Formally challenging a homeowners association can come with a steep price tag.
Worthington resident Deborah Hill discovered that firsthand in Charles County, Maryland, and she told The Southern Maryland Chronicle she was "gobsmacked" by the cost.
Using figures the outlet cited, Hill put the total at $927, made up of a $200 application fee, $209 for mediation, and a $518 hearing fee. She and another Worthington resident told county leaders that many homeowners can't afford to use the process at that price.
Here's what to know
Hill and Worthington neighbor Velma Longus delivered that message to the Charles County Commissioners on Oct. 6, saying the county's Homeowner Association Dispute Review Board is too costly for ordinary residents to use.
Their concerns stem from a disputed HOA election in Worthington. Hill pointed to a board member accused of using insider knowledge from her position, proxy forms that residents said arrived late, and an election that started out scheduled for 1 p.m. on a Tuesday, despite the fact that bylaws require scheduling that works for most residents.
Hill said residents brought their case to the county board to enforce Maryland's new HOA election law, Real Property Article §11B-118, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025. It calls for HOA elections to be overseen by independent administrators who have no stake in the race and no ties to any candidate.
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Longus said she covered the cost of filing the Worthington complaint on her own, and argued the bigger problem is who can afford to do the same. She told commissioners that while the HOA can pay for its defense with association funds, individual homeowners have to cover the costs personally, a burden she said could shut out older residents, single parents, and others entirely.
More background
Under Chapter 247, the dispute board can hear cases involving elections, fees and assessments, budget adoption, meeting notice, HOA powers, and record keeping. Once the board rules, the decision is final unless someone appeals to Circuit Court. That raises the stakes for residents who already pay hundreds of dollars to enter the process.
Hill said timing has been an issue before. She described a Worthington hearing on June 25 that the board didn't issue a written decision for until Sept. 20 — well after a vote had already gone forward. Under county code, the board has two weeks after evidence closes to issue a ruling. It's unclear from the transcript exactly when that clock started this time.
A fee schedule the county published for fiscal 2025 put the application fee at $168, not $200, while keeping the same $209 mediation and $518 hearing fees. Under the code, mediation is optional, and the fee schedule doesn't clearly say whether all filers owe that amount.
HOA disputes can affect far more than election procedures. Across the U.S., HOAs have been accused of blocking money-saving home upgrades, such as rooftop solar panels and native plant lawns, so it is important for homeowners to understand their rights when working with HOAs.
What can be done?
While commissioners seemed receptive to the residents' concerns, they didn't commit to an immediate fix. One commissioner pushed back on making the process free, warning it would get overwhelmed. Instead, they pointed to a possible grant program in next year's budget to help people in Worthington's situation. The same commissioner said, "I do recognize something needs to change," but added that nothing would move fast since any fix depends on the budget.
Charles County commissioner Thomasina Coates called the fee "quite hefty," noting how much tougher it gets for someone filing against a board on their own. Commissioner Coates would rather see separate rates for individual homeowners and HOAs but expects that change to wait for the next board.
Longus proposed several other approaches, including lower fees, a single flat fee, income-based waivers, reimbursing homeowners who win, or requiring the HOA to absorb part of the expense. She said she understands that running the process costs money, but she argued that pricing out everyday homeowners takes away the board's ability to hold associations accountable.
Meetings happen online at 6:15 p.m., and the board's online calendar shows Dec. 3 as the next one on the books. Anyone who needs help filing can call the county's Department of Planning and Growth Management at (301) 645-0594.
Hill questioned whether a public process is accessible to the people it's supposed to protect. She told commissioners: "We pay taxes. That should be included."
Where can I learn more?
Fights like this are part of a pattern of homeowners running into costly, high-stakes conflicts with their associations.
• A homeowner's drought-tolerant front yard drew lawyers from the HOA after a fight over plants.
• One resident shut down their HOA's claim with help from an attorney neighbor.
• A homeowner seeking rooftop solar was told to engage an attorney against an HOA ban.
• After years without trouble, one owner faced a bizarre HOA demand and legal warnings.
• A homeowner seeking a money-saving upgrade was told the HOA's actions were illegal.
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