Deborah Hill says she was “gobsmacked” when she priced out a complaint against her own homeowners association. The county charges $200 to apply, $209 for mediation and $518 for a public hearing. That comes to $927.
On Oct. 6, Hill and fellow Worthington resident Zellma Longus brought that math to the Charles County Commissioners and asked them to make the county’s Homeowner Association Dispute Review Board cheaper to use. Commissioners were sympathetic. No one promised a change.
An election fight, and a bill to be heard
Hill said Worthington’s recent HOA election was contested. She described residents objecting to a board member’s use of information gained through her position, delays in handing over proxy paperwork, and a vote first scheduled for a Tuesday at 1 p.m. despite bylaw language calling for a time most residents could attend. Hill said the community prevailed.
She said residents turned to the dispute board to enforce Maryland’s new HOA election law, Real Property Article §11B-118. That law, which took effect Oct. 1, 2025, requires association elections to be run by independent parties who are not candidates and have no conflict of interest regarding any candidate.
The cost was the obstacle. “We pay taxes. That should be included,” Hill told commissioners, adding that she believes the county should lower the price and set up a waiver process for legitimate claims.
Hill also raised speed. She said the last time Worthington went to the board, a hearing was held June 25, but residents did not receive the written decision until Sept. 20, after a vote had already occurred. County code says the board must issue a written decision within 14 days after the evidence closes. The transcript does not say when the record closed or which year Hill meant.
“Who can afford to be heard?”
Longus said she filed the Worthington complaint herself and was able to pay. She asked commissioners to consider who cannot, such as seniors and single parents, and who is on the other side. The association, she noted, defends itself with association funds while the complaining homeowner pays out of pocket.
Longus asked commissioners to review whether the fees are reasonable and offered options: substantially lower fees, a flat fee, income-based waivers, letting prevailing homeowners recoup their filing costs, or shifting some cost to the HOA. She said she understands that running the process costs money. She also argued that a board that prices out ordinary homeowners loses its power to keep associations following their governing documents.
How the fees are set
Chapter 247 of the county code lets the board hear disputes over a governing body’s authority, fees and assessments, elections, meeting notice, budget adoption and record keeping. Its decisions are binding and can be appealed only to Circuit Court. The code says commissioners “may set a fee” for filing “to offset administrative costs.” Mediation is optional under the code, and the fee schedule doesn’t make clear whether the $209 applies to every filer or only those who request mediation.
The county’s fiscal 2025 fee schedule lists the same $209 mediation and $518 hearing fees but a $168 application fee. The residents’ $200 figure suggests the application fee has since risen. The current schedule was not available at publication.
What commissioners said
One commissioner said opening the process up for free would overwhelm it. Instead, the commissioner suggested a grant process in the next budget for people in situations like the Worthington residents. The commissioner also said the fees are partly meant to limit what the county must raise from taxpayers. “I do recognize something needs to change,” the commissioner said, and promised to submit an agenda request to start discussions, while warning the fix wouldn’t come right away because it is tied to the budget.
Commissioner Coates called the fee “quite hefty” and said it becomes taxing when an individual files against a board. Coates favors a fee structure that distinguishes between individual and HOA filers, but said the next board is likely to take up any legislation. A third commissioner thanked the residents and said the issue deserves a closer look.
The current board has only a few meetings left, one commissioner noted during the session, which leaves the timing of any change with the board seated after the November election.
What to watch
- Whether a commissioner’s agenda request puts fee changes on a public work session.
- Whether the next fee schedule changes the HOA board’s application, mediation or hearing fees.
- Whether the county explains the gap between the June 25 hearing and the Sept. 20 decision Hill described.
The HOA Dispute Review Board meets virtually at 6:15 p.m.; the county’s board page lists Dec. 3 as its next scheduled session. Residents can reach the Department of Planning and Growth Management at 301-645-0594 for help filing.
