Redwood Shores Owners Association ('RSOA') is the umbrella home owners association for all residential developments built since 1981 in the premier, award-winning master planned community of Redwood Shores, a neighborhood of Redwood City, California.  Here are just a few of the beautiful residential developments in Redwood Shores -- California Harbor Court, Ventana Del Mar, and The Cove at California Bayside:

More about RSOA ...

There are 26 wonderful residential developments (each with its own local home owners association) and 4 beautiful rental apartment complexes within RSOA's legal jurisdictional boundaries. 

RSOA is a total of 3,928 households, comprised of an estimated population of 12,000 residents.  That is approximately 80% of the overall population of Redwood Shores, and around 15% of Redwood City. 
RSOA provides for the management, administration, maintenance, preservation, and architectural control of the residence lots and common area within its geographic boundaries. 

RSOA also promotes the health, safety, welfare, and overall residential quality of life, for its member residents.

By virtue of your ownership of property within the legal boundaries of RSOA, you are automatically a member and enjoy the benefit of the enduring appeal of the special "look and feel" of the Shores.

RSOA's Mission Statement:

TO PROTECT Redwood Shores residential property values through the creation and enforcement of CC&R's, By-laws, and guidelines according to a Master Plan TO REPRESENT solely and exclusively the interests of Redwood Shores homeowners and residents TO ADVOCATE optimal quality of life from a Redwood Shores residential perspective

Why RSOA?

Many people ask some version of  "Why RSOA" at various times during their residence in Redwood Shores.  Following are some of the "WHY" questions that are asked, along with some fairly simple, non-technical, answers. For those who want more detailed, legal answers, look at the RSOA Articles of Incorporation, the By-Laws and the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&R's) in your home purchase file.

Why does the RSOA exist?

Simply put, to protect the value and desirability of all properties within RSOA's jurisdictional boundaries. 

In more detail, the Redwood Shores Owners Association ('RSOA') is a Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation, incorporated in 1981, by the owners of the yet undeveloped land in Redwood Shores.  The RSOA was created, on behalf of the then current and future property owners, to oversee the exterior design of the development and any redevelopment of all properties covered by the RSOA.  The intent was to assure that any developments, building design, and remodels adhere to very high standards, so that the value and desirability of owning in Redwood Shores is maintained at a very high level.

What are the operating principles?

The Board of Directors (composed solely of volunteer members) operates RSOA on three basic principles:
(1)  To reasonably pursue RSOA's primary mission to preserve and promote the unique aesthetic "look and feel" of our neighborhoods;
(2)  To perform this mission with fiscal responsibility; and,
(3)  To treat every member as if they were a next-door neighbor.

Protecting and maintaining the high value and desirability of property in Redwood Shores sounds good, but what does that mean to me?

Specifically, the RSOA oversight has resulted in the value and desirability of your property remaining higher than that of most properties along the San Francisco Bay. 

What you won't see...

• Houses in your neighborhood that are painted some loud or garish color;
• A house across the street remodeled to a unique and non-conforming design that doesn't look like part of your neighborhood;
• A patchwork of architectural styles existing within a single neighborhood;
• Inappropriate construction or plant material on the lagoon banks; or,
• Other visually jarring anomalies as viewed from public spaces.
  

What you will see...

• Beautiful sweeping views down the waterways and common areas;
• New development that is consistent in aesthetic style and quality with the rest of the Shores neighborhoods;
• Modifications that are consistent with the unique character of each neighborhood; and,
• A special aesthetic "look and feel" within a major area of the Shores.

What else does the RSOA do for me?

Maintaining high residential property values is the main benefit.  However, the RSOA has the responsibility to own and maintain a few Common Areas within Redwood Shores.  Every member of the RSOA has a "right  . . . of enjoyment" in these areas.  Most areas are simply landscaped for the beauty and enjoyment of all. One, however, is a marina and park for the use of all RSOA members. 

Where and what is the "marina?"

The Marina is located on the South side of Marine Parkway just West of Bridge Parkway.  It provides access to the "diamond" section of the main waterway for all property owners in Redwood Shores.  It is very valuable to all of the residents whose homes do not have direct access to the beautiful waterways in Redwood Shores.  The marina has been named  the Don Warren Marina to honor the person who has been instrumental in the aesthetically pleasing development of Redwood Shores over many of the past 20 years.

Why do I have to pay dues to the RSOA?  Do I have a choice?

The CC&R's prescribe that every owner of residential property within the area covered by the RSOA is a mandatory member of the RSOA.  Every member must pay a proportionate share of the costs of operation of the RSOA.  Therefore, dues (or 'regular assessment') are mandatory.  Dues are invoiced on an annual basis at the end of each November and are payable by the following January 15th.

Note:  Owners often confuse Redwood Shores Owners Association ('RSOA') with the volunteer organization, Redwood Shores Community Association ('RSCA'), whose members are businesses, renters, and property owners within and outside of RSOA.  Membership in RSOA is mandatory by virtue of owning a property within RSOA's jurisdictional area.  In contrast, membership in RSCA is voluntary.

How is the regular assessment ('dues') determined?

The total number of residential units within the RSOA divides the total annual cost of operations of the RSOA.  The owner of each residential unit is responsible for the payment of their share of the costs of operating the RSOA -- which results in maintaining the high value and desirability of all covered properties.

I know a couple who lives off the Redwood Shores Parkway.  Why don't they have to pay dues to the RSOA?

A few of the subdivisions along the Redwood Shores Parkway already existed at the time of the creation of the RSOA and are, therefore, outside of RSOA's jurisdictional boundaries.  The owners of those few properties do not have to pay dues to the RSOA since they are not members.  The responsibility of maintaining the high value and desirability of those properties falls to individual architectural design review committees that have been created in accordance with the CC&R's of each of those subdivisions.

I receive dues statements from the RSOA, the RSCA, and my own homeowners association.  Do I have to pay them all?  Why or why not?

Most owners of residential property within RSOA's boundaries will also have a local homeowners association ('local HOA').  Membership in these associations is mandatory by virtue of ownership.  These local HOAs maintain their common areas, streets, and other infrastructure.  Their operating costs are recoverd through monthly HOA dues paid by each property owner.

Similarly, RSOA is an umbrella HOA.  Membership is also mandatory by virtue of property ownership.  RSOA's operating costs are recovered through dues assessed annually.

You are legally obligated to pay both of these dues -- your local HOA's and RSOA's.

Owners of any property within the Redwood Shores neighborhood of Redwood City are often asked to become members of the Redwood Shores Community Association ('RSCA').  Membership in that organization is optional, so payment of dues to them is also optional.  Please note, however, that payment of dues to either the RSCA or the RSOA does NOT cover membership in the other.

How do I find out about what RSOA is doing?
Every member is welcome to attend the regular meetings of the Board of Directors.  Typically, these meetings are on the last Thursday of the month and held at the offices of The Manor Association (353 Main Street, Redwood City).  (Exceptions to this schedule occur in November and December where meetings are on the third Thursday -- due to holiday schedules.)  Go to the "Meeting Calendar" on this website for the exact date and time of Board meeting.  You may also view the minutes of past Board meetings by going to Resource Center on this website and open the folder called Board Room.

Every Fall, the association mails to each owner the Annual Notices and Disclosures kit.  It contains important information such as:  financial statements (audited reports of prior years); the proposed annual budget for the coming year; a variety of legal notices required by CA laws; and, billing statement for the upcoming year's regular assessment.

Every January, you will receive the Notice of Annual Meeting.  Every owner is welcome to attend RSOA's Annual Meeting which is typically held on the third Thursday of each February.  This event is the most important of the year as every owner has the right to vote for candidates for Board of Directors and indicate their approval of a motion to carry over excess assessments into the next fiscal (calendar) year -- as well as meet the Board, other members, and leaders in the Redwood City and Shores community.

And, of course, any Board member would be delighted to hear from you.  Just refer to this website "RSOA Contact List" for the Board of Directors and its Management Company (The Manor Association Inc.).

How might I become involved with RSOA?
While RSOA's operation is assisted by paid staff, much of the work remains on the shoulders of volunteers -- owners just like you who wish to preserve the special "look and feel" of RSOA neighborhoods.   Members in good standing may serve as a committee member or Board member.

Committee Membership
If you are interested in managing the use and maintenance of the marina, there are openings for the Don Warren Marina Committee.

If you are interested in how RSOA communicates with its members, there are openings for the Communications Committee.  Time commitment ranges from 1-3 hours per month.

If you are interested in becoming directly involved in managing architectural and/or landscaping modifications, you should consider the Modifications Committee ('MC') or the Covenants Committee ('CC').

Contact the respective committee chair for more information.

Board Membership
There are 11 Board members -- seven to represent each of the Areas and four At-Large members.  To ensure diversity of representation, no more than two Board members may live in the same local HOA.  The term for a Director is three years.  Each year, the terms expire for one-third of the Board seats.  Thus, one-third of the Board seats are up for election by the membership each year.

Candidates for the Board must be owners in good standing of a property within RSOA's boundaries.  A Board candidate should be able to "keep the big picture in mind" while taking action at the policy, procedure, or operational level.  Being on the Board will require approximately 3-4 hours per month.

If you are interested in being a candidate for the Board, please contact the President of the Board (who is typically the Nominating Committee Chair).