When you live in a homeowner’s association (HOA), you interact with many different people who help keep things running smoothly. The volunteer board of directors makes the big decisions that shape the direction of the community. Community managers, the professionals hired to support the association, help carry out those decisions and ensure daily operations stay on track.
Because these roles can appear to overlap in visible ways, it’s understandable that confusion sometimes happens regarding who makes decisions in an HOA. Homeowners may assume the manager is the one approving a request or issuing a violation. Board members may even wonder what tasks fall under the manager’s responsibilities versus their own.
At CAMS, we believe communities thrive when everyone understands who handles what. So here’s a simple, straightforward breakdown to help clear the fog and strengthen communication for everyone involved.
The HOA Board: The Decision-Making Body
You may be wondering, who makes decisions in an HOA? Every community association is governed by an elected board of directors. These directors have the responsibility to govern the association within the limits of authority granted to them through the governing documents and state law.
The board is responsible for:
- Setting and interpreting community policies
- Approving budgets and managing the association’s finances
- Making final decisions on enforcement actions
- Reviewing and ruling on architectural requests
- Hiring and evaluating contractors and service providers
- Establishing priorities and long-term goals
- Strategic planning for the long-term success of the association on behalf of its members
CAMS Community Managers: Your Association’s Operational Experts
Community managers are professionals hired by the board to help the community run smoothly. They bring industry knowledge, experience, and operational support that make it possible for the board to focus on strategic leadership rather than day-to-day tasks.
A professional community manager typically handles:
- Operational support and administrative tasks
- Service provider coordination and common area maintenance scheduling
- Preparing financial reports and guiding budget discussions
- Providing recommendations based on industry best practices and introducing external experts to the board when needed
- Helping document and process compliance issues
- Administration of communications between the board and homeowners
- Preparing meeting materials and attending meetings
The manager’s role is to provide structure, consistency, and expertise - all under the board’s direction.
What Managers Don’t Do (And Why)
Community managers work within the authority that the board delegates to them, which is generally described in the management contract. Decisions and policy-setting stay firmly in the board’s hands, and the directors remain responsible for governing according to the documents.
A community manager does not have the authority to:
- Create or change rules
- Approve or deny architectural request
- Make enforcement decisions or waive fines
- Determine assessment amounts
- Enter into service contracts without board approval
- Make decisions unless they are pre-authorized pursuant to board-approved policy
This isn’t about refusal - it’s about ensuring the association is governed correctly and fairly.
Why It Sometimes Feels Like the Manager Is the One Deciding
Community managers often handle the communication and administrative steps of compliance enforcement, architectural review, or policy updates. Because they’re the ones homeowners interact with most frequently, it may be interpreted that they’re the ones making the decisions. However, the manager serves as an impartial party to implement democratically-approved organizational policies that could otherwise become divisive if community members were directly responsible for implementation.
What’s actually happening behind the scenes is a coordinated effort:
- The board sets the rules or policies.
- CAMS communicates and administers those decisions.
- Both work together to keep the process fair and consistent.
This partnership allows the community’s systems to work smoothly and efficiently.
A Team Effort Focused on Community Success
One of the greatest strengths of a well-run association is the collaboration between the board and the management company.
- The board provides leadership and direction based on the community’s needs.
- CAMS brings operational support, industry expertise, and guidance to help carry out that direction effectively.
- Homeowners benefit from consistent processes, professional management, and informed decision-making.
When everyone understands the roles involved, communication improves, expectations become clearer, and the community as a whole becomes stronger.
Final Thoughts
CAMS is committed to supporting communities with professionalism, transparency, and expertise. We work hand‑in‑hand with the board - not above it, not in place of it - to help ensure your community remains a place people are glad to call home.
And if you ever have questions about who handles what, our team is always here to help clarify and support you.
Interested in checking out some more of CAMS educational resources? Visit our Resource Hub, filled with blogs, webinars, e-books, case studies, and more.
About Community Association Management Services
In business since 1991, CAMS has grown to become North and South Carolina’s premier community management company. With experienced local managers in each of its nine regions, CAMS provides innovative solutions to the community associations it serves. To learn more, visit www.camsmgt.com/choose-cams.
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