo owner ten days before starting a foreclosure Wis. Stat. §703.165
If a statement of lien is filed within 2 years after the date the assessment becomes due Wis. Stat. §703.165 (1)(a)
The association must provide the information necessary for disclosure compliance. Wis. Stat. §703.33
Requires disclosure of specified information in connection with the sale of a condominium unit. Wis. Stat. §703.33
Requires the association to provide a payoff statement for unpaid assessments and other obligations upon request. Wis. Stat. §703.335
Establishes the timeline and format for providing financial status information related to unit transfers. Wis. Stat. §703.335
Defines condominium, unit, common elements, limited common elements, and other key terms used throughout Chapter 703. Wis. Stat. §703.02
No super-priority provision — the lien is fully subordinate to first mortgages. Wis. Stat. §703.165
A statement of lien must be filed within 2 years after the assessment becomes due. Wis. Stat. §703.165
The lien is prior to all other liens except general and special tax liens, and sums unpaid on a first mortgage recorded prior to the assessment. Wis. Stat. §703.165
Establishes minimum coverage requirements and allocation of insurance costs. Wis. Stat. §703.17
Since Wisconsin has no comprehensive HOA-specific statute, this Act provides default governance rules for non-condo planned communities. Wis. Stat. §181.0101
Covers formation, board of directors and officers, meetings and voting, records, dissolution, and member rights. Wis. Stat. §181.0101
The Wisconsin Nonstock Corporation Law is the primary governance framework for HOAs incorporated as nonstock corporations. Wis. Stat. §181.0101
Establishes the legal framework for all condominiums created in Wisconsin. Wis. Stat. §703.02
Definitions and scope of the Wisconsin Condominium Ownership Act. Wis. Stat. §703.02
Meeting notice: no regular or special meeting may be held except on at least 10 days' written notice delivered or mailed to every unit owner, unless waivers are executed by all unit owners. Wis. Stat. §703.15
At least 10 days' written notice delivered or mailed to every unit owner Wis. Stat. §703.15
Covers board composition, declarant control period, officer duties, and fiduciary obligations. Wis. Stat. §703.15
Establishes the association of unit owners as a legal entity for all purposes, even if unincorporated. Wis. Stat. §703.15
Common expenses must be assessed against unit owners. Wis. Stat. §703.161
Requires adoption of an annual budget for the condominium. Wis. Stat. §703.161
Associations for condominiums created before November 1, 2004 must establish a reserve account within 18 months of that date (or after declarant control ends), UNLESS the association, with written consent of a majority of unit votes, elects not to establish one. Wis. Stat. §703.163
Simplified governance provisions for small condominiums. Wis. Stat. §703.365
Allows reduced formality in management and governance for small associations. Wis. Stat. §703.365
Insurance requirements for condominium associations including property and liability coverage on common elements. Wis. Stat. §703.17
Includes provisions for financial audits and reporting requirements. Wis. Stat. §703.20
Requires associations to maintain records and provide for unit owner inspection rights. Wis. Stat. §703.20
All policy and operational decisions are made by the board of directors, except matters reserved to members by statute, declaration, or bylaws. Wis. Stat. §703.15
Budget must include reserve fund contributions if a statutory reserve account exists. Wis. Stat. §703.161
The reserve account statement must be recorded with the register of deeds. Wis. Stat. §703.163
Provides for a statutory reserve account for condominiums. Wis. Stat. §703.163
The annual budget must provide for reserve funds if a statutory reserve account exists. Wis. Stat. §703.163
Disclosures must address financial status, reserve accounts, insurance, pending litigation, and other material matters. Wis. Stat. §703.33
Legal references last verified April 15, 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.
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