In most cases, a homeowners’ association (HOA) has the legal ability to set up parking regulations for community members. They may give everyone an assigned parking spot, for example. In some cases, the HOA may have one parking lot for residents and another for guests. The specifics are different from one community to the next, but residents are expected to follow these parking rules.
However, this may not always happen. Perhaps there is a resident who always parks in the wrong lot or the wrong parking space. Perhaps there have been complaints about people parking in front of other people’s homes or even blocking traffic. How can the HOA enforce these parking rules?
Tracking and responding to violations
One thing that HOAs often do is track vehicles, perhaps by recording license plate numbers or even using parking passes and tracking software. This gives them a record of when people may have violated the rules, and warnings can be issued. Often, simply giving a resident a warning will be enough to get them to follow the rules that they agreed to when they joined the HOA.
If violations continue, fines or other fees may be assessed. This is similar to when residents break other rules, such as those governing home decorations.
Finally, if fines and fees do not put an end to the violations, the HOA may be able to have the person’s car towed. It’s important for the HOA to have a reputable tow company, and they need to provide information about this action to the resident.
Parking issues are just one area where serious disputes can come up between HOAs and residents. Those involved in these disputes must be aware of all the legal options they have.