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Community Association Law
As community associations have become the fastest-growing form of housing in Pennsylvania, board members, builder-developers, buyers, sellers, realtors and municipalities must all grapple with the evolving and unique principles of community association law. Gawthrop Greenwood is one of the only law firms in Pennsylvania to offer the comprehensive suite of legal services required to support the intensifying needs of clients involved in the community association industry on a wide range of issues, including transitioning from the declarant, amendments to governing documents, compliance with state and federal statutory laws and much more.
Drawing from multiple legal disciplines that are of limited availability elsewhere, Gawthrop Greenwood advises numerous homeowners associations (HOAs), planned communities, condominium associations and cooperatives across Pennsylvania in the residential and commercial arenas. The department is led by nationally recognized community association lawyer Steven L. Sugarman, who has played a critical role in establishing statutory and decisional law governing Pennsylvania’s common interest communities (CICs). The team of community association law attorneys, litigators, land use and zoning law attorneys, employment law attorneys and other experienced practitioners at Gawthrop Greenwood are pleased to support the needs of clients seeking effective and efficient legal services.
Known throughout the region as the “go to” team for community association law, our attorneys offer hands-on experience and expertise in the courtroom, boardroom or development site and consistently provide cost-effective and practical solutions to challenging and distinct legal issues. Taking the time to personally educate while advocate, they have represented hundreds of community associations of all sizes throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for more than 40 years.
As leaders in their field, our attorneys serve on Pennsylvania’s Legislative Action Committee for the Community Associations Institute (CAI), an international trade association with nearly 40,000 members, and frequently write and lecture on community association matters for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, CAI and other educational organizations.
For more information, call us at 610-696-8225 or e-mail hsetzler@gawthrop.com and ssugarman@gawthrop.com
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LAW SERVICES
- General Counsel
- Assessment Collection
- Transition from Declarant Control
- Board Meetings
- Special and Annual Meetings
- Elections and Voting Issues
- Rule and Architectural Enforcement
- Drafting and Amending Governing Documents
- Contract Preparation
- Insurance Defense and Coverage
- Developer and Contractor Litigation
- Loan and Financing Document Review
- Statutory Compliance
- Zoning and Municipal Issues
- Opinion Letters
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Fair Housing Issues and Compliance
- Employment and Personnel Issues
Key Contacts
Steven Sugarman
Holly Setzler
- General Counsel
- Assessment Collection
- Transition from Declarant Control
- Board Meetings
- Special and Annual Meetings
- Elections and Voting Issues
- Rule and Architectural Enforcement
- Drafting and Amending Governing Documents
- Contract Preparation
- Insurance Defense and Coverage
- Developer and Contractor Litigation
- Loan and Financing Document Review
- Statutory Compliance
- Zoning and Municipal Issues
- Opinion Letters
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Fair Housing Issues and Compliance
- Employment and Personnel Issues
Elliot Berton on Rules Enforcement in Condominium and Homeowners’ Associations
Community association lawyer Elliot H. Berton gave an interactive presentation on April 25, 2025 at the Delaware County Bar Association, where he addressed one of the most vexing and controversial aspects of living in or owning property within a condominium or community association: controlling resident and owner conduct.
Steven Sugarman on Key Legal, Operational Challenges Facing Community Associations
Community association attorney Steven L. Sugarman served as a featured speaker at the annual Cranberry Township Neighborhood Forum on April 14, 2025, where he provided valuable insights into the key legal and operational challenges facing community associations today.
Hostile Environments in Today’s Community Associations
A recent survey revealed that 31% of Gen-Zers believe that violence to persons or property can be an appropriate way to bring about change. Community association managers and board members should be aware of the survey. When owners or renters begin to distrust data...
Everything Community Associations in Pennsylvania Should Know About 2022 Act 122’s Annual Reporting
Beginning on January 1, 2025, certain registered entities are now required to file an annual report to verify continued existence. Included are domestic non-profit corporations, which typically include community associations (condominium, homeowner, co-operatives).
