The HOA bylaws outline guidelines for maintaining a happy, fair, peaceful community. Here is a high-level summary of what it covers:

• Maintenance of common areas

• Calculating monthly fees

• Use of common areas

• Lease of personal property

• Pet policy

• Road rules, speed limit of 20 mph

• Waste management

• Processes for violations

• Dispute resolution

• Governance & administration

• Architectural Committee

• Sustainability Committee

• Sale or division of lots

The Condominium Owners’ Meeting (the Asamblea) is the highest level of authority of Alegría on decisions on matters of common interest brought to its attention and includes all Alegría lot owners. The Board of Directors constitutes the second level of authority for the Community and is elected by The Condominium Owners’ Meeting. The Board of Directors shall appoint an Administrator responsible as the third level of authority for the Community.

The powers of the Condominium Owners’ Meeting are:

• Appoint, remove, or reappoint the members of the Board of Directors and to give any and all additional powers conferred by the present rules.

• Review the report of the Board of Directors for the past year, and approve or deny this report.

• Approve or disapprove, as appropriate, the budget of common expenses submitted by the Administrator for the coming year and the responsibility of each individual lot owner in regards to those expenses.

• Authorize repairs or improvements that may be required or requested.

In short, decisions are made by vote during the annual Condominium Owners’ Meeting. Depending on the type of decision being made, it will require a unanimous vote, 2/3 vote, or majority vote to pass. 

HOA fees range from $50-550/month depending on lot size (based on sq. meters). The total budget approved by the HOA gets divided by square meters and then each neighbor pays their equivalent (this is Costa Rican law for Condominiums). The monthly fee includes infrastructure for electric and fibre-optic internet, water service, trash/recycling/compost collection, weekly basket of fresh produce from the farm, maintenance of all common spaces (yoga, common building, pool, multi-purpose/coworking space, farm), maintenance of roads, hiking & biking trails, maintenance of food forest and communal orchard, and security. Also, there are opportunities at Alegría, such as commercial farm produce, event sites, educational retreats, etc. that can generate income and reduce monthly dues.

The HOA bylaws can be amended at an annual Condominium Owners’ Meeting or an Extraordinary Condominium Owners’ Meeting with a unanimous vote by all Condominium Owners.

The Condominium Owners appoint an Administrator to manage the HOA meetings, process, budget and maintenance. The Administrator may be a natural person or legal entity, owner or not, who will take over the common areas and have unlimited general power of attorney in accordance with the powers set Article 1253 Civil Code, to be the legal representative of the Condominium Owners’ Meeting. The appointment of Administrator is for a period not to exceed three years defined by the board. The Administrator may be extended beyond 3 years as approved by the board. The Administrator is responsible for the administration of Alegría, the guidelines included in this agreement, and may be removed from office by the same vote as to the agreement of their appointment. We are happy to share more about our current Administrator, NEI, and how we manage the day-to-day of Alegría together. There is a lot to do!