Olympia woman facing fines over sign inside her home (WA)

An Olympia woman is being threatened with fines over a sign hanging inside her home.  Shirley Pavao’s homeowners association called a Black Lives Matter sign a violation of the Lost Lake Resort community policy. However, she said she has become a target of a policy that is not legal.    Read the article………………………..

HB2158: Homeowners’ Associations; Political; Community Activity (AZ)

On March 30, 2022, Governor Ducey signed HB2158: POLITICAL; COMMUNITY ACTIVITY; HOAs into law which adds a new section to the Planned Communities Act (A.R.S. Section 33-1261 and 33-1808). This new law applies to planned communities and condominiums and will become effective on September 24, 2022. Set forth below is Mulcahy Law Firm, P.C. ‘s […]

Flag flap: Peoria woman claims HOA told her to remove U.S. flag painting from curb (AZ)

A Peoria woman who was trying to show her patriotic spirit ends up violating her neighborhood’s homeowners association (HOA) rules without even knowing it.  “Both my husbands were very patriotic,” said Donna Cordero. “Both fought for the country, my sons were in the military so I thought OK, an American flag.”   Read the article………………………..

HOA tells Boise homeowner to take down pride display (ID)

Jordan Hall’s house first appears briefly between the trees on the drive up the Quail Ridge subdivision in Boise.  At night, Hall’s rainbow gay pride lights appear faint from the road because of the shining white porch lights. He put up his display toward the end of Pride Month in June – inspired by the […]

Condo Q&A: Can HOAs Ban Political Signs? (FL)

Question: With the midterms right around the corner, our HOA board of directors is considering banning political signs in the community. We had a lot of community fights two years ago that seemed to divide the community and the board wants to prevent that from happening again. Can the board ban political signs by adopting […]

Henderson man threatened with HOA fines for anti-Biden sticker (NV)

A Henderson resident believes his freedom of speech is being violated over a bumper sticker on his truck.  A bumper sticker that reads “Let’s Go Brandon” is causing all the trouble for the man who is being told by his homeowner’s association that displaying the sticker on his truck is considered an offensive trader activity.  […]

Memorial Day Facts And FAQs Every American Should Know

Memorial Day comes every year, but some people just blindly celebrate the holiday as a free pass out of work or school. There is more to this holiday than just summer BBQs and pool parties. Here are the most important Memorial Day facts every American should know.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Everything You Need To Know About HB2158 (AZ)

HB2158: HOMEOWNERS’ ASSOCIATIONS; POLITICAL; COMMUNITY ACTIVITY was signed into law by Governor Ducey on Wednesday, April 13, 2022. This bill applies to both planned communities and condos, and will go into effect 91 days following the conclusion of the 2022 session of the Arizona Legislature.   Read the entire article……………………………….

N4T Investigators: Misdemeanor charges filed against Tucson HOA President for missing political signs (AZ)

Disappearing political signs have led to misdemeanor criminal damage charges against a local attorney and Homeowner’s Association President.  The Catalina Foothills Estates No. 9 HOA is part of a beautiful high-end neighborhood. However, a battle has been brewing between some homeowners and the HOA that has reached a boiling point; the News 4 Tucson Investigators […]

HOA unsure how to deal with “Let’s go Brandon” sign (NV)

Q: I am the president of a very small homeowners association community (27 homes). We have a resident who has placed a “Let’s go Brandon” sign in their front window. This has been up since January 2022.   Read the Q&A……………………………….

Spring Creek banning ‘offensive’ flags, signs (NV)

Many northeastern Nevadans are not happy with the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. In a county where Republican voters outnumber Democrats by three to one, Trump 2020 flags and signs were a common sight long after President Joe Biden took office.  Read the entire article……………………………….

Bitter over lack of support, ‘Christmas Lawyer’ says he’s leaving Idaho

Morris, you may recall, is the North Idaho man with a grandiose sense of himself as a religious martyr whose over-the-top Christmas displays, in which he deployed thousands upon thousands of lights, amplified music, live camels and donkeys and bused-in crowds, seemed intended to produce just what it did produce: a protracted, vindictive battle with […]

How to Ensure Your Community Has a Peaceful, Cheery Holiday Season

When it comes to holidays, the last thing many of us want to think about is rules – especially when they are in relation to “decking the halls”. But, without some holiday guidelines in place, your community may turn into something akin to Clark Griswold’s house meets The Grinch’s lair on Mount Crumpit.  Read the entire […]

Should Putting Up Protest Signs In HOA Communities Be Allowed? (NC)

One of the ways people express their opinions and views is by putting up protest signs on their private property. But, what if that private property belongs in a homeowners association? Are protest signs in HOA communities allowed?   Read the entire article……………………………….

‘I feel angels are good for you’: Senior fights HOA over angel statue (AZ)

But one Mesa senior says her HOA and the property manager they hired, have gone too far.  “I feel angels are good for you. They protect you,” Shirley says.  She’s talking about the angel statue that she placed on the short wall around her front sitting area.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Holiday decorations: Creating fair, easy-to-follow, and owner-supported guidelines

A community association in the Tampa Bay area recently made international headlines when it said a homeowner put up his holiday decorations too early. It didn’t help that singer Mariah Carey weighed in on Twitter, saying, “My personal preference is to wait until after Thanksgiving but there’s no regulating festiveness.”   Read the entire article……………………………….

South Carolina man told to take down Christmas lights

A South Carolina man says his Christmas display will have to come down after the HOA’s property management company told him his decor violates the master deed and bylaws.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Holiday Decorations: What’s Allowed? (NJ)

The holiday season is here, and now is a great time to decorate the exterior of your home. For homeowners living in an HOA, it’s essential to check your governing documents to see which HOA holiday decorations are allowed to be displayed. In some cases, local ordinances will restrict specific holiday displays like noisy decorations […]

How To Create HOA Rules for Holiday Decorations – That Everyone Can Agree On

As the Holiday season approaches, you can expect your residents will be decorating the halls – and everything else – with their favorite holiday decorations. At the same time, HOA boards may wish for the entire area to follow a consistent decorative style. Unfortunately, that is not how the holidays work. One family may “gingerbread” […]

Early Christmas Display In HOA: Should Homeowners Be Fined?

It is not uncommon for homeowners to put up an early Christmas display in HOA communities. What many of these homeowners don’t know, though, is that associations typically have rules concerning holiday decoration schedules. And violating such a rule can result in a monetary fine.    Read the entire article……………………………….

Can The HOA Ask Homeowners To Remove Holiday Cross Display?

When an association board asks a homeowner to remove a cross display in an HOA community during the holidays, is the association violating any laws? Can an HOA really pick and choose which holiday decorations residents can display?  Read the entire article……………………………….

HOA Holiday Decoration Rules And Guidelines

For many homeowners, the holiday season is the time of the year when they can show off their creativity and decorate their houses to their liking. Whether that means putting up an inflatable Santa Claus on the roof or something else entirely is completely at their discretion. For planned communities, though, it is not uncommon […]

Co-op Board Removes Menorah. Is it Discriminating? (NY)

Thanksgiving is almost here, which means it’s time for the feuding over Christmas and Hanukkah to begin.  Right on cue, a story is unfolding at a luxury Midtown East co-op. For years the board displayed both a large Christmas tree and a menorah in the lobby during the holidays. Last year, after a new board […]

New HOA Holiday Guide

The holiday season is here. Many homeowners associations may choose to develop holiday and religious display guidelines that are easy for residents to follow and simple to enforce. Have a happy holiday with these tips.  Read the entire article……………………………….

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign….In My Association (PA)

Every year, usual;ly around election time, the signs come out.  Let’s discuss some recurring sign issues that pop up (pun intended) in community associations year after year.Read the entire article……………………………….

Ho Ho Ho!! Are Your Rules Ready for the Holidays? (CO)

With the holidays quickly approaching, it’s time for pumpkins, reindeer, snowmen, and other types of holiday décor to be displayed in communities! But is your community ready for all the décor and are your rules adequate to control it?    Read the entire article……………………………….

Tips for Handling Community Protest Signs

Handling signage within a given community starts with the restrictions set forth in the governing documents. If the restrictions include prohibiting all signs regardless of content, Black Lives Matter or Blue Lives Matter signs should not be allowed. Signs are not permitted whether they are considered political or not; there is no constitutional right to […]

Political Signage Update (AZ)

SB1722 was signed by the Governor on April 09, 2021 and will go into effect on September 29, 2021. Once effective, the bill will extend the time a political sign can be left up from three (3) days after a general election, to fifteen (15) days after a general election or if the sign is […]

Defining Signage In Your Homeowner’s Association

Every homeowner association relies on signs to point the way and improve behavior. A directory and map sign guides guests, vendors and ambulances to member homes. Entry signs establish a HOA’s identity and theme. No Parking signs warn of towing consequences. Pet signs remind of neighborly responsibility.     Read the entire article……………………………….

Festival of Lights future in the hands of Foothills HOA members (AZ)

While the Festival of Lights Kick-Off Party may largely be relegated to the past, its reason for being will continue – at least for now.  Only instead of being the responsibility of the FOL Committee, the set-up and tear-down of the million-lights display in the medians of Chandler Boulevard between 24th Street and Desert Foothills […]

Colorado HOAs losing power to restrict speech on flags and signs

Coloradans will soon be able to fly flags or display signs outside their homes without restrictions on the content, even if they live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association.  Gov. Jared Polis signed HB21-1310 into law Friday — one of 19 that got his signature before the July Fourth holiday weekend.    Read the entire […]

Mother at odds with HOA over sign honoring deceased son (TX)

Whether it’s politics, school spirit, or simply decor, people living in the Barwood community have no problem expressing themselves. Displays can be seen throughout this northwest Harris County neighborhood with various messages.   Read the entire article……………………………….

Time To Update Your Sign ands Flag Rules (CO)

HB 1310 has been making its way through the legislative process and Passed 3rd Reading in the Senate on June 10, 2021 with no amendments. This means the bill will be, if not already, sent to the Governor for signature.  How will this bill impact associations? For one, it will require current rules pertaining to […]