Homeowners in a creekside neighborhood in Larkspur could soon get relief from an environmental constraint they say prevents them from enjoying their backyards. The restriction, a 50-yard creek setback, governs eight properties on Rose Lane. It was adopted to minimize storm runoff and erosion in Larkspur Creek, which runs behind the houses. Read the entire […]
San Lorenzo Valley Water Districts move closer to consolidation with fire-damaged systems (CA)
While Big Basin as a whole could consolidate with the district, that hinges upon a formal annexation and consolidation. The communities of Bracken Brae and Forest Springs — which accounts for approximately 150 Big Basin customers — is merging with the district through a homeowners association group. Read the entire article……………………………….
Hollister Ranch: Will the Public Ever Have Access? (CA)
It was questions about the residents, their holdings, their guests, their water wells, their livestock, and other inquiries from coastal commissioners that led to the CEQA environmental report gambit and the missed deadline. The commissioners wanted information on present conditions at the ranch, but the residents — through the Hollister Ranch Owners Association attorney — […]
La Quinta residents fighting PGA West HOA to ‘Save the Swan’ (CA)
Residents and wildlife advocates are pleading with management and the HOA at PGA West to save a male swan they say has called the area home for almost a decade. “This swan is beloved by the neighborhood and none of the residents want this swan killed,” organization PS Wildlife Adovcates wrote. Read the entire article……………………………….
Monte Nido neighbors unite to crack down on speeders (CA)
When the sleepy neighborhood of Monte Nido, tucked right off Malibu Canyon, suddenly became a drag racing destination on the way to Malibu, residents sought to take action. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Readers ask about repairs and poor pool maintenance (CA)
Q: I’m in dispute with my association. The original doors facing the outside of my condo have extensive dry-rot. I’ve read the association’s matrix regarding the responsibility issue, and I believe it spells it out, but I’m getting denied my request for repairs. Is this the responsibility of the association to fix and/or maintain? Read the […]
NIMBY surfers despair as coveted Hollister Ranch beaches open to the public (CA)
Starting April 1, 2022, Hollister Ranch should be very much open to public access, thanks to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who signed Assembly Bill 1680 into law in October 2019. The bill ostensibly puts an end to a decadeslong battle between those who own property at Hollister Ranch and the public over who is legally allowed […]
Whose Rights Should Our Laws Protect? (CA)
AB 3182 was a poison pill for condominium owners, reducing our ability to maintain the long-term residential nature of our communities by allowing more homes to be rented for shorter periods of time. Some owners might have been pleased by this, but a presumed application of this law serves a different constituency entirely. Read the entire […]
Fire crews knock down blaze at Pacific Beach condo complex; residents displaced (CA)
No injuries were reported, but some residents of The Plaza condominium complex were expected to be displaced, though it was not clear how many Read the entire article……………………………….
Firefighters Keep Flames from Spreading to More Condos at Oceanside Complex (CA)
Firefighters quickly contained a fire in a condominium to the unit’s living room Saturday, according to the Oceanside Fire Department. Read the entire article……………………………….
Dropping lake levels prompt dispute at Cypress Ridge Golf Course (CA)
Avocet Lake is starting to dry up, prompting a back-and-forth over who is responsible for keeping the lake full. The homeowner’s association says that it is the responsibility of the golf course owner to fill the lake. Read the entire article……………………………….
3 of California’s 5 biggest water users are in the Coachella Valley. Who’s consuming the most?
The small district serves predominantly large homeowner association developments adjoining gold courses that have resisted removing turf or limiting watering any time of the year, whether residents are there are not. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: When can a board amend CCRs and bylaws? (CA)
CC&Rs and bylaws are governing documents that typically can be amended only by a vote of the HOA membership. However, there are some narrow circumstances under the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act in which a board of directors is empowered by statute to make certain limited amendments to CC&Rs or bylaws. Read the Q&A………………………………….
No injuries reported as coverings give way at Port Hueneme condominium building (CA)
Fire crews responded Sunday morning to the collapse of a large swath of wooden and stucco patio coverings over multiple balconies at a Port Hueneme condominium building. Read the entire article……………………………….
Tahoe Keys residents push for more bear-proofing amid break-ins (CA)
Hank the Tank may no longer have a target on his back, but residents are not backing down when it comes to preventing another bear from the same fate in the future. Read the entire article……………………………….
Condo shoppers beware: Balcony law could cost you thousands of dollars after you buy (CA)
Almost six years to the day before 98 people died last June 24 in South Florida’s Champlain Towers condo collapse, six people died in Berkeley when an apartment balcony gave way and fell 50 feet to the ground. Read the entire article……………………………….
San Marcos Trout Club is County’s First Firewise USA Community (CA)
The San Marcos Trout Club (SMTC), a neighborhood of 37 homes in the Santa Barbara foothills, is the first community in Santa Barbara County to be approved as a Firewise USA participant by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront – A law that came too late (CA)
During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, HOAs were presented with a conundrum: Local health authorities prohibited gatherings of more than a few unrelated persons; however, HOA boards were required by the Open Meeting Act to have meetings that included the option of personal physical attendance, even if most members chose to participate telephonically or […]
10 Santa Ana Residents Displaced After Fire Rips Through Condo Complex (CA)
A ferocious blaze in Santa Ana displaced 10 residents Sunday as it ripped through the two-story building. No injuries were reported in the fire, and firefighters were able to quickly contain the flames. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Director proxies, no minutes and election challenges (CA)
Q: One of our board members sometimes is not available to attend meetings either in person or telephonically and has asked if he could submit a written approve or disapprove sealed proxy for agenda items when the board votes on them in the meeting. Read the Q&A…………………………………
Flames Rips Through Diamond Bar Condo Complex (CA)
The blaze was first reported at 2:25 a.m. in the 300 block of South Prospectors Road, near Golden Springs Road. Cell phone video showed huge flames and smoke engulfing the complex. Read the entire article……………………………….
What to do about cracked (parking) ramp?
Question: Robert, I live in Santa Clarita in a homeowner’s association where I am a board member. We have a parking ramp, which takes us down inside our garage. I’ve submitted photos to show two cracks on top of the ramp and the bottom. There is water entering these cracks, causing leaks to the below […]
Land lease fee disparities divide Oceana senior community (CA)
Residents of the Oceana senior community are divided over a controversial community measure that will equalize land lease fees for everyone living in the community, lowering monthly rent payments for the majority of members while raising monthly payments for others. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront – An election tie and another has no elections (CA)
Q: We had an election where three people ran for two positions and the second and third place vote-getters tied. Without giving an explanation or detailed procedure they stated that they had to resolve it at a later meeting because candidate 3 was not in attendance. Read the Q&A……………………………….
Firefighters clearing brush in Estates fuel break to prevent and slow wildfires (CA)
When firefighters aren’t out battling blazes, they’re spending time locally on preventing and slowing the spread of wildland fires by managing fuel breaks. Read the entire article……………………………….
California Wildfires’ Impact HOA Insurance
Severe weather and natural disasters have been a challenge for communities in different parts of California for decades, from droughts to earthquakes to wildfires. The state’s most recent wildfire season is putting pressure on insurance companies to cut back on coverage to homeowners. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Is ‘open forum’ ever truly open? (CA)
Q: Recently an owner had a matter which she wanted to bring up during the “Homeowner’s Forum” but she could not attend. She sent an email to the association delegating me to share with the board her concerns. At the meeting, the president shut me down and said only people present could speak and that […]
Fire at University City Condo Complex Causes $500K in Damages (CA)
A fire of unknown origin spread through a University City condominium complex at daybreak Wednesday, displacing seven people and causing an estimated $500,000 worth of damage, authorities reported. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Tips before starting major repairs on your community (CA)
One of the greatest challenges HOAs periodically face is major reconstruction. Whether a new roof, balcony rehabilitation or other major repairs, the typical volunteer board and professional manager are not regularly involved in hiring for such work. Therefore, many potential pitfalls can contribute to extra costs or risks. Before sending the contract to legal counsel […]
Lake California residence worried about fire evacuations (CA)
People living in Lake California a community just north of Red Bluff and in Tehama County, only have one route in and out. “It’s tree-lined, there are heavy ditches and a fire apparatus would not be able to come up that road and have residents exit safely,” said Sharon Crawford, Lake California Property Owner’s Association […]
The Woolsey fire burned their homes. Now this community has its own firefighting crew (CA)
The local Homeowners Association has contributed roughly $25,000 to the new fire department, and neighbors have thrown in hundreds of thousands more. Areas with fewer resources will likely face bigger obstacles that sets them apart from their wealthy neighbors, adding to the divide already being felt when disasters strike. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Celebrating 600 columns with no calls for court action
I’m excited to share the 600th column of “HOA Homefront,” which was inaugurated in March 2005. Except for a hiatus in 2010 and 2011, the column has been published continuously for 17 years and now appears in most of the major newspapers and digital news websites in Southern California. Read the entire article……………………………….
Safety Fears at Aging San Leandro Condo (CA)
Persistent leaks, mold, sagging ceilings and termites are among the problems cited by condominium owners in San Leandro, who expressed concerns that moisture could corrode and compromise their steel-reinforced building. Read the entire article……………………………….
California HOAs/Community Associations Have Been Hit With Massive Increases in Premiums and Outright Cancellation// Call to Action
Many California community associations are dealing with massive and significant increases in their insurance premiums. These increases were not anticipated and as a result they are unbudgeted requiring that boards levy emergency special assessments, borrow from reserves or otherwise find the money to pay the increased cost of insurance. Read the entire article……………………………….
Distinctive Carlsbad condos in danger of demolition (CA)
Modern architecture fans hope to save a small, but distinctive condominium building known for its whimsical appearance near Carlsbad’s Magee Park. Read the entire article……………………………….
Leaning San Francisco skyscraper is tilting 3 inches per year as engineers rush to implement fix (CA)
The engineer trying to stabilize the Millennium Tower, a luxury residential skyscraper in San Francisco that is sinking into the ground and now leaning over two feet off of center, said the building is now tilting three inches per year. Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: Are secret recordings and no meetings legal? (CA)
Q: What are the HOA manager and board responsibilities for the homeowners’ portion of the board meeting? Presently, virtual sessions are done with requests via email. Our manager crafted defensive, aggressive responses and sent them before the meeting even happened. I think homeowners would have liked us to appear to listen. Read the Q&A………………………………………
The Leaning Tower of Soma is a mess—but everyone’s ducking responsibility (CA)
It’s a perfect soundbite, one that has a long an ignoble heritage, and a perfect example of what’s wrong with the passive voice in politics: Gee, something bad happened, but I sure didn’t do it, and I’m not going to suggest than anyone else in particular did it either. Mistakes were just made; nobody made […]
HOA Homefront: Rent restrictions, term limits, elections among changes in 2022 (CA)
Many laws are changing for California HOAs this year, and here is a recap of the most important changes. Read the entire article……………………………….
Engineer Proposes Slashing Scope of Millennium Tower Pile Upgrade (CA)
Based on further structural analysis and the success of a pilot program that installed three permanent piles using modified procedures, the structural engineer-of-record for the delayed perimeter pile upgrade of the 645-ft-tall Millennium Tower in San Francisco has proposed a significantly reduced scope for the project that he says would still arrest settlement and allow […]
Violent Winds Cause Damage to Neighborhoods in Eastern Goleta Valley (CA)
A band of heavy rain and violent winds moved through the eastern Goleta Valley on Saturday night, downing power lines and causing damage in a condominium complex in the area. Read the entire article……………………………….
Intense fire melts cars in condo community parking lot (CA)
Residents in a Mira Mesa community woke up to a raging fire in their parking lot that destroyed several cars but fortunately did not spread to any homes, officials said. Read the entire article……………………………….
May a homeowners’ association (HOA) restrict a property owner from renting their property for a short-term when they purchased it before the HOA adopted the restriction? (CA)
Facts: An owner purchases a parcel of property in a common interest development (CID) governed by a homeowners’ association (HOA). The owner rents out their property on a short-term basis less than 30 days to tenants, as authorized by the covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs). Later, the HOA amends the CC&Rs to restrict owners in […]
Disturbing peace: Residents say pot growers disrupt tranquility (CA)
“The county is calling these legal grows commercial (thereby allowing commercial business in here),” said Porter. “Yet a main tenet of our (Covenant, Conditions and Restrictions) is no undue use of roads. The county’s ordinance for pot growing reads as though it was written by the cannabis lawyers.” Read the entire article……………………………….
HOA Homefront: What community managers want for the holidays (CA)
As we give gifts to loved ones and friends during the holiday season, most HOA members probably don’t consider giving to their community manager – the person who gets the calls when plumbing or roofs leak, somebody acts up at the pool, or gates malfunction. Read the entire article……………………………….
Ivey Ranch HOA residents collect record donations for Toys for Tots
Ivey Ranch HOA residents in Thousand Palms donated a record number of toys this year to the Twentynine Palms Marine Corp Base annual Toy for Tots charity drive. Read the entire article……………………………….
Bay Area rain causes building safety concerns (CA)
Homeowners and businesses in the Bay Area are dealing with the aftermath of the severe storm. KRON4’s Gayle Ong reports those living in newer buildings in the city are experiencing floods, leaks, and other water damage. Read the entire article……………………………….
Pleasanton restricts smoking at townhomes, condominiums (CA)
Smoking will be banned in all common areas and on private balconies or decks of townhomes, condominiums and buildings with three or more attached homes in Pleasanton beginning next summer. Read the entire article……………………………….
Del Mar Mesa residents oppose using protected open space for fire station (CA)
Del Mar Mesa community members continue to push back against a proposed fire station on environmentally-sensitive land. Read the entire article……………………………….