Definition
The recurring, budgeted assessment owners pay on a set schedule — the formal term for ongoing HOA dues.
A regular assessment is the ongoing, budgeted charge each owner pays on a fixed schedule — the formal name for what most people call dues. It's distinguished from a special assessment, which is a one-time charge for an extraordinary cost.
Regular assessments are calculated from the annual budget: total projected operating costs plus reserve contributions, divided among owners according to the formula in the governing documents. Setting them accurately each year is the core of sound HOA budgeting.