COOPERATOREVENTS NEW JERSEY EXPO. WEDNESDAY JUNE 7TH . MEADOWLANDS EXPO CENTER. REGISTER NOW!

Q&A: To Fee or Not to Fee?

Q&A: To Fee or Not to Fee?

Q. I’m a board member of my condo association here in New Jersey. All of our board members subscribe to your paper and always find it helpful.

We are going to institute a pet registration form for dogs and cats and were thinking of assessing an annual fee of $25. Is this reasonable to ask for such a fee?  Our thinking was to follow the town’s rule which does the same.

I look forward to hearing back. Thank you!!

                                        —Fur and Fair

A. “I understand the desire to ask for a ‘pet fee,’” says Elysa D. Bergenfeld, Esq., attorney at Ansell Grimm & Aaron, P.C., in Princeton. “However, generally speaking, a separate fee (rent fee, pet fee, move in, move out fee, etc.) is lawful only to the extent that the amount of the fee amount is reasonably related to a precise amount incurred by the association because of that particular activity. Also, a true position on this cannot be supplied without a reference to your condominium’s master deed and bylaws.”

Related Articles

Row of the new townhouses in Richmond, British Columbia.

Aesthetic Standards

How to Enforce These Important Rules

Check mark icons. Green tick and red cross. Round checkmarks icons. True and false, correct, right and wrong, done, complete concepts. Flat design and thin line design. Vector icons set

The Extent—and Limits—of Board Powers

Can They Do That?

Leather covered book of compliance. Stack of books on top of each other with business words written on their spines. Isolated on white background with clipping path.

Q&A: Rules, Rules, Rules

Q&A: Rules, Rules, Rules

Vector chess pieces team isolated on white background. Silhouettes of chess pieces

A Look at Board Powers

What a Board Is … and Isn’t

Business people studying list of rules, reading guidance, making checklist. Vector illustration for company order, restrictions, law, regulations concept

Amending Documents

Bylaws, House Rules & More

picture of a cute little golden labrador retriever puppypicture of a cute little golden labrador retriever puppy

Q&A: Puppies Grow Up, Too

Q&A: Puppies Grow Up, Too