{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2354.3.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2354.3.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2354.3.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2354.3.html"}],"law_id":79532,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79532,"structure_id":16314,"section_number":"54.1-2354.3","catch_line":"Common Interest Community Ombudsman; appointment; powers and duties","history":"1993, c. 958, \u00a7 55-530; 1997, c. 222; 1998, c. 463; 2001, c. 816; 2008, cc. 851, 871; 2010, cc. 59, 208; 2012, cc. 481, 797; 2019, c. 712; 2023, cc. 20, 21.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Director in accordance with § 54.1-303 shall appoint a Common Interest Community Ombudsman (the Ombudsman) and shall establish the Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman (the Office). The Ombudsman shall be a member in good standing in the Virginia State Bar. All state agencies shall assist and cooperate with the Office in the performance of its duties under this article.B\n\nThe Office shall:1\n\nAssist members in understanding rights and the processes available to them according to the laws and regulations governing common interest communities and respond to general inquiries;2\n\nMake available, either separately or through an existing website, information concerning common interest communities and such additional information as may be deemed appropriate;3\n\nReceive notices of final adverse decisions and may either (i) refer such decision to the Board for further review of whether such decision is in conflict with laws or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board or (ii) make a determination of whether a final adverse decision is in conflict with laws or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board and promptly notify the complainant of such determination. If the Office determines that such conflict exists, the Office shall promptly notify the governing board, and if applicable the common interest community manager, of the association that issued the final adverse decision that such decision is in conflict with laws or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board. If within 365 days of issuing such determination the Ombudsman receives a subsequent notice of final adverse decision for the same violation, the Office shall refer the matter to the Board;4\n\nUpon request, assist members in understanding the rights and processes available under the laws and regulations governing common interest communities and provide referrals to public and private agencies offering alternative dispute resolution services, with a goal of reducing and resolving conflicts among associations and their members;5\n\nEnsure that members have access to the services provided through the Office and that the members receive timely responses from the representatives of the Office to the inquiries;6\n\nMaintain data on inquiries received, referrals made to the Board, types of assistance requested, notices of final adverse decisions received, actions taken, and the disposition of each such matter;7\n\nUpon request to the Director by (i) any of the standing committees of the General Assembly having jurisdiction over common interest communities or (ii) the Housing Commission, provide to the Director for dissemination to the requesting parties assessments of proposed and existing common interest community laws and other studies of common interest community issues;8\n\nMonitor changes in federal and state laws relating to common interest communities;9\n\nProvide information to the Director that will permit the Director to report annually on the activities of the Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman to the standing committees of the General Assembly having jurisdiction over common interest communities and to the Housing Commission. The Director’s report shall be filed by December 1 of each year and shall include a summary of significant new developments in federal and state laws relating to common interest communities each year; and10\n\nCarry out activities as the Board determines to be appropriate.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":284974,"text":"The Director in accordance with § 54.1-303 shall appoint a Common Interest Community Ombudsman (the Ombudsman) and shall establish the Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman (the Office). The Ombudsman shall be a member in good standing in the Virginia State Bar. All state agencies shall assist and cooperate with the Office in the performance of its duties under this article.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":284975,"text":"The Office shall:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":284976,"text":"Assist members in understanding rights and the processes available to them according to the laws and regulations governing common interest communities and respond to general inquiries;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":284977,"text":"Make available, either separately or through an existing website, information concerning common interest communities and such additional information as may be deemed appropriate;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":284978,"text":"Receive notices of final adverse decisions and may either (i) refer such decision to the Board for further review of whether such decision is in conflict with laws or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board or (ii) make a determination of whether a final adverse decision is in conflict with laws or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board and promptly notify the complainant of such determination. If the Office determines that such conflict exists, the Office shall promptly notify the governing board, and if applicable the common interest community manager, of the association that issued the final adverse decision that such decision is in conflict with laws or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board. If within 365 days of issuing such determination the Ombudsman receives a subsequent notice of final adverse decision for the same violation, the Office shall refer the matter to the Board;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":284979,"text":"Upon request, assist members in understanding the rights and processes available under the laws and regulations governing common interest communities and provide referrals to public and private agencies offering alternative dispute resolution services, with a goal of reducing and resolving conflicts among associations and their members;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":284980,"text":"Ensure that members have access to the services provided through the Office and that the members receive timely responses from the representatives of the Office to the inquiries;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":284981,"text":"Maintain data on inquiries received, referrals made to the Board, types of assistance requested, notices of final adverse decisions received, actions taken, and the disposition of each such matter;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"B7"},"8":{"id":284982,"text":"Upon request to the Director by (i) any of the standing committees of the General Assembly having jurisdiction over common interest communities or (ii) the Housing Commission, provide to the Director for dissemination to the requesting parties assessments of proposed and existing common interest community laws and other studies of common interest community issues;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"B7","prefix_anchor":"B7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B6","next_prefix":"B8"},"9":{"id":284983,"text":"Monitor changes in federal and state laws relating to common interest communities;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"B8","prefix_anchor":"B8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B7","next_prefix":"B9"},"10":{"id":284984,"text":"Provide information to the Director that will permit the Director to report annually on the activities of the Office of the Common Interest Community Ombudsman to the standing committees of the General Assembly having jurisdiction over common interest communities and to the Housing Commission. The Director’s report shall be filed by December 1 of each year and shall include a summary of significant new developments in federal and state laws relating to common interest communities each year; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"B9","prefix_anchor":"B9","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B8","next_prefix":"B10"},"11":{"id":284985,"text":"Carry out activities as the Board determines to be appropriate.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","10"],"prefix":"10","entire_prefix":"B10","prefix_anchor":"B10","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B9"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16314,"edition_id":1,"name":"Common Interest Community Management Information Fund; Common Interest Community Ombudsman; Common Interest Community Management Recovery Fund","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":13763,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:13:43","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:13:43","permalink":{"id":240463,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16314,"identifier":"2","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2","url":"\/54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":13763,"edition_id":1,"name":"Common Interest Communities","identifier":"23.3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12755,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:45:49","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:45:49","permalink":{"id":240415,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13763,"identifier":"23.3","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3","url":"\/54.1\/II\/23.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12755,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation and Boards Within the Department","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239415,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12755,"identifier":"II","token":"54.1\/II","url":"\/54.1\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":66664,"structure_id":16314,"section_number":"54.1-2354.1","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-2354.1\/","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.1","metadata":false},{"id":87051,"structure_id":16314,"section_number":"54.1-2354.2","catch_line":"Common Interest Community Management Information Fund","url":"\/54.1-2354.2\/","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.2","metadata":false},{"id":79532,"structure_id":16314,"section_number":"54.1-2354.3","catch_line":"Common Interest Community Ombudsman; appointment; powers and duties","url":"\/54.1-2354.3\/","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.3","metadata":false},{"id":68863,"structure_id":16314,"section_number":"54.1-2354.4","catch_line":"Association complaint procedures; final adverse decisions","url":"\/54.1-2354.4\/","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.4","metadata":false},{"id":78911,"structure_id":16314,"section_number":"54.1-2354.5","catch_line":"Common Interest Community Management Recovery Fund","url":"\/54.1-2354.5\/","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.5","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":87051,"structure_id":16314,"section_number":"54.1-2354.2","catch_line":"Common Interest Community Management Information Fund","url":"\/54.1-2354.2\/","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.2","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68863,"structure_id":16314,"section_number":"54.1-2354.4","catch_line":"Association complaint procedures; final adverse decisions","url":"\/54.1-2354.4\/","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.4","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2354.3\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1993. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 958 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1993 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1997, chapter 222<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 463<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 816<\/a>; in 2008, chapters 851<\/a> and 871<\/a>; in 2010, chapters 59<\/a> and 208<\/a>; in 2012, chapters 481<\/a> and 797<\/a>; in 2019, chapter 712<\/a>; in 2023, chapters 20<\/a> and 21<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":82752,"section_number":"54.1-303","catch_line":"General powers of Director","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-303\/"}],"permalink":{"id":240473,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79532,"identifier":"54.1-2354.3","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.3","url":"\/54.1-2354.3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2354.3\/","token":"54.1\/II\/23.3\/2\/54.1-2354.3","dublin_core":{"Title":"Common Interest Community Ombudsman; appointment; powers and duties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2354.3","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Director<\/span> in accordance with § 54.1-303<\/a> shall appoint a Common Interest Community<\/span> Ombudsman (the Ombudsman) and shall establish the Office of the Common Interest Community<\/span> Ombudsman (the Office). The Ombudsman shall be a member in good standing in the Virginia State Bar. All state agencies shall assist and cooperate with the Office in the performance of its duties under this article. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Office shall: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Assist members in understanding rights and the processes available to them according to the laws<\/span> and regulations governing common interest communities and respond to general inquiries; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Make available, either separately or through an existing website, information concerning common interest communities and such additional information as may be deemed appropriate; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Receive notices of final adverse decisions and may either (i) refer such decision to the Board for further review of whether such decision is in conflict with laws<\/span> or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board or (ii) make a determination of whether a final adverse decision is in conflict with laws<\/span> or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board and promptly notify the complainant of such determination. If the Office determines that such conflict exists, the Office shall promptly notify the governing board<\/span>, and if applicable the common interest community<\/span> manager<\/span>, of the association<\/span> that issued the final adverse decision that such decision is in conflict with laws<\/span> or Board regulations governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board. If within 365 days of issuing such determination the Ombudsman receives a subsequent notice of final adverse decision for the same violation, the Office shall refer the matter to the Board; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Upon request, assist members in understanding the rights and processes available under the laws<\/span> and regulations governing common interest communities and provide referrals to public and private agencies offering alternative dispute resolution<\/span> services, with a goal of reducing and resolving conflicts among associations<\/span> and their members; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Ensure that members have access to the services provided through the Office and that the members receive timely responses from the representatives of the Office to the inquiries; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Maintain data on inquiries received, referrals made to the Board, types of assistance requested, notices of final adverse decisions received, actions taken, and the disposition<\/span> of each such matter; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Upon request to the Director<\/span> by (i) any of the standing committees of the General Assembly having jurisdiction<\/span> over common interest communities or (ii) the Housing Commission, provide to the Director<\/span> for dissemination to the requesting parties assessments of proposed and existing common interest community<\/span> laws<\/span> and other studies of common interest community<\/span> issues<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Monitor changes in federal and state laws<\/span> relating to common interest communities; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Provide information to the Director<\/span> that will permit the Director<\/span> to report annually on the activities of the Office of the Common Interest Community<\/span> Ombudsman to the standing committees of the General Assembly having jurisdiction<\/span> over common interest communities and to the Housing Commission. The Director<\/span>’s report shall be filed by December 1 of each year and shall include a summary of significant new developments in federal and state laws<\/span> relating to common interest communities each year; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

10.<\/span> Carry out activities as the Board determines to be appropriate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOMMON INTEREST COMMUNITY OMBUDSMAN; APPOINTMENT; POWERS AND DUTIES (\u00a7\n54.1-2354.3)\n\nA. The Director in accordance with § 54.1-303 shall appoint a Common\nInterest Community Ombudsman (the Ombudsman) and shall establish the Office of\nthe Common Interest Community Ombudsman (the Office). The Ombudsman shall be a\nmember in good standing in the Virginia State Bar. All state agencies shall\nassist and cooperate with the Office in the performance of its duties under this\narticle.\n\nB. The Office shall:\n\n 1. Assist members in understanding rights and the processes available to them\n according to the laws and regulations governing common interest communities\n and respond to general inquiries;\n\n 2. Make available, either separately or through an existing website,\n information concerning common interest communities and such additional\n information as may be deemed appropriate;\n\n 3. Receive notices of final adverse decisions and may either (i) refer such\n decision to the Board for further review of whether such decision is in\n conflict with laws or Board regulations governing common interest communities\n or interpretations thereof by the Board or (ii) make a determination of\n whether a final adverse decision is in conflict with laws or Board regulations\n governing common interest communities or interpretations thereof by the Board\n and promptly notify the complainant of such determination. If the Office\n determines that such conflict exists, the Office shall promptly notify the\n governing board, and if applicable the common interest community manager, of\n the association that issued the final adverse decision that such decision is\n in conflict with laws or Board regulations governing common interest\n communities or interpretations thereof by the Board. If within 365 days of\n issuing such determination the Ombudsman receives a subsequent notice of final\n adverse decision for the same violation, the Office shall refer the matter to\n the Board;\n\n 4. Upon request, assist members in understanding the rights and processes\n available under the laws and regulations governing common interest communities\n and provide referrals to public and private agencies offering alternative\n dispute resolution services, with a goal of reducing and resolving conflicts\n among associations and their members;\n\n 5. Ensure that members have access to the services provided through the Office\n and that the members receive timely responses from the representatives of the\n Office to the inquiries;\n\n 6. Maintain data on inquiries received, referrals made to the Board, types of\n assistance requested, notices of final adverse decisions received, actions\n taken, and the disposition of each such matter;\n\n 7. Upon request to the Director by (i) any of the standing committees of the\n General Assembly having jurisdiction over common interest communities or (ii)\n the Housing Commission, provide to the Director for dissemination to the\n requesting parties assessments of proposed and existing common interest\n community laws and other studies of common interest community issues;\n\n 8. Monitor changes in federal and state laws relating to common interest\n communities;\n\n 9. Provide information to the Director that will permit the Director to report\n annually on the activities of the Office of the Common Interest Community\n Ombudsman to the standing committees of the General Assembly having\n jurisdiction over common interest communities and to the Housing Commission.\n The Director’s report shall be filed by December 1 of each year and\n shall include a summary of significant new developments in federal and state\n laws relating to common interest communities each year; and\n\n 10. Carry out activities as the Board determines to be appropriate.\n\nHISTORY: 1993, c. 958, \u00a7 55-530; 1997, c. 222; 1998, c. 463; 2001, c. 816;\n2008, cc. 851, 871; 2010, cc. 59, 208; 2012, cc. 481, 797; 2019, c. 712; 2023,\ncc. 20, 21.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}