On August 7, 2026, Governor JB Pritzker signed House Bill 5449 into law as Public Act 104-0797. The new law amends both the Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act and the Illinois Condominium Property Act. In short, HB 5449 imposes two new obligations on Illinois condominium and community association boards: (1) a requirement that associations maintain a website by a fixed deadline, and (2) a requirement that certain financial and budget information be delivered to owners by electronic transmission. Because the amendments operate in parallel across both statutes, they apply to the great majority of Illinois condominium associations and common interest community associations alike.
Below are the two big takeaways that Illinois community associations should understand.
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Illinois HOA Website Requirement: Boards Must Provide a Website by January 1, 2028
The most significant change in HB 5449 is a new website mandate. The Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act (at 765 ILCS 160/1-30(l)) and the Illinois Condominium Property Act (at 765 ILCS 605/18.4(t)) now provide:
The board must provide a website no later than January 1, 2028, that unit owners can access on the Internet that includes information about board and membership meetings and the approved minutes from a meeting of the board.
Accordingly, by January 1, 2028, an Illinois condominium or community association board is expected to maintain an internet-accessible website that, at a minimum, includes information about board and membership meetings and the approved minutes of board meetings.
The statute specifies the minimum content the website must include, such as meeting information and approved board minutes, but it does not prohibit an association from posting additional materials. Boards should be deliberate about what they choose to post beyond the statutory minimum. Lastly, the statute applies only to approved minutes. Draft minutes that the board has not yet approved need not be provided.
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Required Financial Information Must Be Delivered by Electronic Transmission
The second major change concerns how associations deliver required financial and budget disclosures to their members. Under the Common Interest Community Association Act (765 ILCS 160/1-45(b)) and the Illinois Condominium Property Act (765 ILCS 605/18(a)(7)), Illinois community associations must provide the financial information outlined in those sections through electronic transmission to all members who have provided their information to the association and authorized the association to transmit such information electronically.
Accordingly, Illinois community associations will have to provide itemized accounting of the common expenses and other financial information that is outlined in 765 ILCS 160/1-45(b) and 765 ILCS 605/18(a)(7) to members who have (a) provided their electronic contact information to the association and (b) authorized the association to transmit information by electronic transmission. Illinois community associations should be careful to maintain accurate records of which owners have opted in and to ensure their delivery practices actually reach those owners.
How Illinois Condo and Homeowners Associations Can Prepare for HB 5449
Illinois community associations should begin preparing well ahead of the January 1, 2028, website deadline. Illinois community associations should consider the following steps:
Evaluate website options
Condominium and homeowners associations without a website should begin identifying vendors or platforms, obtaining cost estimates, and budgeting for the expense. Associations that already maintain a website should confirm that it includes the required meeting information and approved board minutes.
Update owner contact records and authorizations
The electronic-transmission requirement turns on whether an owner has provided contact information and authorized electronic delivery. Associations should audit their records, standardize how they collect email addresses and authorizations, and confirm they can document each owner’s election.
Budget accordingly
Website development and maintenance, along with electronic delivery systems, may entail real costs that boards should account for in upcoming budgets.
Conclusion
HB 5449 reflects a continuing trend in Illinois toward greater transparency and electronic accessibility in Illinois community associations. Associations that plan ahead will be well-positioned to comply with the January 1, 2028, deadline and deliver the required disclosures in the manner now required by the amended statutes.
If your association has questions about how Public Act 104-0797 affects its website obligations, electronic-delivery practices, or governing documents, the attorneys at Hirzel Law are available to help.
