Getting Association Records

Financial opacity is how most disengaged associations stay disengaged. California gives every member a broad, enforceable right to look at the books.

What you can inspect🔗

Civil Code § 5200 defines “association records” expansively. Among other things, it includes:

• Financial statements, the general ledger, and check registers
• Executed contracts not otherwise privileged
• Invoices, receipts, and canceled checks
• Budgets and reserve studies
• Board meeting minutes (open session)
• Membership lists, including names, property addresses, and mailing addresses
• Association election materials, including the voter list, proxies, and the candidate registration list

With one exception, you do not need to state a reason. The membership list is the exception: the association may ask you to state a purpose, and that purpose must be reasonably related to your interest as a member. Organizing for an election or a recall is such a purpose. Members may also opt out of having their contact information shared under § 5220.

Timelines🔗

Section 5210 sets the response clock. In general:

• Records for the current fiscal year: within 10 business days
• Records for the prior two fiscal years: within 30 calendar days
• Minutes of board meetings: within 30 calendar days

Requests must be in writing. Put the specific records and date ranges in the request, keep a copy, and note the date sent — the timeline and any later penalty both depend on it. We have ready-to-send letters for the most common requests, including one for the reserve loan below.

When the association refuses🔗

This is where § 5235 gives the request real weight. A member may bring an action to enforce inspection rights in superior court, or in small claims court if the amount is within its jurisdiction.

If the court finds the association unreasonably withheld access, it:

• shall award the member reasonable costs and expenses, including attorney’s fees, and
• may assess a civil penalty of up to $500 for the denial of each separate written request.

Note the unit of measurement: the penalty attaches per request, not per document. Several members each making distinct, specific written requests is materially different from one member making one broad request.

The reverse also applies — if a court finds an action frivolous or without foundation, the association can recover its costs. Requests should be specific, reasonable, and made in good faith.

What we would want to see at Jamacha Greens🔗

Our own published financial statement as of 12/31/2025 shows a $209,538.20 “Loan from Reserves” carried against the operating fund. Reserve borrowing is legal and sometimes routine, but Civil Code § 5515 requires the board to document the reason in open session and adopt a written plan to repay it, generally within one year.

We do not currently know whether that documentation exists. That is a question, not an accusation — and it is exactly the kind of question a records request is designed to answer.