I just found out our HOA bans solar panels and clotheslines. My friends asked if they also ban hybrid cars and Energy Star appliances. Seems like the rules could use some updating, but changing our bylaws is slightly less difficult than a Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

What are your favorite/least favorite/most amusing HOA rules where you live/have lived?

I have a friend who does shortwave radio - a ham. He has a radio in his house with antennas in his attic and on his outdoor TV antenna.

The HOA first tried to shut him down by claiming no TV antennas, to which he answered that the Federal Government says "oh, yes, TV antennas".

Then they attempted to impose an existing rule which says that "transmitting devices" are not allowed. His response was that he will shut his radio down only if and when every other neighbor shuts off their WiFi, their cordless phones, their cell phones, and their baby monitors....

Cameron Station in Alexandria would get after people about their trash bins. No loose trash, no large black leaf bags or grocery bags, everything had to be neatly thrown away in small kitchen sized plastic bags.

Blessed are the murderous.

Our homeowners' association insists that residents use "Williamsburg Paint Colors" on doors, siding, etc. Our neighborhood looks dated (outdated), dull, and unattractive because of this rule.

HOAs usually ban solar panels on roofs because THEY LOOK STUPID. Install 12 foot privacy fence around your back yard and lay your panels out in the backyard. I'm sure if it can not be easily seen from the road, then the HOA would most likely approve it.

As far as clothes lines go, you may use them. I'm sure it is tacky
people who leave the clothes line strung up even when they are not using them that got that rule enacted.


.

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.

Bylaws are the governing documents of an association. Specific prohibitions are 99% of the time part of the guidebook or simple HOA rules, which can be amended fairly easily.

Va law on "rules"

A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the board of directors shall have the power to establish, adopt, and enforce rules and regulations with respect to use of the common areas and with respect to such other areas of responsibility assigned to the association by the declaration, except where expressly reserved by the declaration to the members. Rules and regulations may be adopted by resolution and shall be reasonably published or distributed throughout the development. A majority of votes cast, in person or by proxy, at a meeting convened in accordance with the provisions of the association's bylaws and called for that purpose, shall repeal or amend any rule or regulation adopted by the board of directors. Rules and regulations may be enforced by any method normally available to the owner of private property in Virginia, including, but not limited to, application for injunctive relief or damages, during which the court may award to the association court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees

Va Law on amedment of Bylaws:

Agreement of the required majority of lot owners to any amendment of the declaration shall be evidenced by their execution of the amendment, or ratifications thereof, and the same shall become effective when a copy of the amendment is recorded together with a certification, signed by the principal officer of the association or by such other officer or officers as the declaration may specify, that the requisite majority of the lot owners signed the amendment or ratifications thereof.

My HOA enacted a rule, which their attorney at Rees Broome wrote into our Rules and Regulations, that changed the right of way on a state owned road outside our neighborhood.

my association doesn't allow blacks, mexicans, Koreans or Jews. But you can paint your trim pink.

Troll@AOL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HOAs usually ban solar panels on roofs because
> THEY LOOK STUPID. Install 12 foot privacy fence
> around your back yard and lay your panels out in
> the backyard. I'm sure if it can not be easily
> seen from the road, then the HOA would most likely
> approve it.
>
> As far as clothes lines go, you may use them. I'm
> sure it is tacky
> people who leave the clothes line strung up even
> when they are not using them that got that rule
> enacted.
>
>
> .


Fairfax Co has an ordinace that a fence can't be higher than 7"

kkrispykringle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Troll@AOL Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > HOAs usually ban solar panels on roofs because
> > THEY LOOK STUPID. Install 12 foot privacy
> fence
> > around your back yard and lay your panels out
> in
> > the backyard. I'm sure if it can not be easily
> > seen from the road, then the HOA would most
> likely
> > approve it.
> >
> > As far as clothes lines go, you may use them.
> I'm
> > sure it is tacky
> > people who leave the clothes line strung up
> even
> > when they are not using them that got that rule
> > enacted.
> >
> >
> > .
>
>
> Fairfax Co has an ordinace that a fence can't be
> higher than 7"


That would be 7' as in seven feet.

kkrispykringle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Troll@AOL Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > HOAs usually ban solar panels on roofs because
> > THEY LOOK STUPID. Install 12 foot privacy
> fence
> > around your back yard and lay your panels out
> in
> > the backyard. I'm sure if it can not be easily
> > seen from the road, then the HOA would most
> likely
> > approve it.
> >
> > As far as clothes lines go, you may use them.
> I'm
> > sure it is tacky
> > people who leave the clothes line strung up
> even
> > when they are not using them that got that rule
> > enacted.
> >
> >
> > .
>
>
> Fairfax Co has an ordinace that a fence can't be
> higher than 7"

I thought it was 6'

I thought it was 6' also, but called the DEM (Department of Environmental Management) and asked and was told 7'. Seriously, has anyone ever dealt with DEM? They are some of the most arrogant bureaucrats I've ever dealt with.

Call the Zoning Administration division to get the right answer. DEM does not interpret or enforce the Zoning Ordinance, which regulates fence heights.

krispykringle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought it was 6' also, but called the DEM
> (Department of Environmental Management) and asked
> and was told 7'. Seriously, has anyone ever dealt
> with DEM? They are some of the most arrogant
> bureaucrats I've ever dealt with.

Boner for a Zoner Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Call the Zoning Administration division to get the
> right answer. DEM does not interpret or enforce
> the Zoning Ordinance, which regulates fence
> heights.
>
> krispykringle Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I thought it was 6' also, but called the DEM
> > (Department of Environmental Management) and
> asked
> > and was told 7'. Seriously, has anyone ever
> dealt
> > with DEM? They are some of the most arrogant
> > bureaucrats I've ever dealt with.


Excellent information and advice, will follow up on that, since I plan to build a fence in my backyard.

You can find the regs in Section 10-104 of the Ordinance. Not sure what your lot size is or your zoning district but the Z.A. division can point you in the right direction.

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpz/zoningordinance/articles/art10.pdf

Quote

Seems like the rules could use some updating, but changing our bylaws is slightly less difficult than a Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.

yeah it's beyond stupid. you generally need a majority of homeowner votes to change anything, but most people have things to do with their lives besides nattering at their neighbors and attend these meetings (or sign proxies and bother with it). so it's basically impossible to change the bylaws.

as to whether solar panels look stupid, so the fuck what? you know what looks stupider? spilling oil all over the damn place because nobody's allowed to conserve electricity.

i'm not sure a clothesline will do much good in NoVA -- it's too damn humid anymore to dry clothes. but the solar panel thing is an absolute no-brainer. problem is, HOA's have no brains.

My wife and I were talking about HOAs the other day. We were noting this one HOA (which is very militant) has homes that are starting to look long in the tooth - stylisitically.

Homes of a similar nature outside the HOA are being bought and scraped and replaced by larger, more modern homes (or at least ones that are popular in terms of architecture).

What happens to the HOA after 50 years when you can;t change the appearance of your home and the neighboring houses all look modern and updated????

that's a good point. i've always thought HOA's were shortsighted -- sure it's good for property values to prohibit winnebagos parked all over the place, but the inability to realistically change the rules will come back to bite you as styles or needs change.

Solar panels bring down property values; it is that simple.

that's just stupid

krispykringle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> kkrispykringle Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> > Fairfax Co has an ordinace that a fence can't
> be
> > higher than 7"
>
>
> That would be 7' as in seven feet.

See, the problem is that the fence was in serious danger of being crushed by a dwarf.

Hand me the pliers...

Prottect our Property Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Solar panels bring down property values; it is
> that simple.


Not without explanation it's not. How do they do that?

They are unsightly.

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.

Prottect our Property Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Solar panels bring down property values; it is
> that simple.


I would think with the high cost of utilities that solar panels would be a selling point and increase property value.

Of course they would increase property value, for SOME.

But not when you destroy your shingled roof and make everyone else look at as many sloppy unsightly cheapass outdated solar panels you could afford. The obvious answer is the backyard. Just like you can designate an area for a pool, you can make an area to put the panels in the backyard that does not impede on others sense of normalcy.

==================================================================================
"Why don't you LOSERS just pack your flower print DOUCHE BAGS
and get your stoopid @$$#$ THE FUCK OFF MY INTERNETZ!"

- 'philscamms' (the YT Watchdog) ; internet & YouTube® extraordinaire.

that only works if your house is north facing and you don't have trees.