Reduced Quorum For All

The inability to achieve quorum regularly prevents community associations from timely electing directors as required in their bylaws. This bill amends Civil Code 5115 and Corporations Code 7512, allowing for a statutory reduced quorum of 20% at any adjourned meeting to elect association directors where quorum could not otherwise be reached.

The 20% reduced quorum applies only if the association’s governing documents require a quorum to elect directors. If a quorum of less than 20% is authorized by the association’s governing documents then that lower quorum requirement prevails. 

In order for an association to invoke the reduced quorum provision of Civil Code 5115, the association must have provided the following language in its general notice as required by Civil Code 5115(b):

“The board of directors may call a subsequent meeting at least Twenty (20) days after a scheduled election if the required quorum is not reached, at which time the quorum of the membership to elect directors will be 20 percent of the association’s members voting in person, by proxy, or by secret ballot.” 

This new law applies only to membership meetings called for the purpose of electing directors. The reduced quorum does not apply in the case of a special membership meeting to recall or remove directors.

This bill went into effect for all California community associations on January 1, 2024.