Whether you're evaluating a current HOA's fee schedule or a prospective one, it helps to know the real caps rather than guess whether a number sounds reasonable. Minnesota's 2026 HOA law (2026 Minn. Laws ch. 82 / SF1750) put real statutory dollar limits on several of these for the first time.
| Charge | Maximum allowed |
|---|---|
| Late fee — regular monthly assessment | $15 |
| Late fee — special assessment | Lesser of 5% of the amount owed, or $100 |
| Fine — single rule violation | $100 |
| Fine — ongoing violation (combined total) | $2,500 |
| Attorney fees — ordinary collection action | $1,500 |
| Attorney fees — foreclosure by advertisement | No statutory cap — set by the association's own declaration/bylaws (Minn. Stat. § 515B.3-116(h)(4)) |
Late fees
A late fee on a regular monthly assessment can't exceed $15. For a special assessment, it's capped at whichever is smaller — 5% of what's owed, or $100 flat. That "whichever is smaller" detail matters: on a $500 special assessment, 5% is $25 (the applicable cap), not $100.
Fines for rule violations
A single violation can't be fined more than $100. If the violation continues after that, the association's combined fines for that ongoing issue are capped at $2,500 total — not $100 repeated indefinitely.
Attorney fees — collection vs. foreclosure
This is where a lot of explanations blur two different things together. Attorney fees for an ordinary collection action are capped at $1,500. Attorney fees specifically for foreclosure by advertisement are not capped by statute at all — they're set by the association's own declaration or bylaws. We cover this distinction, and why it matters, in more depth in our foreclosure guide.
If a current or prospective HOA's fee schedule shows a late fee, fine, or collection attorney fee above these figures, that's worth asking about directly — either it predates the 2026 law and needs updating, or there's a real explanation worth hearing.
- 2026 Minnesota Laws, chapter 82 (Senate File 1750)
- Minn. Stat. § 515B.3-116 (assessment liens, collection, and foreclosure)