13 HOA Red Flags That Could Cost You

Homeowners associations (HOAs) may keep neighborhoods looking neat and tidy, and your house value intact, but they can also come with a long list of restrictions that feel more like dealbreakers than perks. From bans on car washing in your driveway to requiring multiple approvals to install an EV charger or mandating the color of your house, or play structures be hidden from view, these rules can affect your day-to-day life in surprising, and often very painful, ways.

Before buying or renting in an HOA-regulated property, it’s essential to read the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) thoroughly. The fine print could cost you more than you expect — in time, money, and patience.

Call us crazy, but one of the joys of living in a house (and not a high-rise) is the ability to wash your car. But in many HOA communities, that simple act is off-limits. Boards often cite environmental concerns, drought conditions, and run-off regulations to ban driveway car washing altogether, even when eco-friendly products are used. In Belle Haven, a condo community in St. Augustine, Florida, the rules state: "No vehicles of any kind may be washed on condominium property." In Austin, similar restrictions apply at these HOAs.

Despite the growing adoption of electric vehicles, many HOAs still treat EV chargers as architectural modifications requiring board approval. Homeowners must apply to install a dedicated meter, sometimes even before EVs are present on the property. Florida law (FS 718.113) technically protects EV installations, but HOAs can still delay or deny applications based on vague clauses like “not causing irreparable damage,” and even when they’ve succeeded, it can get costly.

In some HOA communities, preserving a neighbor’s view precedes your right to greenery. In Surfside, Washington, homeowner Candace Carteen was ordered to cut down her 21-foot pine trees because they partially blocked a neighbor’s ocean view, a quarter-mile away. After a four-year legal battle and over $20,000 in legal fees, she settled, but only after enduring repeated fines and stress.

A fenced-in backyard seems like the perfect place for a playset, but some HOAs disagree. Play equipment might be banned outright, limited by color and quality, or considered in a “common area” (and thus subject to restrictions. In Missouri, one family was told to dismantle their purple playset for aesthetic reasons. They fought back and won, but only after public pressure. As for a basketball hoop, read your CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions), which usually detail if it can remain in public sight full time.

HOAs often regulate holiday decorations. Some limit displays to white lights only; others require removal within 10 days of the holiday. A California homeowner had to pay a hefty fine for decorating before Thanksgiving. One clever Redditor reported rotating seasonal decor starting in September and updating it monthly to remain within HOA rules. Even something as simple as a wreath on a community mailbox might need pre-approval.

We’ve all heard of HOA power trippers walking around with tape measures. ​​HOA landscaping rules can be shockingly specific, like stipulating the height of your lawn grass to be between two and three inches — fines can range from $50-$1,000 — and yes, they will measure. Flowers and trees are not exempt, one Texas homeowner was fined $200 for planting bluebonnets (the state flower) that the HOA misidentified as weeds. As for fruit trees? Reddit can’t even give you a clear answer.

Think living in a house means you get a mailbox out front? Not always. Some HOAs mandate cluster mailboxes and prohibit individual mailboxes for uniform curb appeal. In Washington, this homeowner was fined for installing a $35 wooden mailbox. After legal wrangling, a judge ruled in his favor. Meanwhile, the residents of this Arizona community were forced to retrieve mail from the post office for nearly a year after a cluster box was damaged.

HOAs frequently restrict signs, whether for sale or political signs, yard displays, or even car window messages. A Lodi homeowner was fined for campaign signs that exceeded the HOA’s three-square-foot limit. In another case, a North Carolina man was fined $4,000 for the “ask me about”  message on his truck’s sunshade — the HOA claimed it violated community rules.

Think taking the trash out is straightforward? Not in some HOA communities. Many associations enforce strict rules about when bins can be placed on the curb, often no earlier than the evening before pickup and no later than the morning after. In one viral Reddit case, a homeowner was fined $6,000 without prior warning for repeated violations where trash bins were “visible from the street” outside of approved hours, despite receiving no direct warnings.

Depending on your HOA, you may be forced to keep your garage doors open from 8 am to 4 pm, or get ready to face a $200 fine. Others enforce the opposite, requiring doors to remain closed unless a vehicle is entering or exiting. Even if you’re doing vehicle maintenance and need ventilation, the HOA may say: Too bad.

Before you order blackout curtains or repaint your home, check your CC&Rs. Some HOAs require all window coverings visible from the street to be white, beige, or gray. Red or patterned drapes? That could be a violation. And paint? Many HOAs limit exterior colors to earth tones and may even require matte finishes. Want to use high-gloss trim? Better hope your application doesn’t get denied.

Even the type of car you drive can be a problem. In a community in Clearwater, a police officer wasn’t allowed to park her cruiser in the driveway. Another community sent an email warning a resident about her visitor’s SUVs with dark-tinted windows. A small win for pickup truck owners, with Florida House Bill 1203: as of July 1, 2024, HOAs can no longer restrict pickup trucks from parking in driveways, previously an issue, even if you owned the home.

In many HOA communities, even outdoor furniture is subject to rules. One resident was cited for having a BBQ grill and picnic table on their patio, which the HOA claimed violated community standards. Others have received violation notices for using furniture that doesn’t match the community’s approved aesthetic. Even harmless birdhouses have been labeled "unauthorized ornaments" and fined accordingly.