Ponds or lakes are common features in homeownership associations residences. Ponds are created for various purposes, including fishing, collecting runoff, aesthetics, or conserving wildlife. Ponds require regular maintenance and monitoring to meet statutory or county standards. The association has a responsibility to ensure that these ponds or lakes are clean and safe. Read the article…………………………………
Virginia sets example for fair HOA solar policy
Residential solar contractors encounter plenty of speed bumps in the process from sales to installation, whether that’s tire-kickers, financing issues or logistical delays. Working with a client who lives in a homeowners association (HOA) subdivision could cost installers much more time and money. In the worst-case scenario, it can even lead to cancelled contracts. Read […]
Homeowners associations still a barrier for some would-be solar customers (MN)
Jonathan Edmonson had plans to put a 16-kilowatt solar array on the roof of his suburban Minneapolis home, covering its dark blue roof with sleek black panels. In October, though, the homeowners association for his Blaine community rejected his proposal, citing aesthetic concerns and the lack of established guidelines for rooftop solar in the association’s […]
Climate, city bills push tiny HOA to the brink (AZ)
When he thinks about climate change, Craig Sullivan isn’t necessarily thinking about melting glaciers and rising sea levels. For Sullivan and the other residents of the 68 units that comprise the tiny Ahwatukee homeowners’ sub-association called RD-1, “climate change is banging on our doors.” Read the article………………………………
Here’s How Co-ops and Condos Can Cut Their Energy Bill (NY)
Most of a co-op’s or condo’s budget – roughly 80% – is eaten up by fixed costs, such items as taxes, insurance and staff payroll. Now more than ever, boards need to make sure they’re spending wisely on the sliver of the budget they can control. And one item that many boards view, wrongly, as […]
Updated report includes new state law on solar installations on homes (VA)
A new Virginia law is expanding the rights of some homeowners who want to install and use solar energy. This year, the General Assembly passed Senate Bill 504, which says HOAs can impose so-called “reasonable restrictions” on the installation of rooftop solar, and the legislation says restrictions are considered unreasonable if they increase the cost of […]
Keep Your Bedsheets Off My Property – Restricting the Location of Clotheslines (FL)
While electronic communications are becoming much more prevalent with many offices moving to digital files, mailed notices are still a necessity. A present dispute concerning a homeowner’s installation of a clothes drying line is a reminder that 1) clotheslines are protected by Florida’s Renewable Resources Act and 2) the lack of specifics and guidelines governing […]
Venice homeowners association fines resident $2,500 over legally-protected clothesline (FL)
The location of the clothesline — the perfect, sunny spot in Wuetcher’s backyard — is visible from the road, which the HOA does not like. “In February of 2019, I got a violation letter saying, ‘You didn’t do what you were supposed to do. We can see it from the street. You have to move […]
When Homeowner Associations Shade Out Solar Energy (MI)
Rick Freiman has a couple of reasons for wanting to put solar panels on his roof. They would save him money on his energy bill. But also, Freiman is a climate activist. He and his wife Deb want to shrink their carbon footprint. The Freimans live in a subdivision in Portage. They got a couple of […]
Washington Legislature Approves New Law Regarding Low-Water Landscaping
The Washington Legislature recently approved a new law regulating the ability of community associations and their governing documents to restrict low-water landscaping practices. The law first states that an association’s governing documents may not prohibit the installation of drought resistant landscaping or wildfire ignition resistant landscaping. Read the article…………………………….
Virginia compromise brings clarity to homeowner association solar rules
A new law updates a 2013 measure that gave homeowner associations power to impose “reasonable restrictions” on solar. Read the article……………………………
HOAs Slow to Accept Native Plant Landscaping (TX)
San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has long offered incentives to homeowners to replace non-native grass lawns with drought-resistant native plants. But the city’s many homeowner associations (HOAs) continue to favor water-thirsty, non-native turf grasses and resist residents who want native plant landscaping. Read the article………………………
New Virginia law prevents HOAs from blocking solar installations
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has signed HB 414/SB 504. The bill protects homeowners who want to install solar from burdensome homeowners association (HOA) restrictions. “The legislation protects the rights of homeowners who want to go solar but live in HOA communities,” said Aaron Sutch, program director for Solar United Neighbors.“It strikes a fair balance between […]
Sun City relaxes solar panel regulations (GA)
The Sun City board of directors recently announced a change to the Community Association’s governing policies that will introduce relaxed regulations for the placement of solar panels on homes inside the community. Read the article………………………..
HOA Can’t Prohibit Water-Efficiency Measures (CA)
In California, a Homeowner Association (HOA) cannot prohibit individual owners from replacing their existing landscaping with low-water-using plants. That limitation on an association’s rules or actions is a result of legislation (AB 2104, Gonzalez) passed last year and that was initiated in response to the state of (drought) emergency declared by Governor Brown. Read the […]
Solar Panels and Satellite Dishes: Can an Association Regulate Them? (CO)
Short answer: Yes, an association can regulate solar panels and satellite dishes. However, an association cannot ban them in certain areas as solar panels are protected by Colorado law and satellite dishes are protected by federal law. And, the scope of the association’s regulation authority depends on whether the home is a single family home […]
Conserve water. Remove useless grass in the community (NV)
Local neighborhoods and homeowners associations have hundreds of acres of unused grass that are ideal to convert to drip-irrigated plants and shrubs. This is grass that homeowners do not use, as it is found in small patches along the roadways, between sidewalks and curbs, or in medians, roundabouts and other locations where it never gets […]
Powhatan Couple says homeowners association changed rules on solar panels after request (VA)
A Powhatan County couple is hoping that a new law might help them be able to install solar panels on their home after push back from their housing association Read the article………………………
How Will Co-ops and Condos Pay for Energy-Efficiency Retrofits? (NY)
Amid the tumult and trepidation surrounding the passage of New York City’s Local Law 97, the Climate Mobilization Act, there is a surprising ray of good news for co-op and condo boards concerned about the cost of major capital improvements and retrofits: there are numerous affordable financing options. Read the article…………………………
HOA Homefront: Can the board deny us solar panels? (CA)
Q: Can an HOA prevent us from placing solar panels on the roof of our condominium townhome? If we agree to be responsible for the repairs needed due to our solar panels, do we have the right to place solar panels on our roof? Read the Q&A…………………….
Rethinking and Refreshing Your Community Association’s Eco-Friendly Green Initiatives
Everyone knows that “going green” is good but it can be difficult to know what that means exactly for a Community Association and how a board can actually implement “Green Initiatives”. In community associations, each individual can make a positive impact on our environment, and in some cases, we can save money by going green. […]
The lessons from historic preservation councils blocking solar panels
To achieve their ambitious climate goals, countries of the world will need to change almost everything: how people get around, where and how they work, how they heat their homes and charge their phones, what they buy, and where they live. That will be challenging for any number of reasons, ranging from the opposition of […]
Sustainability: Going Green in Your HOA
Green communities translate into lower operating costs while providing beneficial lower environmental impact for the community as a whole. Read on to see how your HOA can become more efficient, save energy and valuable resources, and better yet, save money! Read the article…………………………
Solar panels were rare in Sun City until SC residents convinced HOA (SC)
When Jeff Foreman bought his home in senior-oriented Sun City, he traded a condo in New York City for a suburban neighborhood that seemed social and active. But with the new neighborhood near Bluffton came a homeowners association, which made Foreman’s plans to reduce his carbon footprint a challenge. Read the article……………………….
Is Your Building An “A” Or An “F”? (NY)
Would you go to a restaurant that had anything but a letter “A” posted in the window? As recently reported in Curbed NY, Local Law 95, which is an amendment to Local Law 33, mandates that all New York City buildings post their letter grade on the building. Buildings are expected to receive their letters […]
Conservation and homeowners associations can go hand in hand (FL)
As a lifelong Florida resident, I have seen the population explode from roughly 4 million to over 20 million residents in my lifetime. And since I have been involved with many of the growth and building industries, I have had a court side seat to see how development has changed. Read the article…………………………..
State denies condo owner $2K rebate for energy efficient air conditioner (NJ)
Anthony and Patricia Schinella own a condo in Wildwood Crest. They pay their property taxes. They pay their condo association dues. And at the end of the summer, they paid for a new air conditioning system. The chose the system in part because they were told it was eligible for a $2,000 rebate from the […]
Toronto’s big un-green condo problem (ON)
Marianne Touchie and Helen Stopps have spent a lot of time thinking about thermostats. “Between Helen and I, I don’t know — hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours: it’s hard to put a number on it,” laughs Touchie, an assistant professor in the University of Toronto’s Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering. The tiny […]
Case Law: Heron Bay Homeowners Association v. City of San Leandro (CA)
Halus Power Systems sought approval from the City of San Leandro for a zoning variance to construct a 100-foot-tall wind turbine on an industrial parcel. The property is located in an estuary, where many species of waterfowl and shorebirds, including threatened or endangered species, reside. The property is also roughly 500 feet from the 629-unit […]
Gated San Diego neighborhood declared ineligible for city’s utility undergrounding (CA)
The Alvarado Estates, an upscale area near San Diego State, is struggling this fall with an unexpected consequence of being one of San Diego’s first gated communities. The neighborhood has long wanted its telephone poles, power lines and other utilities undergrounded as part of a multimillion dollar city program. But City Attorney Mara Elliott says […]
When Residents Support Solar—Just ‘Not in My Backyard’
Fawn Lake, a gated community in rural Spotsylvania County, Virginia, boasts expansive single-family homes with big yards and a nearby country club with an 18-hole Arnold Palmer Signature golf course. It’s a picturesque enclave, surrounded by sparkling lakes and rolling green fields that were once Civil War battlegrounds. Soon, Fawn Lake will have a new […]
Power Struggle: Residents and homeowners associations clash over solar panels (VA)
For Lillian Mezey, installing solar panels on the roof of her family’s home wasn’t just about saving money—“We just care a lot about environmental issues,” Mezey says. That’s part of the reason Mezey was so frustrated when the homeowners association that governs her neighborhood rejected her request to install the panels. Mezey, a psychiatrist at […]
‘The worth of water’ and what conservation strategies are working
Benjamin Franklin, in the pages of Poor Richard’s Almanac, warned: “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.” That truism of 273 years ago remains a go-to phrase among water managers today, especially in the arid Southwest embattled by drought. The American Water Resources Association’s national conference ended Wednesday in Salt Lake […]
Florida law trumps HOA rules: Homeowners can use the sun and a clothesline to dry laundry
In the upscale community of Cross Creek Estates, Terri Krass’ sheets are flapping on the clothesline in her backyard. While spending the summer in Maine, Krass found out that Florida statutes override the clothesline ban in homeowners’ association rules. So when she came back to Florida the 62-year-old Krass put a pipe in the ground, […]
The Current State of Solar Laws for Homeowners Associations in North Carolina – 2019 Update
For years North Carolina has followed the national trend of promoting and encouraging green technology and cleaner and more efficient ways of producing energy. For homeowners associations, the trend has been for state legislatures to create laws allowing installation of solar collectors, regardless of what the HOA may say. Some states have required HOAs to […]
Sustainability and Your Association: 10 Things to Consider
Small scale and community-wide sustainability efforts can have an environmental impact. From simple lightbulb changes to water efficient landscaping, there are many steps an Association can take to reduce their carbon and energy footprint. Performing an energy audit, forming a green committee, and identifying eco-friendly initiatives in capital improvement projects can also foster member engagement […]
Live Long and Prosper in a Health-Conscious Colorado Condo
Around the nation, builders and developers are beginning to experiment on projects that include wellness features – better air filtration, circadian rhythm lighting, furnishings and building materials that don’t off-gas dangerous chemicals, among other things. Read the article……………………….
Recent South Carolina Solar Law and What it Means for Your HOA
A South Carolina solar bill that was signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster in May this year might have impacts on your homeowners association by increasing the number of property owners looking to install some sort of solar technology on their property. Since most HOAs have architectural approval procedures for changes to properties, that […]
Goodyear residents say ‘wasted’ water caused neighborhood swamp (AZ)
In Goodyear’s Pebble Creek neighborhood, homeowners say a river now running through their neighborhood is a nuisance, a public health hazard and a waste of a precious desert resource. Richard and Janet Kirshbaum paid to live on the golf course, but these days it looks more like a water hazard. More and more often, the […]
Solar Panels & HOAs – Can They Be Restricted? (FL)
While solar panels are often considered unsightly, they are a renewable energy device. For an individual home, they must be permitted by a homeowners association. However, they can be regulated. The relevant statute regarding solar panels is Section 163.04, Florida Statutes, which provides that no ordinances or laws can prohibit “the installation of solar collectors, […]
Colorado Isn’t The Desert. A Sustainable Lawn Doesn’t Have To Be Rocks, Cacti And Ugly
We get it, Colorado. You hate xeriscape. You’re probably visualizing it right now. A landscape with neutral colors, rocks and maybe a cactus or two. It appears lifeless and well, just sort of ugly. You still want to reap the benefits of a low-maintenance yard that gets by with little watering. One that may benefit […]
Rainwater Harvesting and Your Community Association
Rainwater harvesting is a simple, eco-friendly technique that many homeowners are using to gather rainwater and use it for simple purposes. It’s a great way to water gardens, wash clothing, and take care of many cleaning tasks–or even fill a child’s swimming pool. As a homeowner’s association, there are several benefits to allowing rainwater collection […]
Castle Pines announces water manager has left as residents demand answers (CO)
After our Contact7 Investigation revealed water from Castle Pines was being sold and shipped to construction sites for dust mitigation, the Metropolitan Water District announced the manager is no longer employed there. Over 30 residents attended a meeting Monday night. They learned 7 million gallons of their drinking water was not sold to a community […]
What is Smart Irrigation & Why Your HOA Should Invest in This Latest Technology
Advances in smart home technology provide convenience while at the same time saving you money and helping the environment. This technology is especially useful when it comes to landscaping and green spaces. Part of the growing Internet of Things (IoT) that connect devices to the internet, systems such as Smart Irrigation Controllers can help the […]
HOA demands extra cash for solar-panel review (AZ)
No one wants to pay more than they have to. That’s especially true if you’re making a sizable outlay on something expensive and socially beneficial, like rooftop solar panels. But some homeowners associations say they have a right to charge residents a fee so they can review the plans for new solar panels. Read […]
Move Over, Solar Panels! Home Wind Turbines Are the Latest Green Energy Source for Homeowners
Wind power is one of the most popular forms of renewable energy, and in some parts of the country, you can drive by huge fields of turbines with their fanlike blades. Home wind turbines, like solar panels, capture energy and help lower your electricity bill. But can this clean fuel source actually power your entire […]
Sustainability and Your Association: Considerations for Solar Panels (IL)
Homeowners are “going green” with small-scale sustainability efforts in an effort to reduce their energy footprint. Wind turbine, rain water collection, and composting systems have become viable renewable, clean energy options. In particular, residential solar technology has gained popularity due to accessible technology, streamlined equipment, and decreased installation costs. Read the article…………………….
The Benefits of a Green Roof Go Way Beyond Economics (NY)
One big thing. The Climate Mobilization Act, a New York City legislative package of seven bills that goes into gear in 2024. It’s the single largest carbon-reduction effort that any city has put forward, and it leaves you five, very short, years to get your building in shape. Read the article………………………
How to Make Your Pool More Sustainable
For many community associations the pool is a key amenity where neighbors can gather and enjoy the sun. However, pools, especially freshwater pools, require a lot of maintenance. Some of that maintenance requires chemicals and actions that are less than sustainable but there are steps you can take to ensure a more eco-friendly pool this […]
Want more smart buildings? Amp up the collaboration (ON)
“Smart technologies are defined by their interconnectedness,” points out an ACEEE report on the smart building markets. The companies that buy and sell them, however, are defined by their disconnectedness. Intelligent buildings have been a concept for decades (a quick search turns up a research report from 1991). Sustainability thinkers have been advocating them for […]