Reference Information for Medley Homeowners
Reference Information for Medley Homeowners
Did you know over 45% of Florida homes are in HOAs? Read below for resources to demystify Homeowners Associations in Florida with free training, and to read Medley's Bylaws and Florida statutes 720. Be informed -- for yourself and for your neighbors in the community.
Scroll down to read our important summary from April 8 meeting with HOA attorney!
Florida HOA Statute 720
[INDEX] (2024*)
- 720.303 Association powers and duties; meetings of board; official records; budgets; financial reporting; association funds; recalls. [LINK]
- 720.3033 Officers and directors. [LINK]
- + 2025 Florida Senate/House bills about HOAs [S 120] and [HB 137]
- * View full 2024 Section 720 index. (You can also compare to 2017 version of Section 720. )
Our HOA's Bylaws
- [Searchable Medley Bylaws 2018] - Original Bylaws
- Amendment requested to increase to 5-member board pre-turnover.
- Note: Amended Bylaws were filed in August 2024 by original board but it includes additional amendments. This bylaw update was posted to residents four months later to ICON's official HOA website n December 2024.
April 8 Meeting Summary
At the April 8 meeting, our HOA attorney briefed homeowners about FL Section 720 statutes and how he evaluates whether they do or do not apply to Medley given our existing governing documents. He stated it depends on whether the differences are 'substantive' or 'procedural'.
- Mr. Greenberg stated when association documents conflict with updated statutes -- in 'substantive' ways -- the existing association rules will continue to apply. For Medley, he stated that our previous restrictions on backyards and commercial vehicles are 'substantive' and therefore those restrictions remain unaffected by updated FL statutes. (However, he acknowledged that there is uncertainty because cases might be adjudicated differently in the courts.)
- On the other hand, for items that are deemed 'procedural', Florida's new 2024 statutes are automatically adopted. According to the attorney, the following FL updated 'procedural' 720 requirements NOW DO APPLY to Medley:
> HOA website, Recordkeeping requirements, posting of HOA Agendas, criminal Penalties for malfeasance, and procedures for homeowner fines.
- Mr. Greenberg also clarified that Medley's Declaration can be amended by a membership vote and board consideration. (Associations can also choose to include the 'Kaufmann language', i.e. "as amended from time to time", to cover future 720 statute changes if desired.)
- It is worth noting that Florida's section 720 updates for 2024 (HB 1203) were unanimously passed in both House and Senate with the intent to be widely adopted in the state.
- An artificial intelligence (Grok) comparison between 2017 and 2024 HOA statutes concluded that the 2024 statutes "enhance transparency (electronic records), accountability (criminal penalties, training) and homeowner rights (storage, fines exceptions), while retaining the core structure" [of the 2017 framework.]
- Disclaimer: This summary reflects the combined meeting notes and research of MedleyMembers. This is not legal advice, just reporting of legal advice that occurred. If anyone has any corrections to these notes, please comment in the Comment box provided. Thank you.