The Law of Florida Homeowners Associations

A homeowners association is designed to preserve the common welfare and the property values of a community. In a properly operated community, it does! In a poorly run community, however, it doesn’t. The proper operating procedures are not difficult, but they are often overlooked or misunderstood. This book is a guide to help ensure that your association carries out its responsibilities fairly and effectively under current Florida laws.

Peter M. Dunbar is the senior attorney in the Tallahassee office of the Jones Walker law firm. For almost three years before returning to private practice, he served in the Office of the Governor of the State of Florida as general counsel and later as chief of staff. Before joining Governor Martinez’s staff, he was in private practice and specialized in the areas of real property and community association law. Mr. Dunbar has served as an adjunct professor at Florida State University College of Law; he has taught and lectured on associations and the laws governing community living since 1974; and he is a board-certified specialist in Condominium and Planned Development Law. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and he graduated with honors from the College of Law at Florida State University. Mr. Dunbar served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives for ten years. During his legislative career, he served as a member of the House Judiciary Committee and sponsored or co-sponsored every major new law affecting community associations.

Mr. Dunbar served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives for ten years. During his legislative career, he served as a member of the House Judiciary Committee and sponsored or co-sponsored every major new law affecting community associations.

Charles F. Dudley is an attorney in private practice in Tallahassee, Florida and the managing partner of Florida Partners, LLC. In his professional capacity, he is involved on a daily basis with policy makers and administrators in both the legislative and executive branches of Florida’s state government. In recent legislative sessions, Mr. Dudley has contributed to the development of the changes in Florida’s housing laws for condominiums, cooperatives, mobile homes, and homeowners associations. Mr. Dudley also serves as general counsel to the Florida Internet and Television Association and served as a member of the 1996 Florida Telecommunications Taxation Task Force. An honors graduate of the College of Law at Florida State University, Mr. Dudley is a member of the Florida Bar. He has been a guest columnist on the law of homeowners associations for Community Living and other publications, and he continues to be involved in the pending changes to Florida’s housing laws. Mr. Dudley was featured as one of Florida’s ＂Next Wave＂ of leaders in the December 1993 issue of Florida Trend magazine.