If you live in a Homeowners Association (HOA), then you have agreed to let them set certain rules and restrictions. There could be public areas, such as pools or recreational areas, where the HOA sets up rules and regulations that you have to follow.
They may also have some say over what you do with your home, such as stipulating what color you can paint the house, how often you have to mow the grass or where you can park your car. On parts of your property that are visible to your neighbors, the HOA has a significant say in what you’re allowed to do – even though you’re a homeowner.
But what about inside of the house? Isn’t that your own private space? There are actually some ways in which the HOA can even influence what happens inside your home.
Noise violations
One of the most common examples of this is that the HOA can set up regulations about noise levels. If you’re having a loud party with music and dozens of people, you could exceed noise limits at certain times of the day. You may be prohibited from having these gatherings, even though the people are inside of your house.
Design choices
In some cases, the HOA may even want to have a say in the design choices that you make. For instance, the window treatments or curtains that you use could be visible from the outside of the home. Does the HOA have rules about what colors or styles you can use so that all of the homes look uniform?
Another example could be a satellite TV dish. Some HOAs will prohibit these, even though you just wanted to watch satellite TV inside of your house. The dish is still visible from the outside and may be subject to these regulations.
Ideally, the regulations someone has to follow when they live in an HOA should be listed out in the agreement they sign when they buy that property. It’s important for all involved to understand their legal options if a dispute arises.