Quick Lookup: Condominium Election Quorum Requirements (NY)
What quorum is required for a New York condominium board election, what happens when quorum isn't met, and where to find the governing documents that set the threshold.
Question
What quorum is required for a New York condominium board election, and what happens when quorum isn’t met?
Answer
Quorum for a condominium unit-owner meeting (including elections) in New York is set by the condominium’s bylaws, not by statute. There is no default quorum in the New York Real Property Law (RPL Article 9-B) — the offering plan and bylaws control.
Where to find the governing threshold
- Bylaws — typically Section [X] (“Meetings of Unit Owners” or “Annual Meeting”). Look for language like “A quorum at any meeting of unit owners shall consist of unit owners holding [X]% of the common interest.”
- Offering Plan — the original plan filed with the NY Attorney General’s office (available via ACRIS or the AG’s Real Estate Finance Bureau). The Plan’s bylaws are the starting point; check whether the board has amended them since.
- Recorded amendments — bylaw amendments must generally be recorded with the county clerk. Check ACRIS for the building’s BBL for any recorded amendments post-offering.
Common thresholds
Most NYC condominium bylaws set quorum at 33⅓% of common interest (one-third). Some set it higher (50%) or lower (25%). The threshold is by common interest percentage, not by unit count, unless the bylaws specify otherwise.
When quorum isn’t met
If quorum is not achieved, the meeting is typically adjourned to a later date. Many bylaws provide that the adjourned meeting may proceed with a reduced quorum (often those present at the adjourned meeting constitute a quorum). Read the specific adjournment clause in your bylaws — this is where elections are frequently manipulated by boards that prefer low turnout.
Primary sources
- NY RPL Article 9-B (§339-v et seq.) — establishes the condominium form but defers governance details to bylaws
- The building’s recorded Declaration and Bylaws (ACRIS, county clerk)
- Any recorded bylaw amendments
Staff-researched quick lookup. Not legal advice. For case-specific questions about your building’s election, consult a New York real estate attorney.