Alabama · Ala. Code §§35-20-3, 35-20-12, 35-20-13Alabama HOA records for buyers: what to request and the 30-day deadline

Alabama's Homeowners' Association Act covers developments whose HOA declaration was recorded on or after January 1, 2016, and older associations whose members voted by majority to be governed by it; it doesn't cover nonresidential developments, condominiums regulated under Chapters 8 or 8A of Title 35, cooperatives, time-shares or campgrounds (Ala. Code §35-20-3). A covered association makes its records available to a member or potential purchaser on written request within a reasonable time of no more than 30 days, for reasonable costs, on paper, electronically or by pointing to the public record (§35-20-13(a)). That includes current and pending assessments and dues with due dates, the operating budget and reserves with last year's financial statement, insurance and fidelity bond, loans against the association, officer contacts, the covenants and architectural rules, initiation or transfer fees due at closing, the common areas, and pending lawsuits, judgments and liens (§35-20-13(b)). The association has a lien for unpaid assessments that ranks behind taxes, municipal assessments and mortgages or deeds of trust; it records a statement of lien within 12 months after the assessment is due, after 30 days' certified-mail notice to the owner (§35-20-12(b)–(d)).