As we emerge from winter, community associations are turning their attention to spring landscaping: refreshing common areas, restoring gardens, and preparing outdoor spaces for warmer months. With this seasonal transition comes a surge in landscaping contracts, which carry meaningful legal and operational risk if not carefully structured and managed. Well-drafted contracts promote consistent maintenance standards, protect valuable common area assets, and minimize liability exposure through properly insured and qualified vendors. Taking a proactive approach now can help you ensure a smooth season ahead!

From approving resolutions to responding to owner requests, community association boards and their management companies are called on to make countless decisions regarding their governance and operations. But even routine operational choices can carry significant legal implications. It is not uncommon for a board to modify an internal document—such as a resident grievance process—only to later discover that the governing documents required a different approach or did not grant the authority to make the change at all. A decision intended to “move things along” can quickly lead to owner complaints or unanticipated liability. At the same time, boards and management do not want to incur legal costs unnecessarily. The goal is to safeguard the association while stewarding its limited resources. The below practical guidelines should help boards and management know when legal counsel should be involved and when legal counsel may not be necessary.