Ace the 2026 Community Management Challenge – Elevate Your Service Game!

The correct answer is that the developer holds the basic authority in a community association, particularly during the initial stages of the community’s development. Developers typically establish the community association when they create the community, drafting governing documents such as bylaws and covenants that define how the community will function. They have the authority to appoint initial board members and influence many foundational decisions.

In the early phases, the developer's decisions are often critical for setting up the infrastructure, amenities, and overall environment of the community. Their authority tends to diminish as the community matures and ownership transitions from the developer to individual homeowners. Once a certain percentage of homes are sold or a specific time period is reached, homeowners usually gain more control, and the board elected by the homeowners becomes empowered to make decisions regarding the community's future.

In contrast, while the board is important for governance and decision-making, its authority is established based on the framework provided by the developer's original documents. Owners, while they have a voice and voting power, typically do not hold authority until the developer relinquishes most control. Management often plays a supportive role but does not have the intrinsic authority that the developer initially holds.