Owner guide
I got a special assessment notice — what should I look for in it?
A special assessment notice is one of the most stressful documents a condo owner can open — often a four- or five-figure bill on short notice. The notice rarely explains whether the amount is fair or the process was proper.
The short answer
A special assessment notice should state a specific purpose, the amount, the payment schedule, and the authority for levying it. Reading it against your board minutes, reserve study, and state's notice rules tells you whether the amount and the process are normal — or whether the board skipped a step you can push back on.What the notice must tell you
A proper special assessment notice states the specific purpose (the repair, shortfall, or project it funds), the total amount and your unit's share, the payment schedule and due dates, and the authority under which it was levied — the board action and the provision of the declaration or statute that allows it. Funds are generally restricted to the stated purpose. A notice that's vague about purpose or authority is itself worth questioning.
Read it against three other documents
The notice alone can't tell you if the assessment is reasonable — three documents do. The board minutes show when this was first discussed and whether it was rushed. The reserve study and recent budgets show whether this is a one-time project or the symptom of chronic underfunding. And your state's notice and voting rules show whether the board followed the required process. Together they separate a normal cost of building ownership from a red flag.
Where you may have leverage
Whether you can challenge or vote on an assessment depends on your governing documents and state statute — some require owner approval above a threshold, some let the board act alone, and most require specific advance notice that, if skipped, can be grounds to object. The practical first move is to confirm the board followed its own declaration and the statutory notice rules, then decide whether the real issue is the process, the amount, or the underlying building problem.
What to check
- Confirm the notice states a specific purpose and your unit's exact share.
- Check the payment schedule and whether a lump sum or installments are offered.
- Find the authority cited — the board action and governing-document provision.
- Check the minutes for when the assessment was first discussed.
- Compare it to the reserve study and recent budgets for context.
- Verify whether your documents or state law required an owner vote or specific notice.
Dealing with this right now?
If this is more than a paperwork question, here's the front door for it:
Special assessment notice →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Not sure what your documents are really telling you?
Get a free CondoSignal review of your situation — we read the paperwork against your state's rules and tell you what to do next. No cost, no obligation.