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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>58609</law_id><section_number>55.1-1829</section_number><catch_line>Amendment to declaration and bylaws; consent of mortgagee</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>55.1-1831</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="55.1">Property and Conveyances</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="IV">Common Interest Communities</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="18">Property Owners' Association Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="3">Operation and Management of Association</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In the event that any provision in the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> requires the written consent of a mortgagee in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to <span class="dictionary">amend</span> the bylaws or the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span>, the <span class="dictionary">association</span> shall be deemed to have received the written consent of a mortgagee if the <span class="dictionary">association</span> sends the text of the proposed amendment by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by regular mail with proof of mailing to the mortgagee at the address supplied by such mortgagee in a written request to the <span class="dictionary">association</span> to receive notice of proposed amendments to the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> and receives no written objection to the adoption of the amendment from the mortgagee within 60 days of the date that the notice of amendment is sent by the <span class="dictionary">association</span>, unless the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> expressly provides otherwise. If the mortgagee has not supplied an address to the <span class="dictionary">association</span>, the <span class="dictionary">association</span> shall be deemed to have received the written consent of a mortgagee if the <span class="dictionary">association</span> sends the text of the proposed amendment by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the mortgagee at the address filed in the land records or with the local tax assessor&#x2019;s office and receives no written objection to the adoption of the amendment from the mortgagee within 60 days of the date that the notice of amendment is sent by the <span class="dictionary">association</span>, unless the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> expressly provides otherwise. <a id="paragraph-214789" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1829/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Subsection A shall not apply to amendments that alter the priority of the <span class="dictionary">lien</span> of the mortgagee or that materially impair or affect a <span class="dictionary">lot</span> as <span class="dictionary">collateral</span> or the right of the mortgagee to foreclose on a <span class="dictionary">lot</span> as <span class="dictionary">collateral</span>. <a id="paragraph-214790" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1829/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Where the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> is silent on the need for mortgagee consent, no mortgagee consent shall be required if the amendment to the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> does not specifically affect mortgagee rights. <a id="paragraph-214791" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1829/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Except as otherwise provided in the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span>, a <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the <span class="dictionary">lot owners</span>. <a id="paragraph-214792" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1829/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> An action to challenge the validity of an amendment adopted by the <span class="dictionary">association</span> may not be brought more than one year after the amendment is effective. <a id="paragraph-214793" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1829/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Agreement of the required majority of <span class="dictionary">lot owners</span> to any amendment of the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> adopted pursuant to subsection D shall be evidenced by their execution of the amendment, or ratifications of such amendment, and the same shall become effective when a copy of the amendment is recorded together with a certification, signed by the principal officer of the <span class="dictionary">association</span> or by such other officer or officers as the <span class="dictionary">declaration</span> may specify, that the requisite majority of the <span class="dictionary">lot owners</span> signed the amendment or ratifications of such amendment. <a id="paragraph-214794" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1829/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> Subsections D and F shall not be construed to affect the validity of any amendment recorded prior to July 1, 2017. <a id="paragraph-214795" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/55.1-1829/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1997, c. 887, &#xA7; 55-515.1; 1998, c. 32; 1999, c. 805; 2003, cc. 59, 74; 2017, c. 374; 2019, c. 712.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
