Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB315 Compare Versions

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11 25 LC 62 0085
22 Senate Bill 315
33 By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, James of the 28th, Kemp of the 38th, Mangham of the 55th
44 and Islam Parkes of the 7th
55 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
66 AN ACT
77 To amend Article 6 of Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
88 1
99 relating to property owners' associations, so as to require property owners' associations to2
1010 provide disclosures and certain documents before a lot sale closes; to provide for forms; to3
1111 provide for definitions; to provide for penalties; to provide for a cause of action; to provide4
1212 for an effective date and applicability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting5
1313 laws; and for other purposes.6
1414 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
1515 SECTION 1.8
1616 Article 6 of Chapter 3 of Title 44 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to9
1717 property owners' associations, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:10
1818 "44-3-231.1.
1919 11
2020 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:12
2121 (1) 'Lot' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 44-3-221.13
2222 (2) 'Lot owner' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 44-3-221.14
2323 (3) 'Property owners' association' or 'association' means a nongovernmental association15
2424 of participating members in a delineated area comprising a neighborhood or a group of16
2525 S. B. 315
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2727 homeowners and property owners, including, but not limited to, a homeowners'17
2828 association.18
2929 (b)(1) A prospective lot owner in a property owners' association shall be presented a19
3030 disclosure summary before executing the contract for sale. The disclosure summary shall20
3131 be substantially similar to the following form:21
3232 'DISCLOSURE SUMMARY22
3333 FOR (NAME OF PROPERTY OWNERS' ASSOCIATION)23
3434 (1) As a purchaser of property in this association, you shall be obligated to be a24
3535 member of a property owners' association.25
3636 (2) There have been or shall be recorded restricted covenants governing the use26
3737 and occupancy of properties in this community.27
3838 (3) You shall be obligated to pay assessments to the association. Assessments28
3939 may be subject to periodic change. If applicable, the current amount is $____ per29
4040 ____. You shall also be obligated to pay any special assessments imposed by the30
4141 association. Such special assessments may be subject to change. If applicable,31
4242 the current amount is $___ per ___.32
4343 (4) You may be obligated to pay special assessments to the respective33
4444 municipality, county, or special district. All assessments are subject to periodic34
4545 change.35
4646 (5) Your failure to pay special assessments or assessments levied by a property36
4747 owners' association could result in a lien on your property.37
4848 (6) There may be an obligation or rent or land use fees for recreational or other38
4949 commonly used facilities as an obligation of membership in the property owners'39
5050 association. If applicable, the current amount is $___ per ___.40
5151 (7) The declarant may have the right to amend the restrictive covenants without41
5252 the approval of the association membership or the approval of the parcel owners.42
5353 S. B. 315
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5555 (8) The statements contained in this disclosure form are only summary in nature,43
5656 and, as a prospective lot owner, you should refer to the covenants and the44
5757 association governing documents before purchasing property.45
5858 (9) These documents are either matters of public record and can be obtained from46
5959 the record office in the county where the property is located, or are not recorded47
6060 and can be obtained from the declarant.'48
6161 (2) The disclosure shall be supplied by the declarant or by the lot owner if the sale is by49
6262 a lot owner that is not the declarant. Any contract or agreement for sale shall refer to and50
6363 incorporate the disclosure summary and shall include, in prominent language, a statement51
6464 that the potential buyer shall not execute the contract or agreement until he or she has52
6565 received and read the disclosure summary required by this Code section.53
6666 (c) Each contract entered into for the sale of a lot governed by covenants subject to54
6767 disclosure as required by this Code section shall contain in conspicuous type a clause that55
6868 states:56
6969 'IF THE DISCLOSURE SUMMARY REQUIRED BY CODE SECTION 44-3-231.1 OF57
7070 THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA ANNOTATED HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED58
7171 TO THE PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER BEFORE EXECUTING THIS CONTRACT59
7272 FOR SALE, THIS CONTRACT IS VOIDABLE BY DELIVERING TO SELLER OR60
7373 SELLER'S AGENT OR REPRESENTATIVE WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE BUYER'S61
7474 INTENTION TO CANCEL WITHIN 3 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF THE62
7575 DISCLOSURE SUMMARY OR PRIOR TO CLOSING, WHICHEVER OCCURS63
7676 FIRST. ANY PURPORTED WAIVER OF THIS VOIDABILITY RIGHT HAS NO64
7777 EFFECT. BUYER'S RIGHT TO VOID THIS CONTRACT SHALL TERMINATE AT65
7878 CLOSING.'66
7979 (d) If a disclosure summary in a substantially similar form as set forth in subsection (b) of67
8080 this Code section is not provided to a prospective purchaser before the purchaser executes68
8181 a contract for the sale of property governed by covenants that are subject to disclosure69
8282 S. B. 315
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8484 pursuant to this Code section, the purchaser may void the contract by delivering to the70
8585 seller or the seller's agent or representative written notice cancelling the contract within 371
8686 days after receipt of the disclosure summary or prior to closing, whichever occurs first. 72
8787 This right may not be waived by the purchaser but terminates at closing.73
8888 (e) In addition to the disclosure summary provided in subsection (b) of this Code section,74
8989 a contract shall be voidable by the buyer until at least seven days after the seller has75
9090 furnished the prospective lot owner with the documents specified in this subsection. The76
9191 furnished copy of any such document which shall be executed in order to be effective shall77
9292 be a copy of such executed document. The documents required under this subsection to78
9393 be furnished to the prospective buyer are:79
9494 (1) A copy of the declaration and of each amendment thereto as of the time of purchase;80
9595 (2) A copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the association and of each81
9696 amendment to either as of the time of purchase;82
9797 (3) A copy of any management, maintenance, or other contract for the management and83
9898 operation of the association or the facilities to be used by lot owners having a term in84
9999 excess of one year. Contracts renewable without the consent of the association shall be85
100100 deemed to have a term in excess of one year;86
101101 (4) The estimated or actual operating budget for the association for the current year87
102102 containing the matters set forth in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph and a schedule of88
103103 estimated or actual expenses pertaining to each lot for the current year containing the89
104104 matters set forth in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph:90
105105 (A) Expenses of the association for:91
106106 (i) Administration;92
107107 (ii) Management fees;93
108108 (iii) Maintenance;94
109109 (iv) Rent for recreational and other commonly used facilities;95
110110 (v) Taxes on property of the association;96
111111 S. B. 315
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113113 (vi) Insurance;97
114114 (vii) Security provisions;98
115115 (viii) Other expenses;99
116116 (ix) Operating capital;100
117117 (x) Reserve for deferred maintenance;101
118118 (xi) Reserve for depreciation; and102
119119 (xii) Other reserves; and103
120120 (B) Expenses required of the lot owner for:104
121121 (i) Assessments to cover association expenses; and105
122122 (ii) Rent, fees, or charges payable by the lot owner directly to the lessor or the lessor's106
123123 agent under any recreational lease or lease for the use of commonly used facilities,107
124124 which leases are and payment of is a mandatary condition of ownership and which108
125125 payment is not included in the assessments paid by the lot owner to the association;109
126126 (5) A copy of any lease of recreational or other facilities that shall be used only by the110
127127 lot owners;111
128128 (6) A copy of any lease of recreational or other facilities that shall be used by lot owners112
129129 in common with any other person; and113
130130 (7) A copy of a statement setting forth the extent of and conditions or limitations114
131131 applicable to the declarant's commitment to build and submit additional lots, additional115
132132 recreational or other facilities, or additional property.116
133133 (f) The items required by subsection (e) of this Code section shall be bound or stapled into117
134134 a single package and covered by an index sheet listing each item required by said118
135135 subsection and showing either that the same is attached or does not exist. A nonrefundable119
136136 deposit not in excess of $25.00 may be required of the recipient of the documents required120
137137 by this Code section, such deposit to be applied to the purchase price of the lot in the event121
138138 of purchase by the prospective lot owner. A dated, written acknowledgment of receipt of122
139139 all items required by subsection (e) of this Code section, executed by the prospective lot123
140140 S. B. 315
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142142 owner, shall be prima-facie evidence of the date of delivery of said items. The124
143143 requirements of subsection (e) of this Code section may not be waived.125
144144 (g) No contract executed prior to the expiration of seven days after the actual delivery to126
145145 the prospective lot owner of the items required to be furnished by subsection (e) of this127
146146 Code section shall be of any force or effect. This subsection may not be waived. The128
147147 contract shall contain within the text the following, in boldface type or capital letters no129
148148 smaller than the largest type in the text:130
149149 'UNLESS ALL OF THE ITEMS REQUIRED UNDER CODE SECTION 44-3-231.1 OF131
150150 THE OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA ANNOTATED TO BE DELIVERED TO132
151151 BUYER HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY BUYER AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO133
152152 BUYER'S EXECUTION OF THIS CONTRACT, THIS CONTRACT IS OF NO FORCE134
153153 OR EFFECT AND SHALL NOT BE BINDING ON ANY PARTY. THE ITEMS SO135
154154 REQUIRED ARE: (1) THE DECLARATION AND AMENDMENTS THERETO, (2)136
155155 THE ASSOCIATION'S ARTICLES AND INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS AND137
156156 AMENDMENTS THERETO, (3) ANY MANAGEMENT CONTRACT HAVING A138
157157 TERM IN EXCESS OF ONE YEAR, (4) THE ESTIMATED OR ACTUAL BUDGET139
158158 FOR THE ASSOCIATION, (5) ANY LEASE OF RECREATIONAL OR OTHER140
159159 FACILITIES THAT SHALL BE USED ONLY BY THE LOT OWNERS, (6) ANY141
160160 LEASE OF RECREATIONAL OR OTHER FACILITIES THAT MAY BE USED BY142
161161 THE LOT OWNER WITH OTHERS, AND (7) A STATEMENT SETTING FORTH143
162162 THE EXTENT OF THE SELLER'S COMMITMENT TO BUILD OR SUBMIT144
163163 ADDITIONAL LOTS, ADDITIONAL RECREATIONAL OR OTHER FACILITIES,145
164164 OR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY. A DATED, WRITTEN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF146
165165 RECEIPT OF ALL SAID ITEMS SIGNED BY THE BUYER SHALL BE147
166166 PRIMA-FACIE EVIDENCE OF THE DATE OF DELIVERY OF SAID ITEMS.'148
167167 (h) The items required to be furnished or made available to a prospective lot owner under149
168168 this Code section shall constitute a part of each contract, and no change may be made in150
169169 S. B. 315
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171171 any such items which would materially affect the rights of the prospective lot owner or the151
172172 value of the lot without the approval of the prospective lot owner except to the extent that152
173173 such items by their own terms, by the express terms of such covered contract, or by the153
174174 provisions of this article may be changed without the consent of any lot owner or154
175175 prospective lot owner.155
176176 (i) In addition to the provisions required in this Code section, a contract shall include a156
177177 caveat in boldface type or capital letters no smaller than the largest type on the page shall157
178178 be placed upon the first page of the contract in the following words:158
179179 'ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY159
180180 STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT160
181181 REPRESENTATIONS, REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THIS CONTRACT161
182182 AND THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY CODE SECTION 44-3-231.1 OF THE162
183183 OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA ANNOTATED TO BE FURNISHED BY A SELLER163
184184 TO A BUYER.'164
185185 (j) If any lot is offered for sale prior to the completion of the construction or remodeling165
186186 of such lot or of improvements of common elements, the seller shall make available to each166
187187 prospective lot owner for his or her inspection at a place convenient to the site a copy of167
188188 the existing plans and specifications for the construction or remodeling of such lot and of168
189189 the improvements of common elements, whichever is not complete at the time of such169
190190 offering for sale.170
191191 (k) Any sales brochures describing the association and the lots for sale shall include a171
192192 description and location of the recreational facilities proposed to be provided by the seller172
193193 and other commonly used facilities together with a statement indicating:173
194194 (1) Which of the facilities shall be owned by the lot owners as part of the common174
195195 elements and which of the facilities shall be owned by others;175
196196 (2) Whether, with respect to each facility so shown, the seller is obligated to complete176
197197 the same; and177
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200200 (3) The limitations or conditions, if any, on the seller's obligation to complete the same.178
201201 A caveat in boldface type or capital letters no smaller than the largest type of text material179
202202 shall be conspicuously placed on the inside front cover of the sales brochure or on the180
203203 first page containing text material or shall be otherwise conspicuously displayed181
204204 containing the following words:182
205205 'ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY183
206206 STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. FOR CORRECT184
207207 REPRESENTATIONS, REFERENCE SHOULD BE MADE TO THIS BROCHURE185
208208 AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY CODE SECTION 44-3-231.1 OF THE186
209209 OFFICIAL CODE OF GEORGIA ANNOTATED TO BE FURNISHED BY THE187
210210 SELLER TO A BUYER.'188
211211 (l) Any person who, in reasonable reliance upon any false or misleading material statement189
212212 or information published by or under authority from the seller in advertising and190
213213 promotional materials, including, but not limited to, the items required to be furnished by191
214214 this Code section, brochures, and newspaper advertising, or who, without having been192
215215 furnished with all of the information required to be furnished by this Code section, pays193
216216 anything of value toward the purchase of a lot located to this state shall be entitled to bring194
217217 an action against the seller for damages under this Code section at any time prior to the195
218218 expiration of one year of the date upon which the last of the events described in196
219219 paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subsection shall occur:197
220220 (1) The closing of the transaction;198
221221 (2) The first issuance by the applicable governmental authority of a certificate of199
222222 occupancy or other evidence of sufficient completion of construction of the lot to allow200
223223 lawful occupancy of the lot. In counties or municipalities in which certificates of201
224224 occupancy or other evidence of completion sufficient to allow lawful occupancy are not202
225225 customarily issued, for the purposes of this Code section, evidence of lawful occupancy203
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228228 shall be deemed to have been given or issued upon the date that such lawful occupancy204
229229 of the lot may first be allowed under prevailing applicable laws, ordinances, or statutes;205
230230 (3) The completion of the common elements and any recreational facilities, whether or206
231231 not the same are common elements, which the seller is obligated to complete or to207
232232 provide under the terms of the written contract for the sale of the lot;208
233233 (4) As to claims relating to the common elements and other portions of the association209
234234 which are the responsibility of the association to maintain, the date upon which the210
235235 declarant's right to control the association terminates; and211
236236 (5) In the event there is no written contract for the sale of the lot, then the completion of212
237237 common elements and such recreational facilities, whether or not the same are common213
238238 elements, which the seller would be obligated to complete under any rule of law214
239239 applicable to the seller's obligation.215
240240 (m) Under no circumstances shall a cause of action created or recognized under this Code216
241241 section survive for a period of more than five years after the closing of the transaction. 217
242242 Any person who has a right of action for damages as provided in this Code section shall218
243243 have the additional right to rescind any contract for the purchase of a lot at any time prior219
244244 to the closing of the transaction. In any action for relief under this Code section, the220
245245 prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorney's fees.221
246246 (n) Willful violation of any of the requirements of this Code section by the declarant, the222
247247 seller, any sales agent or broker, or any other person shall result in a fine of $1,000.00."223
248248 SECTION 2.224
249249 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025, and shall apply to all lot sales made on or225
250250 after such date.226
251251 SECTION 3.227
252252 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.228
253253 S. B. 315
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