The Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (“CCIOA”) requires that all associations located in Colorado register with the Division of Real Estate and renew on a yearly basis. The HOA Center is commonly asked if failure to register invalidates an association. It does not but it does result in suspending the association’s legal right to enforce a lien for assessments, pursue an action, or employ an enforcement mechanism. For more detailed information on association registration, please see section 38-33.3-401, C.R.S.
The HOA Information & Resource Center has developed a detailed website that sets forth the step-by-step directions for the registration process, renewal process, and other changes that an association can make in the registration system. For more information, you can visit the HOA Center’s Registration Services Help Page. Board members should regularly ensure that the contact information for the association’s registration is current. This is most helpful because the HOA Center will issue renewal notices by email approximately one (1) month before the expiration.
Registration information is public information, so if you are a unit owner or a board member, you may look-up an association’s registration information. You may use this link to search the Division's registration database: Division of Real Estate Licensee Lookup (use the "Business Name/DBA" search field). Unfortunately, the Division does not have jurisdiction to enforce the registration requirement nor does it have any ability to confirm or validate any information provided during the registration process; however, if the information in your registration is inaccurate, the association’s Designated Agent is able to update this information at any time free of charge.
For board members, the New Year might also be a good time to check on the status of your association’s registration with the Colorado Secretary of State. As many of you may know, your association is recognized as a corporation pursuant to Colorado law. Therefore, in addition to registration with the Division of Real Estate, associations must also have a filing with the Colorado Secretary of State. Certain documents must be filed with the Colorado Secretary of State. This includes the Articles of Incorporation for your association but also includes information updates like Periodic Reports which are filed at least yearly. To view the Secretary of State filings for your association, you can search for your association here.
For both the Division of Real Estate and the Secretary of State, any non-compliant registration issues can be cured quickly and easily by visiting the websites referenced above and filing the appropriate documents.