Why is it that the plants you want to keep green and living always brown and wilt, while the weeds you try to kill flourish and drive you nuts? It’s a problem that plagues every yard, in every community, no matter in what part of the country you live. While the problem is inevitable, there […]
How to Fix the Roads in your Condo or HOA: Increase Assessments or A Special Assessment District? (MI)
The majority of new residential condominium and subdivision developments in the State of Michigan are established with private roads. When a new condominium project or subdivision is established with private roads, the roads are typically identified as a “common element” or a “common area” and are owned collectively by all members of the applicable condominium […]
Measures for Preventing Slip and Fall Accidents in the Winter
With winter just around the corner, HOA communities must start preparing for one of the most dangerous seasonal issues: slick surfaces in common areas, such as sidewalks and entryways to community buildings. Read the article……………………………….
HOA Winter Preparation: Getting Your Community Ready for the Cold Season
To any planned community, HOA winter preparation is vital. The winter season, especially in some states, can be very harsh. Pipes can freeze over and burst, while snow can quickly pile up and cause traffic problems. A competent HOA board would do well to get ahead of the winter months by preparing the entire association […]
How thirsty bluegrass lawns became the default for homeowners associations in Colorado (CO)
Some Colorado HOAs have started moving the needle, while state legislators prod others into water-wise landscapes; plus, a history of how we arrived at a certain idea of landscape perfection. Read the article………………………………..
Home Owner Association Snow Removal: Your Questions Answered (PA)
It is November 15, and temperatures are forecast to reach almost 70 degrees later this week. Naturally, I am thinking about snow removal for condominiums and homeowners associations. Even though snowfall was almost nonexistent during the winter of 2022-23, boards need to prepare for the upcoming season and revisit some of the questions we discuss […]
Navigating the Legal Snowdrift: Ensuring a Solid Snow Removal Contract (OH)
As winter arrives, associations and community association managers must prepare for the inevitable task of establishing smooth and safe snow removal operations. While hiring a professional snow removal service is essential, paying close attention to the language contained in these contracts is equally crucial. Unclear wording can result in legal complications piling up as rapidly […]
Loudoun HOAs Join Forces to Fight Invasive Species (VA)
Loudoun homeowner’s association presidents and board members showed up in force at the Board of Supervisors meeting last night in a coordinated effort garner funding for a program designed to help remove invasive insects and plants. Read the article………………………………….
“Xeriscape Bill” [SB 23-178] (CO)
Have you heard of the recent “Xeriscape Bill” [SB 23-178] that was signed into law at the end of May? This new bill overrides pre-existing HOA guidelines that restricted residents from installing xeriscape, artificial turf, and vegetable gardens in their yards. The intent of the bill is to promote water-wise landscapes. Read the article………………………………..
South Charlotte HOA chops down tree, now protected by UDO (NC)
The city said because the rule recently changed, it’s working to lay a new foundation from the ground up. It has focused on education and not a penalty. Read the article………………………………………
Residents of Stonebrook not all happy with street paving assessment (MI)
A proposed project to resurface the roads in the Stonebrook subdivision isn’t meeting with rave reviews from many of its residents who are unhappy with the cost of the special assessment The homeowner’s association for Stonebrook, located at the southeast corner of Irish and Atherton roads, submitted petitions to Davison Township signed by 51 percent […]
Landscaping and Irrigation – Are They Included In Reserve Studies?
When your association decides to commission a reserve study, you may be wondering what components will and will not be included in the capital plan, or, if certain elements can be included. Landscaping and irrigation are both important parts of any community, but are they included in a reserve study? Read the article………………………..
Invasive Plant Kudzu Being Used for Landscaping in North Carolina Home, Neighbors Enraged with HOA Inaction
The invasive plant kudzu was used to transform the landscaping of a North Carolina property. Their neighbors are furious because the HOA took no action to prevent the use of the invasive vine. Read the article………………………..
‘Someone could get sick;’ Painesville neighbors worry smelly pond is health hazard (OH)
A stinky pond is becoming a health concern. Neighbors in Lake Erie Shores say the retention pond in their development wreaks of sewage and is filling up with algae and mosquitos. After getting ignored by their homeowners association, they reached out to the 19 Troubleshooters. Read the article………………………..
What Is Meadowscaping and Can Your Neighbors Handle It?
America’s love affair with the lawn is fading. For generations, the manicured emerald patches that graced front yards were a symbol of the American dream and pride of homeownership. But now many homeowners are ditching their turfgrass for a more natural, eco-friendly greenspace: the meadowscape. Read the article………………………..
How robot lawn mowers in one West Palm Beach community help fight climate change
Named after The Jetsons housekeeper, Rosie, the Husqvarna 550 H Epos autonomous electric mower is outfitted with a wireless control system, satellite mapping and 3-inch-long pivoting razor blades. Read the article………………………..
What is Xeriscaping and Is It Right For Your Community?
The landscaping of a community is one of the most important responsibilities that HOA board members handle every day. The image of vast, lush green lawns and a plethora of multi-colored coordinating blooms enveloping the community in easy elegance is often the vision homeowners have for their community landscaping. Read the article………………………..
Benona homeowners still fighting against hemlock invasive (MI)
Some residents of Cobmoosa Shores Association are working to save their hemlock trees from the devastating effects of the hemlock woolly adelgid. Two members of the tree advisory committee at Cobmoosa — Ernie Ryan and Paul Jordan — are working to try to save some of the mightier hemlocks in their subdivision, but they’re also […]
Residents in Richmond Hill neighborhood voice concerns over ‘eyesore’ retention pond (GA)
What residents in the Grove Park neighborhood say was once a beautiful pond, they say is now an eyesore and a safety hazard. The pond, which residents say is so dirty the water is not visible, did not always look the way it does now. Read the article………………………..
Middlesex judge, jury render first known decisions on Japanese knotweed
Japanese knotweed is such a well-known menace in the United Kingdom that, if the invasive species is on your property and you try to get homeowner’s insurance, you’ll be turned away. But in America, the plant is just beginning to creep into the public’s consciousness — and the courts. Read the article………………………..
Mandatory Updates to HOA Landscaping Policies (CO)
Governor Polis signed into law SB23-178, which is a bill regarding landscaping changes using water-wise means. The law will take effect August 9, 2023, and it applies to detached, single family HOAs. Read the article………………………..
Food production in HOAs (OR)
Egg prices were so high in some states at the beginning of 2023 that some people started joking about buying live chickens instead. This way, they could have a personal supply of eggs. But homeowners living in Oregon may soon get that opportunity if they really wanted to try farming their own eggs. Read the […]
HB2298: Community Association Roadway Regulations (AZ)
On April 18, 2023, Governor Hobbs signed HB2298 which amends A.R.S. §33-1818 regarding roadway regulations in a community association. HB2298 requires that a community association with public streets where the CC&Rs regulate on-street parking hold a vote of the members by June 30, 2025 on whether to continue to regulate on-street parking. Read the article………………………..
Peter Rabbit’s Paradise: Senate Bill 23-178 Signed Into Law (CO)
Thanks to Senate Bill 23-178, community associations throughout the state will see a significant increase in the presence of mischievous young rabbits in the coming years. Senate Bill 178 requires planned communities with detached structures – single family home communities – to permit the installation of vegetable gardens (which include flowers, fruit, herbs, and other […]
HOA landscape maintenance provides unique set of challenges (VA)
Autumn Glen is a 52-acre community, composed of mostly senior citizens who prefer to have a lawncare contractor manage their lawn and snow removal requirements. The homeowners have also tasked President Joan Callahan and the HOA Board of Directors to maintain their reputation as a great looking community. Read the article………………………..
Scottsdale homeowners get restraining order against HOA to keep Sissoo trees in neighborhood (AZ)
Tom La Porte has lived in Silverleaf Arcadia for close to five years. He said the HOA has wanted to remove all of the Sissoo trees in the gated community since 2020 because of the reputation these trees have: from damaging roads to underground pipes. Read the article………………………..
How to Prepare Your Community’s Landscape for The Heat of Summer
As a community association board member, you are tasked with ensuring your community is a pleasant place for its residents. A major part of this is staying on top of landscaping maintenance so that the neighborhood is beautiful and inviting. Read the article………………………..
The Importance of HOA Landscaping Maintenance and Improvements (CA)
Managing and maintaining an HOA community can be a difficult task. Still, landscaping is one of the most essential elements to consider when it comes to enhancing your neighborhood’s aesthetic appeal. Property values are directly tied to curb appeal, so taking care of HOA landscaping adds value and allows for the enjoyment of living in […]
Lack of a tree-cutting permit could cost Astor condo association more than $20,000 (FL)
When Jungle Den Villas condo association president Tony Adams paid a company to cut down a large oak tree on association property in Astor, he didn’t think much of it. The tree was dangerous. It was decaying, and the root system was damaging the dock and seawall, according to a document from a tree specialist. […]
After WBRZ report, work on a condo’s parking lot covered in potholes finally begins; some tenants aren’t satisfied (LA)
Owners and tenants at Concord Condominiums have wanted their parking lot, which was covered in deep potholes, to be fixed for years. After WBRZ reported on the problem, it seems that work has started on the repairs. Read the article………………………..
Yukon HOA blames construction company for ruining roads (OK)
The roads in one Yukon neighborhood are rough after a nearby construction crew was caught several times driving large trucks through their streets. “It costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to fix something like this and it’s frustrating,” said President of the Millers Gate Homeowners Association Matthew Raley. “You can only raise dues by so […]
Niles subdivision takes on 200 invasive Bradford pear trees, to preserve native species (IN)
But, in an oval median at the front entrance, four ornamental trees spread beyond belief. Planted innocently 25 or so years ago, the seeds of these Bradford pear trees begat more than 200 new trees, all stuffed in the very front acre, crowding out the wild open feel — and native species — that the […]
Cedar Ridge townhome residents complain developer left no topsoil for landscaping (PA)
On behalf of the Cedar Ridge Homeowner’s Association, attorney Scott Lipson and engineer Bill Erdman of Keystone Engineering presented a report outlining residents’ dissatisfaction with their top soil as left by the developer, THP Homes. They argued that THP did not supply the required eight inches of top soil on the property, with residents finding […]
Building Landscaping: Non-Grass Alternatives To Consider (IL)
Maintaining a lush, green lawn can be difficult to keep up with in the long term. However, there are many options for landscaping that don’t require grass and can add color and texture to your outdoor space. In this post, we will explore non-grass alternatives that you may want to consider when planning your next […]
Homeowners could be responsible for millions of dollars in road repairs (NC)
The road is currently owned by Lennar Corporation, the developer behind many of the homes along the parkway. But Comstock says Lennar plans to deed the road to the homeowners’ association. That means the approximate 1,500 people in the HOA would be responsible for its upkeep. Read the article………………………..
Tips For Starting A Community Garden
Industry-wide, green standards—like responsible use of renewable resources, a focus on indoor and outdoor air quality, and sustainable living practices—are now prioritized in homeowners’ associations (HOAs). By implementing environmental initiatives, HOAs have the opportunity to beautify their communities, save money, and even raise the value of homes. Read the article………………………..
Pothole problems plague condo community (LA)
People living in the Concord Condominiums said they are having to deal with what seems like an endless stretch of potholes. The residents said the pesky potholes are taking a toll on cars and wallets. Read the article………………………..
Bids vs. Contracts: Warnings and Legal Liability (CO)
We have previously addressed the importance of Associations having proper, legal contracts that protect the Association and how proposals are not to be signed in lieu of contracts, etc. Unfortunately, we are seeing more and more issues with bids & contracts that produce liability for the Association and at times managers. Please note the following […]
Does your pollinator garden violate your community’s weed ordinance? Before you mow, here are a few steps to take to keep it growing strong
You think you’ve done the right thing. You removed that backyard biological desert, your fertilizer and herbicide-hungry lawn. In its place, you planted a meadow of native grasses and wildflowers to nourish bees, butterflies and other pollinators. You are savoring the resulting explosion of flowers when, out of the blue, you receive a notice of […]
Homeowner Association Pond Management (BC)
If you sit on the board of a Homeowner Association, you take pride in how your community looks. From clean streets, green grass, and pristine ponds. Pond management is a challenge for any HOA, whether one pond, a series of connected ponds, or water hazards on a community golf course. This blog delves into common […]
Timing is Everything with Asphalt Projects
There’s a time and a place for everything and that includes your next asphalt project. Asphalt projects can be the most disruptive and daunting experiences for any community; they take timing, coordination, and community participation. However, they’re necessary to maintain or replace a surface that is used by everyone in the community. Read the article………………………..
Best Plants for Instant HOA Curb Appeal (CA)
Whether you are needing a sprucing up or wanting to try out a new HOA front yard design, plants are a great way to do it on the cheap. This summer, you can spend some time creating the front yard of your dreams with plants that flower and grow beautifully all year round. If you […]
Mill Creek Community Association to remove about 50 trees due to laminated root rot infection (OR)
The Mill Creek Community Association is knocking down all trees within a fifty-foot radius of any tree infected with laminated root rot. Many are sky-high Douglas Firs that have been there for decades. It’s estimated 50 trees in total will need to come down. Read the article………………………..
Mesa increases incentives to replace grass lawns with xeriscapes to save water (AZ)
Xeriscape landscapes are a popular site in Arizona that use desert-adapted plants, many of which are native to the state. The option also saves water compared to traditional grass lawns, which is why Mesa is encouraging its residents to make a change. Read the article………………………..
Don’t Have An HOA Community Garden? Time To Start One Now
An HOA community garden is a great way to engage residents and add some life to the neighborhood at the same time. But, how exactly do you start one? Read the article………………………..
Stormwater Pond: 13 Things (2023) You Ought To Know
If you are planning a development project, don’t forget to leave room for a stormwater pond! These features have become increasingly common with the advent of formal programs regulating stormwater. Read the article………………………..
Asphalt Lot Paving and Sidewalk Survival Guide for HOAs
In Chicago and its suburbs, weather can drastically shorten the life of parking lots and sidewalks if they don’t get proper maintenance. Plus, potholes and other uneven areas can be a safety concern. We interviewed Todd Eichholz, CEO of A&A Paving in Roselle, IL, for a survival guide, as his team has extensive experience with […]
Could Your Community Benefit from These Grass Alternatives?
Many communities love to use grass as part of their landscaping as it provides green space, is excellent for the environment, and allows residents to enjoy outdoor space in their communities. It provides a place for kids to play and dogs to run and roam free. However, using grass extensively in your community’s landscape can […]
Homeowners: HOA forced removal of 20+ healthy trees, resulting in them spending thousands of dollars (GA)
It’s a battle between homeowners and an HOA in Gwinnett County over almost two dozen trees that were removed. 11Alive’s Dawn White went to the Suwanee neighborhood to dig up exactly what happened. Read the article………………………..
The More You Know Before the First Snow: Condo and HOA Winter Preparation (IL)
I am not sure where this year went, but we have already experienced the first frost in the Chicagoland area. Like it or not, winter is right around the corner! This article should serve as a reminder that if you have not started your winter preparations, do so now. Read the article………………………..