Homeowners association law

November 10, 2022

New CAI Public Policy on Sign, Flag Restrictions in HOAs Calls for Allowing Communities to Decide What’s Right for Them

by Laura Manning-Hudson

Laura Manning-Hudson

The Community Associations Institute, the leading organization representing the interests of community associations, recently brought some added clarity into the national conversation over restrictions of political and social-cause yard signs and flags in HOA communities. It issued a new public policy recommendation in October prior to the midterm elections to help its state legislative committees chart their work on this topic.

The organization’s new Political and Noncommercial Signs and Flags Public Policy reports that 13 states already have laws addressing signs. It notes that the First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech without restriction by government entities or state actors, but it does not apply to private parties such as community associations.

CAI-signs-policy-300x204 “CAI respects the right to freedom of speech set forth in the constitutions of the United States and various states but recognizes that right is not unlimited. CAI also recognizes and supports the rights of residential community associations to reasonably regulate political and noncommercial signs within communities in a manner consistent with federal, state, and local laws. CAI supports legislation that recognizes the core principles of self-governance, self-regulation, and co-ownership of common property and the community association housing model balanced with owners’ rights of free speech. Because each community is unique, legislation should allow an association to develop reasonable rules and regulations concerning the time, location, materials, size, number, and manner of where political and noncommercial signs, political displays, or political activities are located while preserving freedom of political expression,” reads the organization’s policy statement.

October 25, 2022

Residents Cry “Fowl” Against HOA’s Restrictions on Backyard Chickens

by Laura Manning-Hudson

Laura Manning-Hudson

A recent article in the Pensacola News Journal focused on an uproar over an HOA’s restrictions against backyard chickens in a case that is very similar to one I wrote about in this blog in September 2021.

The newspaper reports that Holley By the Sea homeowners in Santa Rosa County fear their HOA may be moving toward a complete ban of their feathery friends. Approximately 100 of the 3,500 residents in the sprawling community own chickens, according to resident Mark Chapman.

He says the community’s residents take pride in their chickens and small backyard coops, and some fear the HOA is seeking to limit or possibly ban chickens from the neighborhood.

chckns-300x188 Chapman tells the newspaper that chicken ownership had not been a problem until fairly recently when the new board of directors decided to make it one. He says the board has begun its efforts by limiting the size of backyard chicken coops. One resident was ordered to reduce the size of her coop and lower its roof to no higher than six feet, even though Chapman has been allowed to keep his at seven feet. He says the new board president has stated he wishes to ban chickens in the community, and a Nov. 8 meeting has been scheduled on the issue.

September 25, 2022

Miami Herald Real Estate Law Column Authored by Roberto Blanch: “HOA Policies on Signs, Flags Require Diligent Discussion and Deliberation”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The firm’s latest Miami Herald “Real Estate Counselor” column was authored by partner Roberto C. Blanch and appears in today’s edition of the newspaper. The article, which is titled “HOA Policies on Signs, Flags Require Diligent Discussion and Deliberation,” focuses on the issues surrounding yard signs and flags in HOA communities that often arise prior to presidential and midterm elections. Roberto’s article reads:

. . . Many community associations have already established rules covering yard signs, flags and displays, as they have been a long-time cause of questions and concerns in gated enclaves. Even the Florida legislature weighed in on the matter years ago by enacting a state law prohibiting HOAs from banning respectful displays of the U.S. flag as well as the state flag and those of the branches of the armed services.

For community associations that have not yet addressed policies regarding yard signs and displays, taking a proactive approach may well be the most effective option for such a significant and recurring issue. Enacting policies could help to minimize the potential for discord that may arise if neighbors with opposing viewpoints try to outdo each other with walls of signs at their property lines. Not only would such displays be unsightly; they could also significantly compromise harmony within the community and the adherence to mutual respect among fellow owners/residents.

The place to start, as with most matters involving the enacting of new rules and restrictions, is with a careful review of an association’s governing documents by qualified legal counsel. The terms of an association’s declaration, by-laws and articles of incorporation — together with an analysis of the applicable statutes — will guide the decision establishing the approach which should be taken to make the changes. While at times it may be necessary to conduct and obtain votes of a community’s owners to amend the restrictive covenants, some restrictions may be more easily achieved by having the board of directors modify existing rules or enacting new rules.

September 19, 2022

Florida HOAs Can Restrict Vegetable Gardens

by Roberto C. Blanch

Roberto C. Blanch

A 2019 Florida law is sometimes a source of confusion for board members and owners in HOA communities over whether their association can restrict or ban yard vegetable gardens in their communities.

The uncertainty stems from the Section 604.71, Florida Statutes, which states that no county, municipality, or other political subdivision in Florida can regulate vegetable gardens on residential properties. However, HOAs, condominium associations and cooperatives do not fall under the category of “political subdivisions,” which are typically separate legal entities of a state that usually have specific governmental functions. Examples include a county, city, town, village, school district, and other subdivisions with a governmental legal status. Community associations are private not-for-profit corporations, and while they may govern over their communities, they are nongovernmental entities with powers that are codified by state law.

So, while counties and municipalities in Florida cannot regulate or ban front-yard vegetable gardens, HOAs can and often do restrict them.

Proponents of vegetable gardens in HOAs reference many benefits associated with permitting vegetable gardening within the boundaries of private lots within HOAs, including the promotion of sustainable food production, improved health and cost savings. However, those opposed to the activity within HOAs may reference some concerns, such as potential for attraction of pests and vermin, the creation of a mismatched aesthetic community landscape, and the possibility of overgrowth which may diminish visibility required for safe pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

September 4, 2022

Miami Herald Column by Michael Clark and Susan Odess: “Don’t Let Down Your Guard: Here Are Some Hurricane Prep, Recovery Reminders for Storm Season’s Second Half”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

Shareholders B. Michael Clark, Jr. and Susan C. Odess authored the latest edition of the firm’s “Real Estate Counselor” column appearing in today’s Miami Herald. The article, which is titled “Don’t Let Your Guard Down: Here Are Some Hurricane Prep, Recovery Reminders for Storm Season’s Second Half,” focuses on the types of activities and initiatives that condominium associations along the coast and other Florida community associations should be taking in advance of as well as in the aftermath of a severe hurricane. Their article reads:

. . . Given the precarious condition of the Florida insurance marketplace today, it behooves property owners and community associations throughout the state to take the upmost precautions to prepare for any storms and recoveries as the season draws to a close in November.

For condominium associations on or near the coast, they should consider pre-negotiated service contracts with vendors who typically assist in the aftermath of a storm. This can include water restoration companies to mitigate flooding, debris removal companies, and security providers.

If a storm is approaching, boards of directors should begin by ensuring they have up-to-date paper rosters of the current residents stored at a secure and accessible location. Accompanying it should be a copy of the governing documents, a certified copy of the insurance policy, bank account information, service provider contracts, and contact information for all residents, staff and vendors.

It is also highly advisable to take date-stamped videos and photos of the entire property, including all mechanical and common elements.

July 8, 2022

Effective Association Record Keeping Begins with Concise, Complete Meeting Minutes

by Laura Manning-Hudson

Laura Manning-Hudson

Community association board meetings are where the rubber meets the road for practically all association administrative matters. The agendas for these meetings and the minutes that ensue form a vital record of all the matters that have come before the directors of an association over the course of the entire lifespan of a community. Given the significance of the meetings, it is imperative for effective notes or “meeting minutes” to be kept to document all of the pertinent information from each and every official assembly.

As a general rule, meeting minutes should be thorough, but concise. They are not intended to be a transcript of everything said at a meeting.

Instead, the best approach is to start by listing the date, time and place of the meeting; listing the board members present/absent and additional participants such as the association property manager or attorney; and including the name of the individual taking the minutes. meet-300x166 A copy of the agenda and notice should be attached to the minutes.

Once all of that is out of the way, the minutes should include a list of all the issues and reports that were presented and discussed at the meeting. For each issue which resulted in a motion, the minutes should include the exact wording of the motion, the names of the directors who made the motion and seconded it, and whether the motion passed or failed.

July 3, 2022

Firm’s Miami Herald Real Estate Column by Lindsey Thurswell Lehr: “Community Associations Should Consider Amending Their Amendments Process”

by Siegfried Rivera

Siegfried Rivera

The latest edition of the firm’s Miami Herald “Real Estate Counselor” column appears in today’s edition of the newspaper and is authored by Lindsey Thurswell Lehr. The article, which is headlined “Community Associations Should Consider Amending Their Amendments Process,” focuses on the inability for many community associations to amend their governing documents, and it suggests a possible solution. Lindsey’s article reads:

. . . Declarations, covenants and bylaws are recorded in the local court registry and provided to all buyers prior to their purchase, as they essentially set the terms of the contract and serve as mini constitutions setting forth the rights and duties between unit owners and their association.

These governing documents are originally codified by a community’s developer, and they often include dated and problematic provisions that are in dire need of updating as communities grow and owners’ goals change.

However, amendments to an association’s recorded governing documents often require a vote of the unit-owner membership, and sometimes the documents demand a minimum approval of two-thirds or even three-quarters of all the owners for an amendment to be ratified.

Such voting thresholds are extremely difficult for most communities to achieve. In fact, many Florida communities have difficulty achieving the legally mandated minimum voter-participation requirements to conduct valid board member elections or hold membership meetings.

Indeed, changing the recorded governing documents is often significantly more difficult than matters requiring only a simple vote of the board of directors, but communities with troublesome and outdated provisions should still take the challenge head on and make it a priority.

June 13, 2022

Florida HOAs and Rooftop Solar: Some Restrictions Apply

by Laura Manning-Hudson

Laura Manning-Hudson

Given Florida’s nickname as the Sunshine State, it is only fitting that solar energy would be the state’s most popular and effective source of renewable energy. In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, renewable energy fueled approximately five percent of Florida’s in-state electricity generation in 2020, and almost two-thirds of that came from solar.

It appears to be a sure bet that rooftop solar installations will be growing in popularity in the years to come for homeowners across the state. For those who own properties in communities with homeowners associations, internet searches will quickly reveal that Florida associations are prohibited by law from blanket denials of such installations. However, that does not mean that they do not have a significant say in the manner and form of solar panel installations in order to maintain the community’s aesthetic standards.

solar-panels-300x200 The Florida Solar Rights Act protects homeowners who wish to install solar panels and other renewable energy devices on their property from outright bans. It provides that property owners may not be denied permission to install solar collectors and other renewable energy devices by HOAs or even local municipalities. The law expressly forbids binding agreements that limit access to renewable energy for dwellings.

However, the Act does allow for HOA architectural review boards and committees to determine the specific rooftop location where panels can be installed. Associations are therefore able to require homeowners to follow their set procedures for the prior review and approval of planned alterations and improvements. Review committees may request diagrams and information on the dimensions, location(s), and layout of proposed solar panels, including illustrations. They can also review and approve all the related wiring and electrical components, as well as the proposed height of the panels from the roof.

March 22, 2022

Boca HOA Sues Homeowner for Dilapidated Property

by Michael Toback

Michael Toback

For homeowners’ associations governing communities of single-family homes, one of the most difficult balancing acts to uphold is that of enforcement actions required against noncompliant homeowners over the physical state of their property. In the minds of many Americans, community associations have a negative perception and stigma for overzealous rules enforcement, but yet they cannot allow individual owners to flout important policies that help to maintain their communities’ property values.

After unsuccessful attempts to persuade an intractable owner to comply with the language provided in an association’s governing documents, the time may come to file a lawsuit against the violating member. While such action should not be taken lightly due to the potential costs and uncertainties of litigation, such lawsuits may be the only recourse left to associations facing obstinate owners who refuse to comply.

Such appears to be the case with a recent lawsuit filed by the Boca Raton Bath & Tennis Club HOA against homeowner Lynn Min for alleged violations of several provisions found within the community’s governing documents. The suit, which was covered recently by www.BocaNewsNow.com, states:

“Owner is in violation of the provisions cited [in the governing documents] by virtue of their Property being in a state of disrepair, including a lack of maintenance to the home’s structure and roof, the exterior of the Property needs to be painted, the sod needs to be replaced, and the irrigation system is defective and needs to be repaired.”

September 29, 2021

Backyard Chicken Coop Draws HOA’s Ire and Negative TV News Coverage

by Laura Manning-Hudson

Laura Manning-Hudson

When it comes to coverage of community association disputes, nothing seems to draw the media’s attention more than quarrels involving the forced removal of unapproved family pets and service animals. One of the most recent examples is a report by CBS-12 News on a Boca Raton family that is fighting to keep its chickens and backyard coop, which they have maintained for the last 10 years.

The station’s report chronicles how the Ashley Park Homeowners Association has given Damir Kadribasic and his family a 14-day notice to get rid of the birds or start facing a fine of $100 per day. Kadribasic has retained an attorney and apparently intends to put up a fight. He says he has had the birds for the last 10 years with no complaints, and he showed the station a petition signed by his neighbors demanding that the HOA allow the chickens to stay.

chckns-300x188

The family’s attorney says they were given a notice that consisted of a single sentence, and the association did not specify which bylaws were being violated. However, the station obtained a copy of the community’s bylaws, which do indeed state that only common domestic pets are permitted. To that, the owners’ attorney notes that the chickens are domestic because they are not being used commercially and are considered pets by the family. He also says that the HOA cannot selectively enforce its rules.

The station’s report concludes by noting that it asked the association for a response, but none was forthcoming. That was unfortunate for the HOA, because predictably the result was a one-sided report. Click here to watch it on the station’s website.