I am a board member. Recently, the association hired a contractor to make some repairs to my unit. I suspected that this contractor might have been padding the bill, so I requested to see a copy of th

Yes. Not only is a board member entitled to see copies of association bills, but owners have the right to inspect and copy association records as well. Owners (whether board members or not) are entitled to know how their assessments are being spent. Section 38-33.3-317 of the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (“CCIOA”), as amended by Senate Bill 05-100, provides that an owner or the owner’s authorized agent may inspect and copy association records on five days notice, as long as the following conditions are met:

1)     the owner’s request to review the records is in good faith and for a proper purpose (which is any purpose related to the owner’s interest as an association member);

2)     the request states which records are requested and for what purpose; and

3)     the records are not otherwise privileged (such a documents protected by the attorney-client privilege). 

Section 38-33.3-209.5 of CCIOA also requires association boards to adopt an inspection of records policy, which should incorporate the above requirements. Please click here for a copy of “SB 100 & SB 89 – What They State and How to Comply” to learn more about the rights and obligations related to association records.

Community Essentials - September 2005