Yes. Maryland requires residential condominiums, most homeowners associations with common areas, and housing cooperatives to have a reserve study and to update it at least every 5 years. Budgets must fund reserves at the amount the latest study recommends, with a limited hardship exception.
Last verified October 12, 2026 by ReservePath research.
| Reserve study required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Applies to | Condominiums, HOAs and planned communities, Cooperatives |
| How often | Every 5 years |
| Site inspection required | Not required by statute |
Residential condominiums, homeowners associations with common areas, and cooperative housing corporations must have a reserve study and then an updated study at least every 5 years. The HOA rule applies only where total repair or replacement costs of the listed components are at least $10,000 and does not apply to HOAs that issue bonds for capital expenditures. (see sources)
The statutes define what a reserve study must contain (an itemized component list with useful life, remaining life, cost, annual reserve amount and quantities). The text we read does not mention a site visit or visual inspection. (see sources)
We found no statewide rule on this in the statutes listed under Sources.
The annual budget must include reserves. Reserves in the budget must be the funding amount recommended in the most recent reserve study and must be deposited by the last day of each fiscal year. After an initial study, the governing body has 5 fiscal years after the fiscal year of that study to reach the recommended annual funding level. The governing body must develop a funding plan in consultation with a qualified preparer, choosing the component, cash flow, baseline funding, threshold cash flow or another method consistent with generally accepted accounting principles. The plan must give priority to health and safety, structural integrity and essential systems. A two-thirds vote of the governing body can declare a financial hardship and allow a reasonable deviation for 1 fiscal year, renewable by another two-thirds vote, with advance notice to owners. During a hardship, funding must still cover at least those priority items. Reserves used for other purposes must be repaid within 5 years [Real Property 11-109.2 and 11-109.4 for condominiums, 11B-112.2 and 11B-112.3 for homeowners associations, Corporations and Associations 5-6B-26.1 for cooperatives]. (see sources)
Each study must be available for owners to inspect and copy, must be reviewed by the governing body when it prepares the annual proposed budget, and must be summarized and sent to owners with that budget. Condominium resale disclosures must include the current operating budget with the current reserve study report or a summary, and the status and amount of any reserve or replacement fund (Real Property 11-135). (see sources)
The study must be prepared by a person who has prepared at least 30 reserve studies in the prior 3 calendar years, or has participated in at least 30 in the prior 3 calendar years while employed by a reserve study firm, or holds a current license from the State Board of Architects or the State Board for Professional Engineers, or is a reserve specialist (Community Association Institute) or professional reserve analyst (Association of Professional Reserve Analysts). (see sources)
ReservePath supports full studies, updates with a site visit and updates without one, 30-year funding projections, and study renewal reminders based on the cycle you set for each study. It includes in-app compliance guidance for each state as a starting point. The preparer and the association's attorney remain responsible for confirming what the law requires.
Residential condominiums, homeowners associations with common areas, and cooperative housing corporations must have a reserve study and then an updated study at least every 5 years. The HOA rule applies only where total repair or replacement costs of the listed components are at least $10,000 and does not apply to HOAs that issue bonds for capital expenditures.
Every 5 years under the statutes listed on this page. The statutes define what a reserve study must contain (an itemized component list with useful life, remaining life, cost, annual reserve amount and quantities). The text we read does not mention a site visit or visual inspection.
The study must be prepared by a person who has prepared at least 30 reserve studies in the prior 3 calendar years, or has participated in at least 30 in the prior 3 calendar years while employed by a reserve study firm, or holds a current license from the State Board of Architects or the State Board for Professional Engineers, or is a reserve specialist (Community Association Institute) or professional reserve analyst (Association of Professional Reserve Analysts).
The annual budget must include reserves. Reserves in the budget must be the funding amount recommended in the most recent reserve study and must be deposited by the last day of each fiscal year. After an initial study, the governing body has 5 fiscal years after the fiscal year of that study to reach the recommended annual funding level. The governing body must develop a funding plan in consultation with a qualified preparer, choosing the component, cash flow, baseline funding, threshold cash flow or another method consistent with generally accepted accounting principles. The plan must give priority to health and safety, structural integrity and essential systems. A two-thirds vote of the governing body can declare a financial hardship and allow a reasonable deviation for 1 fiscal year, renewable by another two-thirds vote, with advance notice to owners. During a hardship, funding must still cover at least those priority items. Reserves used for other purposes must be repaid within 5 years [Real Property 11-109.2 and 11-109.4 for condominiums, 11B-112.2 and 11B-112.3 for homeowners associations, Corporations and Associations 5-6B-26.1 for cooperatives].
Each study must be available for owners to inspect and copy, must be reviewed by the governing body when it prepares the annual proposed budget, and must be summarized and sent to owners with that budget. Condominium resale disclosures must include the current operating budget with the current reserve study report or a summary, and the status and amount of any reserve or replacement fund (Real Property 11-135).
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