Speaker: “Where the Wild Things Are: Legal & Practical Issue in 55+ Community Associations – Balancing Compassion, Compliance, and Fiduciary Duties," Southeastern Virginia Chapter-CAI Conference and Expo (March 2026)
Co-Author: ”Open to the Public: ADA Compliance for Community Associations,” Community Associations Institute Washington Metro Chapter’s (WMCCAI) Quorum Magazine (April 2025)
Co-Presenter: "Business Partner Essentials," Community Associations Institute (April 13, 2023)
Speaker: "Smoking and Other Odors – New Smoking Legislation, Regulating Smoking, Managing Complaints and Setting Policy," Cardinal Management Board of Directors (October 7, 2021)
Speaker: "Fair Housing Issues Part 1: Pools, Pets and Parking," Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute Conference & Expo (June 11, 2021)
Speaker on community association matters for the Washington Chapter of the Community Association's Institute
Co-Speaker: “Fair Housing and Animals - A Primer for Community Associations,” Webinar (April 8, 2020)
Speaker: "Fair Housing Hot Topics and D&O Liability," Washington Metropolitan Chapter Community Associations Institute Conference & Expo (February 22, 2020)
Speaker: "Practicing in Your Personality: How to Thrive as a Community Association Lawyer," Community Association Institute Annual Law Seminar (January 17, 2020)
Speaker: "Your Community, You're Connected: Association Communications," Fairfax County Government Channel 16 (January 29, 2019)
Speaker: "Your Community, You're Connected: Assessments, Penalties and Collections," Fairfax County Government Channel 16 (January 10, 2017)
Co-Author: "HUD Adopts New Rules Clarifying Associations' Liability For Harassment And Third Party Conduct Under the Fair Housing Act," Currents Magazine, Southeastern Virginia Chapter of CAI (December 2016)
Speaker: "Your Community, You’re Connected: Planning Successful Meetings," Fairfax County Government Channel 16 (February 9, 2016)
Co-Presenter: Falling Waters, CAI Manager Luncheon (March 2015)
May 29, 2026 - Articles
On May 22, 2026, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) issued an enforcement memorandum permanently rescinding the 2020 guidance on assistance animals and establishing new criteria for evaluating complaints brought under the federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) for animal-related reasonable accommodation requests. Under the new criteria, the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (“FHEO”) will only find probable cause and prosecute complaints if the animal in question has been individually trained to provide assistance directly related to an individual’s disability. This change raises significant questions for community association boards and managers about their ongoing duty to grant reasonable accommodations for emotional support animals under the FHA.
December 8, 2025 - Articles
From approving resolutions to responding to owner requests, community association boards and their management companies are called on to make countless decisions regarding their governance and operations. But even routine operational choices can carry significant legal implications. It is not uncommon for a board to modify an internal document—such as a resident grievance process—only to later discover that the governing documents required a different approach or did not grant the authority to make the change at all. A decision intended to “move things along” can quickly lead to owner complaints or unanticipated liability. At the same time, boards and management do not want to incur legal costs unnecessarily. The goal is to safeguard the association while stewarding its limited resources. The below practical guidelines should help boards and management know when legal counsel should be involved and when legal counsel may not be necessary.
July 28, 2025 - Articles
For community associations, few issues require more careful balancing of the individual rights of owners and the collective community interests than accommodation requests for emotional support animals (“ESA”). Under the federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), state fair housing laws, and local fair housing ordinances, qualified disabled owners are entitled to reside with an ESA even in a condominium, cooperative, or homeowners association with restrictive covenants that limit or prohibit animals on the property. For other residents who intended to live in an animal-free or small animal community, ESA’s can create concerns about health and safety. For the board, ESA’s can give rise to issues such as property damage and noise complaints. Given the need to balance these sometimes competing interests while properly and timely addressing reasonable accommodation requests for ESAs, prudent boards should establish policies and procedures for handling such accommodation requests.
February 10, 2023 - Presentations
May 20, 2022 - Presentations
The Whiteford Piedmont & Tidewater Committee provides tips on running successful member and board meetings taking it step-by-step and breaking down the component parts.
September 14, 2021 - Articles
In 2016, HUD adopted new guidelines acknowledging the obligation of housing providers, such as community associations, to prevent severe or pervasive offensive remarks or hostile behavior based on a person’s race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin. See 81 FR 63054 (2016). Under the new guidelines, community association boards must exercise proper care when they receive complaints that residents are being discriminatorily harassed in the community.
March 2, 2021 - Articles
A growing interest in a clean and alternative energy source led the Virginia General Assembly to adopt the "Virginia Clean Economy Act" in 2020. Due to the Act's adoption, companies selling solar energy collection devices have increased solicitations in community associations. Boards of directors are seeing a resulting increase in the number of applications for solar panel installations in their communities. Therefore, this is a good time for associations to review their existing policies that relate to solar panels and consider what, if any, reasonable regulations they should adopt given the strictures of the Act.
April 8, 2020 - Presentations
This webinar is for community association managers and board members regarding Fair Housing laws and animals.
March 9, 2020 - Articles
On January 28, 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued an FHEO Notice, which provides additional guidance to housing providers in assessing a person’s request to have an animal as a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”). The full text of the notice can be found
here.
This document replaces HUD’s prior guidance on assistance animals from 2013 and includes particularly detailed direction to housing providers, such as community associations, regarding protocols they should use in assessing a reasonable accommodation request for an animal and specific questions they can ask of disabled persons and their health care providers. Further, HUD addresses the information from a disabled owner that does and does not reasonably support a request for an accommodation, and dismisses as insufficiently reliable documentation from websites that sell certificates, registrations, and licensing documents to anyone who answers certain questions or participates in a short interview and pays a fee.
February 6, 2020 - Articles
Almost invariably, a limitation on use of units or lots for “residential purposes only” is one of the first covenants found in governing documents. But, where should one look to in determining what qualifies as permissible “residential purposes” when your association’s restrictive covenants say nothing more? Virginia courts do not favor restrictions on the use of real property and construe restrictive covenants strictly, resolving substantial doubt or ambiguity in favor of the free use of property and against restrictions.
February 6, 2020 - Newsletters
Editor's Note
Meet the Piedmont & Tidewater Committee
Is That a "Residential Purpose"? Using Virginia Statutes and Municipal Ordinances to Clarify Restrictive Covenants on Non-Residential Uses
Protections Afforded to Your Neighbors in the Military: The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act for Community Associations
February 6, 2020 - Articles
Community associations, as a general rule, have greater success in collecting delinquent assessments if they act promptly to collect such amounts from the delinquent owner. Federal law, however, makes this more difficult and time consuming when the delinquent owner is a military service member. The same law can delay any lawsuit involving a service member, including those brought for covenant enforcement. Associations are not without enforcement options when dealing with service member owners, but should prepare themselves for legal proceedings to take longer and involve greater cost. To avoid or reduce these difficulties, associations should consider using their internal procedures to resolve delinquencies and covenant disputes with service members before proceeding with a lawsuit.
May 1, 2019 - 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Events
During a complimentary luncheon, Marla J. Diaz, Partner at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP, Theresa Melson, Vice President, Jessica M. Knutsen, Vice President, and Andrew Schlaffer, Vice President at USI Insurance will discuss how to handle insurance claims.
July 5, 2017 - Articles
The Board of Supervisors for Fairfax County has created a working group to draft zoning regulations for Short-Term Rentals in the County and to establish a registry. The working group is seeking input from community members who have a vested interest in this issue.
April 4, 2017 - Articles
As the weather starts to warm up, it is time for community associations to start planning for the pool season. Getting ready for the pool season does not just involve making sure that the pool company has removed the cover and filled the pool. For many associations, this is also the time of year that the associations review their pool rules to insure that they meet the association’s needs and that they comply with the applicable fair housing laws. For associations with delinquent owners, it is also a time to contemplate suspending pool privileges for those owners.
January 10, 2017 - 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Events
What can the board do to increase the likelihood of a smooth and effective assessment collection process? What recourse does the association board have to manage delinquencies? What are examples of successful collection strategies? Tune in for the live program on Fairfax County Government Channel 16 on Tuesday, January 10, 2017. Michelle L. Thompson, Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Branch; Marla Diaz, attorney with Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, LLP and James L. Claggett, Jr.
November 7, 2016 - Articles
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently adopted new federal rules, pursuant to its authority under the federal Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), which will potentially have a significant impact on community associations. These new rules took effect on October 14, 2016. This alert will outline the new rules, their significance for community associations, and some initial recommendations for actions that associations can take in response.
September 10, 2016 - September 11, 2016 - (All day) - Events
2016 Burke Centre Conservancy Annual Festival. For more information, please contact events@wtplaw.com
June 6, 2016 - (All day) - Events
Eight attorneys from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP will play in the charity golf tournament to support Associa Cares.
Please contact events@wtplaw.com for more information.
May 4, 2016 - May 7, 2016 - (All day) - Events
Three Partners from our Community Association Group will attend the CAI Annual Conference and Expo. Drew Terrell and Marla Diaz are conducting an educational session at the conference.
April 21, 2016 - 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Events
In preparation for the start of the pool season, Marla Diaz will be leading a discussion on the impact that the federal Fair Housing Act and state and local fair housing laws have on pool rules adopted by community associations. Can associations require children to be supervised at the pool? Do associations have to allow emotional support animals in the pool area? Are 15 minute swim breaks for children really illegal?
Please RSVP to events@wtplaw.com or contact Rachel directly at 703.280.3383
April 13, 2016 - 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM - Events
Due to popular demand, Marla Diaz will be adding an additional date for her discussion on the impact that the federal Fair Housing Act and state and local fair housing laws have on pool rules adopted by community associations.
Please RSVP to events@wtplaw.com or contact Rachel directly at 703.280.3383
June 25, 2015 - (All day) - Events
Marla Diaz will be teaching a CLE course on Advanced Trial Tactics for the National Business Institute.
June 4, 2015 - June 6, 2015 - (All day) - Events
Marla Diaz has been invited to be the keynote speaker at the Art Crime and Cultural Heritage program. Additional information can be found here.
May 5, 2015 - 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Events
Marla Diaz will be featured live on Fairfax County Government Channel 16's, "Your Community, You're Connected."
The Anatomy of a Successful Community Association. This is your opportunity to call in or e-mail your questions related to homeowner or condominium association management or living.
March 20, 2015 - Articles
Marla Diaz was quoted in length in WTOP’s article, “Judge Delays Ruling on Landmark Express Lanes Case.” The Judge's decision could have a significant impact on users of Virginia's Express Lanes. Marla argues the fines charged to her client are excessive and violate the 8th Amendment and the Virginia Constitution.
January 29, 2015 - 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM - Events
The BMA invites the public to view the recently recovered Renoir Painting "On the Shore of the Seine" and listen to the riveting story of its theft decades ago and the legal wrangling required to bring it home to the Museum. Presenters: Doreen Bolger, the Director of the BMA, and Marla J. Diaz, the lawyer from Whiteford Taylor and Preston who represented the Museum in court.
November 14, 2014 - 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM - Events
September 25, 2014 - 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM - Events
June 26, 2014 - 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM - Events
This all-day seminar presented by NBI will earn 6.5 CLE credits in Virginia, and will feature panelists from six different law firms on all aspects of presenting your case at trial.
For more information, call 800.930.6182.
May 20, 2014 - 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Events
Why is building community important? What are some successful best practices for building community? How can communities do a better job of addressing the intergenerational needs of communities? Tune to Fairfax County Government Channel 16 on Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m. for the live TV program, Your Community, Your Call: Building Community. This is your opportunity to call in or e-mail your questions related to homeowner or condominium association management or living.
April 8, 2014 - Articles
No one who becomes a board member for their community association does so with the idea that they want to discriminate against their neighbors. Yet, more and more boards are facing discrimination accusations under the Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act. It is critical, therefore, for board members - and the managers and lawyers who assist them – to understand the civil rights laws that apply to them and how these laws can affect the day to day operation of the community association.
January 24, 2014 - (All day) - Events
Three WTP lawyers from the Community Associations practice will present at the Community Associations Institute annual Law Seminar on the topic,
January 10, 2014 - Articles
“A federal court judge made a ruling Friday that will award title to an 1879 painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir to the Baltimore Museum of Art — though it may be some time before the tiny water view of the River Seine makes it back home to Baltimore. Judge Leonie M. Brinkema of the U.S. District Court of Eastern Virginia granted the Baltimore Museum of Art's motion for a summary judgment and rejected a Virginia woman's claim that "Paysage Bords de Seine," which is valued at somewhere between $22,000 and $100,000, should belong to her.
November 12, 2013 - Articles
Evolving community needs and changing legal requirements often present a community association board of directors with a daunting task: amending the association’s governing documents. A well-crafted amendment that complies with applicable law is the obvious objective of any board of directors that is considering proposing revisions to its governing documents. Developing this amendment document itself is generally the easy part of the amendment process if the association is represented by an experienced community association attorney.
April 30, 2013 - 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM - Events
This presentation is hosted by the Washington chapter of the Community Associations Institute for board members and managers of HOAs, Condos and Co-ops.
September 22, 2012 - 8:00 AM - 12:01 PM - Events
This workshop will give property managers and interested board members a quick and easy-to-digest survey of the important laws and changes that affect how your common interest property should be managed.
Topics will include:
