Homeowners' Association As Vacation Destination: Short-Term Rental Restrictions in HOAs

Even if a community has a valid reason to restrict short-term rentals, it still needs legal and/or contractual authority to support the restriction. Typically, the authority comes from an HOA's declaration, from state law, or a combination of the two. A declaration is a contract among property owners in a community. The owners jointly agree to accept certain obligations and restrictions on how properties in the community can be used. If everyone complies, the community as a whole will benefit—or at least that is the idea.

Deed RestrictionsChristopher R. Moore, Esq.November 18, 2020Rental Restrictions

Religious Freedom in Homeowners Associations

Up until the 1968 passage of the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”), homeowners associations had a lot of leeway to interfere with religious practices or promote particular denominations. But now that the FHA is firmly entrenched in the national lexicon, there are significant limitations on the power an HOA has to restrict religion. The Fair Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. §3604(b), makes it unlawful for “housing providers” (including community associations) “[t]o discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, or national origin.”

Deed RestrictionsChristopher R. Moore, Esq.October 28, 2019FHA, Discrimination, Religious Freedom

What About the Children? HOA Age Restrictions and FHA Proscriptions

Restrictive covenants in homeowners’ associations are not unusual—nearly every community has them. For homeowners, the restrictions are something of a trade-off. You accept a limitation on how you can use your property because, if everyone else in the community does, too, the neighborhood as a whole will be better off. ‘If we all agree to keep our yards well-maintained and our houses painted nice-looking colors, we all benefit from a more attractive neighborhood with higher property values.’ Courts view HOA restrictions along the same lines as any contract and presume the restrictions are enforceable unless there’s a specific reason why the restriction should not be enforced.

Deed RestrictionsChristopher R. Moore, Esq.October 6, 2019FHA, Age Restrictions, Discrimination

Pleasant Pastime or Privacy Peril? Piloting Drones in HOA Communities

For community associations, the challenge is to craft an unmanned-aircraft policy that balances the interests of amateur drone operators against the rights of their neighbors. On one hand, drones unquestionably offer many practical advantages, and piloting a drone can be a fun and rewarding hobby. On the other, homeowners have a right to a safe and nuisance-free community where they can enjoy their property and families without any unwarranted intrusions—whether by man or machine. It can be tricky to find that cozy middle ground, but doing so gets easier if you know a little more about the positives and negative aspects of drones.

Deed RestrictionsChristopher R. Moore, Esq.September 23, 2019Drones

Freedom in Associations: Exercising Free-Speech Rights in an HOA

Freedom of speech is perhaps the most cherished and most important protection provided by the United States Constitution. The delegates to the Constitutional Convention viewed citizens’ right to speak their minds without fear of government retribution as so important that “freedom of speech” is enshrined in the very First Amendment of the Constitution. Indeed, many Convention delegates refused to ratify the Constitution absent an unqualified guaranty that the new government would be forbidden from “abridging the freedom of speech.”

Deed RestrictionsChristopher R. Moore, Esq.June 10, 2019Free-Speech, Flags, Signs, Discrimination

HOAs and Group Homes: The Challenge of Developing a Fair and Compliant Policy

Zoning ordinances and HOA covenants often disallow commercial uses of properties in residential areas. A group home that accepts payments for services provided at the home is almost certainly engaging in commercial activity. But, although the plain language of an ordinance or covenant might appear to prohibit such a group home, federal law forbids state and local governments or HOAs from impeding certain protected uses (more on that later). Importantly, there are different categories of group homes, and the laws protecting each home depend in large part on what kind of home is involved.

Clearing The Air in an HOA: Guide For Members Dealing With Secondhand Smoke

The neatest method of adopting a smoking restriction in an HOA community is to include the smoking policy in the declaration when the association is initially formed. For already-existing associations, though, a new smoking rule will require an amendment to the HOA’s declaration. Typically, this involves approval by member vote, followed by recording of the amended declaration in the county land records. Amendment can require only a simple majority, a super-majority, or even unanimous approval of members – depending on the declaration and state law.

Deed RestrictionsChristopher R. Moore, Esq.March 29, 2019Secondhand smoke, smoking laws

Parking Enforcement by Homeowners' Associations

One of the issues faced by homeowners’ associations and their members is what types of rules and regulations can apply to parking within a community. While parking regulations can help to assure that owners have reasonable parking options available to them, they can also be so restrictive that it is difficult to have guests visit. In addition, in some cases, associations that have exerted too much power in this area have begun issuing hefty fines for parking violations which become further bones of contention within members of the community. This article is a basic overview of the HOA’s authority to regulate and enforce parking.

Deed RestrictionsLynn M. Smith, Esq.October 18, 2018Parking Rules, Speeding Ticket, Tow, Towing

The Do's and Don'ts of HOA Rental Restrictions

Rental restrictions undeniably limit the free-use of property. Nonetheless, courts throughout the country have consistently upheld such restrictions when rationally calculated to promote the development’s greater good. Even blanket rental prohibitions have been reluctantly upheld in some states, as long as the association has a legitimate purpose for the restriction. “Legitimate purposes” justifying rental restrictions typically involve maintenance of property values and promotion of community standards. Along with serving a legitimate purpose, to be enforceable a rental restriction must be a “reasonable” means of accomplishing the stated goal. Rental restrictions come in several forms, two of the most popular of which are caps and lease restrictions.

Enforcing Pet Restrictions: What's Allowed And What's Not?

Pets can be a welcome addition to your family. A loyal dog, a comforting cat, or even a calming fish tank can vivify a household and provide a soothing distraction from the daily grind. But, unfortunately, pets can also occasionally become an annoyance to neighbors. Overly abundant cats or noisy dogs negatively affect a development’s quality of life and aesthetic appeal. Aiming to curtail potential nuisances, many homeowners’ associations have adopted pet restrictions within their declarations, establishing rules regulating members’ pet choices and practices. Learn what homeowners' association can (and cannot) do under the law when it comes to enforcing pet restrictions.

An Owner's Freedom To Display The U.S. Flag In An HOA Community

Although a Homeowners Association has the authority to rule a community in accordance with its governing documents, its scope of authority is limited under federal and state laws. For instance, an Association cannot adopt, or enforce a rule that prohibits owners from displaying the United States flag on their property, because the owners have the right to do so, under the law.

Deed RestrictionsTammy Y. HayesAugust 18, 2017Federal Law, Flags

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