Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

15 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5544 (2026)

 Dues and assessments.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 5544.  Dues and assessments.

(a)  General rule.--A nonprofit corporation may levy dues or assessments, or both, on its members, if authority to do so is conferred by the bylaws, subject to any limitations contained in the bylaws. The dues or assessments, or both, may be imposed upon all members of the same class either alike or in different amounts or proportions, and upon a different basis upon different classes of members. Members of one or more classes may be made exempt from either dues or assessments, or both, in the manner or to the extent provided in the bylaws.

(b)  Amount and method of collection.--The amount of the levy and method of collection of the dues or assessments, or both, may be fixed in the bylaws, or the bylaws may authorize the board of directors or other body to fix the amount of the dues or assessments from time to time, and make them payable at the time and by the methods of collection as the board of directors or other body may prescribe.

(c)  Enforcement of payment.--A nonprofit corporation may make bylaws necessary to enforce the collection of dues or assessments, including provisions for the termination of membership, upon reasonable notice, for nonpayment of dues or assessments, and for reinstatement of membership.

(July 9, 2013, P.L.476, No.67, eff. 60 days)

 

Cross References.  Section 5544 is referred to in section 5769 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8 cases, 1992–2017 · leading case: Hart v. Manning, 828 A.2d 5 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2003).
Hart v. Manning, 828 A.2d 5 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2003). · cites it 4× “*11 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544. .The appeal was initially brought before the Pennsylvania Superior Court.”
Anderson v. Colonial Country Club, 739 A.2d 1118 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1999). · cites it 2× “Both parties rely on different portions of section 5544(a) of the Non-Profit Corporation Law of 1988 (Non-Profit Law), 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544(a), to support their respective positions.”
Huddleson v. Lake Watawga Prop. Owners Ass'n, 76 A.3d 68 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2013). “Pursuant to 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544(a), a nonprofit corporation is entitled to ‘levy dues or assessments, or both, .”
Fogarty v. Hemlock Farms Cmty. Ass'n, 685 A.2d 241 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1996). “Specifically, HFCA relies on Section 5544(a) of the NCL, 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544(a), relating to fees, dues and assessments, which provides: (a) General rule.”
Kelso Woods Ass'n v. Swanson, 692 A.2d 1132 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1997). “We would note further that, pursuant to Section 5544(a) of the Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988, “[a] nonprofit corporation may levy dues or assessments, or both, on its members, if authority to do so is conferred by the bylaws, subject to any limitations therein imposed.”
Fawn Lake Forest Ass'n v. Tussel, 24 Pa. D. & C.4th 70 (1995). · cites it 2× “15 Pa.C.S. §5544(a) of that law states that: *80 “A nonprofit corporation may levy dues or assessments, or both, on its members, if authority to do so is conferred by the bylaws, subject to any limitations therein contained.”
N. Chester Cnty. Sportsmen's Club v. J. Muller -- Appeal of: J. Muller (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). “15 Pa. C.S. § 5544(c) (emphasis added). The only method of or basis for termination of membership provided in the Club’s 2014 bylaws, other than expulsion by a two-thirds vote of the members, was termination of membership for failure to pay dues after a 30-day written notice of…”
Lake Heritage Prop. Owners Ass'n v. Bartell, 14 Pa. D. & C.4th 545 (1992). “The legislature has manifestly, not specifically, authorized imposition or collection of attorney’s fees by this provision.”
— 15 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5544(a) — 5 cases
Anderson v. Colonial Country Club, 739 A.2d 1118 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1999). “Both parties rely on different portions of section 5544(a) of the Non-Profit Corporation Law of 1988 (Non-Profit Law), 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544(a), to support their respective positions.”
Huddleson v. Lake Watawga Prop. Owners Ass'n, 76 A.3d 68 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2013). “Pursuant to 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544(a), a nonprofit corporation is entitled to ‘levy dues or assessments, or both, .”
Fogarty v. Hemlock Farms Cmty. Ass'n, 685 A.2d 241 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1996). “Specifically, HFCA relies on Section 5544(a) of the NCL, 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544(a), relating to fees, dues and assessments, which provides: (a) General rule.”
Kelso Woods Ass'n v. Swanson, 692 A.2d 1132 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1997). “We would note further that, pursuant to Section 5544(a) of the Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988, “[a] nonprofit corporation may levy dues or assessments, or both, on its members, if authority to do so is conferred by the bylaws, subject to any limitations therein imposed.”
Fawn Lake Forest Ass'n v. Tussel, 24 Pa. D. & C.4th 70 (1995). “15 Pa.C.S. §5544(a) of that law states that: *80 “A nonprofit corporation may levy dues or assessments, or both, on its members, if authority to do so is conferred by the bylaws, subject to any limitations therein contained.”
— 15 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5544(c) — 3 cases
Hart v. Manning, 828 A.2d 5 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2003). “*11 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544. .The appeal was initially brought before the Pennsylvania Superior Court.”
N. Chester Cnty. Sportsmen's Club v. J. Muller -- Appeal of: J. Muller (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2017). “15 Pa. C.S. § 5544(c) (emphasis added). The only method of or basis for termination of membership provided in the Club’s 2014 bylaws, other than expulsion by a two-thirds vote of the members, was termination of membership for failure to pay dues after a 30-day written notice of…”
Lake Heritage Prop. Owners Ass'n v. Bartell, 14 Pa. D. & C.4th 545 (1992). “The legislature has manifestly, not specifically, authorized imposition or collection of attorney’s fees by this provision.”
— 15 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5544(e) — 1 case
Hart v. Manning, 828 A.2d 5 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2003). “*11 15 Pa.C.S. § 5544. .The appeal was initially brought before the Pennsylvania Superior Court.”
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