WUCIOA 101 — What is WUCIOA? A New Era for Condos, HOAs, and Co-ops in Washington

Jan 1

Disclaimer: The information in this blog post is intended for general understanding and education. It should not be taken as legal advice. Always consult with a qualified attorney for guidance on specific legal matters.

Introduction

In 2018, Washington adopted the Washington Uniform Common Interest Ownership Act (WUCIOA), fundamentally changing how condos, homeowners associations (HOAs), and cooperatives are governed. But what does WUCIOA actually mean for homeowners, developers, and boards?

What is WUCIOA?

WUCIOA (RCW 64.90) is a comprehensive law that standardizes rules for all "common interest communities," including:

Condominiums
Planned communities (HOAs)
Cooperatives

Before WUCIOA, condos and HOAs were governed by separate and sometimes inconsistent laws. WUCIOA unifies and modernizes these rules.

Why Was WUCIOA Needed?

Prior laws like RCW 64.34 (Washington Condominium Act) and RCW 64.38 (Homeowners' Associations Act) had gaps, inconsistencies, and outdated provisions. WUCIOA addresses those by:

Creating a single, comprehensive statute
Updating consumer protection standards
Clarifying developer and association duties

Key Features of WUCIOA

Uniform Rules: One set of rules for all types of communities
Consumer Protections: Stronger disclosures, budgets, and reserve studies
Developer Obligations: More transparency during development
Clear Governance: Modernized rules for meetings, voting, and budgets

Conclusion

WUCIOA represents a major step forward in protecting homeowners and creating fair, predictable rules. Next, we'll dive into how WUCIOA changes HOA and condo operations.

Loren Kosloske