§7-12A-6. Assessment and collection of fees; notice.

(a) A maintenance association which furnishes essential services, including, but not limited to, construction and maintenance of shared streets, drainage facilities, sidewalks, water and sewer systems, signs and other improvements necessary for the health, safety and welfare of the general public, may have authority to impose reasonable fees and charges on persons owning lots abutting the frontage of both sides of roads listed in the maintenance association document.

(b) Any new fee or fee increase assessed under this section shall not be collectable unless notice of the proposed fee or increase is sent by certified mail to each person owning property listed in the maintenance association document. If thirty percent of the members, by signed petition, protest the assessment to the association within fifteen days of the mailing, the fee shall not become effective until it is ratified by sixty percent of the members.

(c) All fees assessed under this section are declared to be debts owing to the maintenance association for which the debtor shall be personally liable. The maintenance association, or an individual designated to act for it, may enforce this liability by appropriate civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction. After being reduced to judgment and filed with the clerk of the county commission, such liability shall be a lien on property owned by the maintenance association member and designated in the maintenance association document.