What records can I request from my HOA in Texas?
Reviewed May 2026📘 Short Answer
Under Texas Property Code §209.005, Texas HOA members have the right to inspect and obtain copies of many association books and records, including financial records, meeting minutes, contracts, bylaws, and restrictive covenants.
The owner or authorized representative must send a written request by certified mail with enough detail to identify the records and must choose either inspection before copies or forwarded copies. The HOA generally must provide access or copies within 10 business days, or send a written delay notice with a production date no later than 15 business days after that notice.
The HOA may charge compilation, production, and copying costs only under a recorded records-production policy. Some records may be withheld, including privileged attorney work product, owner violation history, personal financial information, contact information other than an owner's address, and employee information. Improper denial may allow the owner to seek justice-court relief, court costs, attorney's fees, and in some cases an assessment offset. Condominiums are excluded from Chapter 209 and may be governed by Chapter 82 or, for some older regimes, Chapter 81.
⚖️ Relevant Texas Law
- § Tex. Prop. Code §209.005 — Gives HOA members the right to inspect and obtain association records; sets certified-mail request, response, delay-notice, fee-policy, privacy-exception, retention, and court-remedy rules.
🏠 What This Means for Homeowners
You have a strong right to HOA records, but Texas law requires a detailed certified-mail request. Denial of valid records requests can be enforced through justice court.
- ✓ Send a written request by certified mail to the address in the current management certificate
- ✓ Identify the specific records and state whether you want to inspect first or receive copies
- ✓ Expect access, copies, or a written delay notice within 10 business days
- ✓ If a delay notice is sent, confirm the production date is no later than 15 business days after that notice
- ✓ Review any copying or production charge against the association's recorded records-production policy
- ✓ Remember that privileged attorney materials, personal financial information, some violation-history records, non-address contact information, and employee information may be withheld
- ✓ Before filing a §209.005 court action, send the required 10-business-day pre-suit notice
- ✓ If access is improperly denied, consider justice-court relief, court costs, attorney fees, and possible assessment offset
What records can I demand from my Texas HOA?
Ask Lexi about your records request🏢 What This Means for Boards and Managers
Texas HOAs should treat records requests as a statutory workflow: verify certified-mail receipt, track the 10-business-day response deadline, use delay notices correctly, and charge only under a recorded policy.
- ✓ Confirm the request was sent by certified mail and describes the records with enough detail
- ✓ Respond within 10 business days with access, copies, or a compliant written delay notice
- ✓ If more time is needed, provide a production date no later than 15 business days after the delay notice
- ✓ Charge only amounts authorized by a recorded records-production and copying policy
- ✓ Screen for privileged attorney work product, personal financial information, protected contact information, employee information, and other protected records
- ✓ Maintain the document retention policy required for associations with more than 14 lots
- ✓ Preserve proof of request receipt, notices, production, withheld categories, and invoices
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕ Treating an informal email or text as the same thing as a certified-mail §209.005 request
- ✕ Not responding within the 10-business-day deadline
- ✕ Sending a delay notice without a compliant production date
- ✕ Charging copying or production fees without a recorded records-production policy
- ✕ Requiring members to state a reason for their records request
- ✕ Withholding protected records without distinguishing them from records that must be produced
People Also Ask
Can a Texas HOA deny a records request?
Can I request my HOA's financial records in Texas?
What happens if my Texas HOA ignores a records request?
Related Questions
Last reviewed: 2026-05-09 · Version 2026.3