How much can an HOA raise dues, and can they do it without a vote?
What limits exist on assessment increases, when a member vote is required, and why dues go up in the first place.
The short answer
Usually the board can raise regular dues on its own, up to a point - but how far it can go before needing a membership vote depends on your governing documents and your state. Some communities cap annual increases in the CC&Rs (a fixed percentage, or a tie to inflation); some states set statutory limits; and in many places the board has fairly broad discretion as long as it follows the budget process and gives notice. There's no universal number, so the real answer always comes from reading your own declaration alongside your state's HOA law.
Where the limits actually come from
Three places, in rough order: your CC&Rs and bylaws first (they may cap an increase or require owner approval above a threshold), then state statute, then the board's annual budget. A well-known example is California, where the Davis-Stirling Act lets a board raise regular assessments by up to 20 percent a year and impose limited special assessments without putting it to a member vote - anything beyond that generally requires approval from the members. Other states draw the line differently or leave it to the documents. The pattern to look for is a percentage threshold above which the decision stops being the board's alone.
Regular increases vs. special assessments
These are not the same thing and the rules differ. A regular dues increase changes your ongoing monthly or annual assessment as part of the yearly budget. A special assessment is a separate one-time charge for a specific big cost - a new roof, a failed retaining wall, a lawsuit - and special assessments often face their own, frequently stricter, voting and notice requirements. A board may be able to nudge regular dues within a set limit routinely, yet still need a member vote to levy a large special assessment. Know which one you're being asked to pay.
Why dues go up at all
It usually isn't arbitrary. Insurance premiums for community associations have risen sharply in many regions; labor, landscaping, and utility costs climb; and - the big one - reserves that were underfunded for years eventually force a catch-up. A board that holds dues artificially flat is often just deferring the bill, and deferred costs tend to return as a painful special assessment instead. A steady, modest increase that keeps reserves healthy is frequently the cheaper path for homeowners over time, even though it doesn't feel that way in the moment.
Your rights and what to ask
You're generally entitled to notice of an increase and access to the budget behind it - so ask to see the proposed budget and the reserve funding it assumes, and check the CC&Rs for any cap or vote requirement the board has to clear. If an increase blows past a documented limit without the required vote, that's worth raising before it takes effect. For boards, the way to make increases land without a revolt is transparency: show the numbers, explain what's driving them, and apply the same assessment fairly to every home - the kind of clear budgeting and record-keeping OurHOA is built to help small self-managed communities handle.
These guides are general education for HOA boards and residents, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules vary by state and by your community's governing documents - check with a professional for your situation.