Question for US home owners
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Recently I have a fence built without getting HOA (home owners association) approval. The reason is that I thought the contractor was going to get the approval. My question is, what the "punishment" for me will be and what should I do? I know the answer depends on my local community, I just want to know what will happen in your neighborhood. By the way, there is nothing special about my fence, it looks just like my neighbors.
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Recently I have a fence built without getting HOA (home owners association) approval. The reason is that I thought the contractor was going to get the approval. My question is, what the "punishment" for me will be and what should I do? I know the answer depends on my local community, I just want to know what will happen in your neighborhood. By the way, there is nothing special about my fence, it looks just like my neighbors.
There shouldn't be one. HOA leadership is comprised of fellow home owners. I would simply take a picture fill out the notification form and submit it. Explain what happened and that should be it. Worse case: They ask you to take it down (unreasonable). You say no. They get an attorney. You get an attorney it never makes it to court you settle out as nobody wants to pay those fees. You win. Best case: Most likely this is a non-event. Do what is required right now (that you *should* have done earlier) and it will be fine. That's how my HOA would react.
A Plain English signature. Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
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Recently I have a fence built without getting HOA (home owners association) approval. The reason is that I thought the contractor was going to get the approval. My question is, what the "punishment" for me will be and what should I do? I know the answer depends on my local community, I just want to know what will happen in your neighborhood. By the way, there is nothing special about my fence, it looks just like my neighbors.
They'd pull it down and use it to fire the local Guinness brewery here. So all in all, not a bad thing (you get to say your fence helped make your pint of Guinness.) regards, Paul Watson Ireland Feed Henry! K(arl) wrote: oh, and BTW, CHRISTIAN ISN'T A PARADOX, HE IS A TASMANIAN!
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There shouldn't be one. HOA leadership is comprised of fellow home owners. I would simply take a picture fill out the notification form and submit it. Explain what happened and that should be it. Worse case: They ask you to take it down (unreasonable). You say no. They get an attorney. You get an attorney it never makes it to court you settle out as nobody wants to pay those fees. You win. Best case: Most likely this is a non-event. Do what is required right now (that you *should* have done earlier) and it will be fine. That's how my HOA would react.
A Plain English signature. Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
code-frog wrote:
There shouldn't be one. HOA leadership is comprised of fellow home owners. I would simply take a picture fill out the notification form and submit it. Explain what happened and that should be it.
HAHAHA! What homeowner association do you live with? The ones my friends have told me about, the homeowners are more like Nazis than friendly neighbors. Make somebody a member on a committee, and you'll wish they were committed! Marc Pensieve Functional Entanglement vs. Code Entanglement Static Classes Make For Rigid Architectures
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Recently I have a fence built without getting HOA (home owners association) approval. The reason is that I thought the contractor was going to get the approval. My question is, what the "punishment" for me will be and what should I do? I know the answer depends on my local community, I just want to know what will happen in your neighborhood. By the way, there is nothing special about my fence, it looks just like my neighbors.
Another reason I live out in the country where HOA do not exist. I prefer to be able to do what I want with my property and no one in the area tells me what I can do. Heck my neighbor put in a 120 foot flag pole and flys a 30x50 flag from it.
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code-frog wrote:
There shouldn't be one. HOA leadership is comprised of fellow home owners. I would simply take a picture fill out the notification form and submit it. Explain what happened and that should be it.
HAHAHA! What homeowner association do you live with? The ones my friends have told me about, the homeowners are more like Nazis than friendly neighbors. Make somebody a member on a committee, and you'll wish they were committed! Marc Pensieve Functional Entanglement vs. Code Entanglement Static Classes Make For Rigid Architectures
As the ex-chairman of a large residents/homeoweners association I can tell you that it is not like that at all. I gave up in the end becuase I was driven to distraction by stupid people too ignorant to think or act for themselves and who put unrealistic demands on myself and the rest of the committee, who, I might add did it in their spare time and without any hint or desire for reward other than to ensure that we built a real community that we could all share and enjoy. It ended up taking at least one full day a week of my time as I represented the residents in any disputs with the local council, the builders, the management company, the builders and the lawyers (whom, I might add, I thought were, each and every one, scum, without exception). On top of which there are the complete wankers who believed that I was on the make (god knows how) and constantly picked fights or threatened to sue me if I didn't do what they thought was right. Finally there are the people who always know how to do it better than you yet resist all invitations to join the committee and prove it. So they may appear to be overly pedantic 'Nazis' but I can assure you that they're simply trying to balance the demands of every individual that the association represents. In contrast I've yet to come across a project that was embroiled in anything like the difficulties and political nonsense we had to endure as committee members. I'd rather run a global project with Martians than return to being part of an association no matter how much we still managed to achieve. www.merrens.com
www.bkmrx.com -
Recently I have a fence built without getting HOA (home owners association) approval. The reason is that I thought the contractor was going to get the approval. My question is, what the "punishment" for me will be and what should I do? I know the answer depends on my local community, I just want to know what will happen in your neighborhood. By the way, there is nothing special about my fence, it looks just like my neighbors.
Depends on if your deed recognizes the Codes set by the HOA. Some are just information associations to help interact with the city. In which case did you get a city (county ... what ever level) permit for the building of the fence. If the fence is compliant with the buiding codes. Go get the notification done. If it is not complaint with the codes, it comes down, unless you pay off the inspector. You assumed the builder was going to handle the paper work. Why did they not? Did your contract have any words to the effect of hanlding permits, etc? Most do, go check that. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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Recently I have a fence built without getting HOA (home owners association) approval. The reason is that I thought the contractor was going to get the approval. My question is, what the "punishment" for me will be and what should I do? I know the answer depends on my local community, I just want to know what will happen in your neighborhood. By the way, there is nothing special about my fence, it looks just like my neighbors.
The role of the HOA is to make sure that your fence complies with the standards of appearance set for your comunity in your HOA rules. As stated above, submit your plans, explain the situation, and wait for thier response of "Okay but next time submit the request first". As mentioned above, they do this on their own time and are not interested in doing something that take up more of thier time. They will probably just accept it. The risk is that if the fence does not met the HOA guidelines you could be asked/told to change it, but that would have been avoided if you had followed the procedures in the first place (misunderstandings about who was going to do it set aside). Check your contract with the guy who built your fence. Does it state that he will get all of the approvals/permits? If it does, you may be able to get him to make any needed changes.
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Recently I have a fence built without getting HOA (home owners association) approval. The reason is that I thought the contractor was going to get the approval. My question is, what the "punishment" for me will be and what should I do? I know the answer depends on my local community, I just want to know what will happen in your neighborhood. By the way, there is nothing special about my fence, it looks just like my neighbors.
Hmmm, looks just like your neighbors? Did you paint a mural on the fence? The worst that could happen is they could make you take it down, but usually, as long as it meets HOA rules regarding fences, and as long as the machinegun emplacements don't appear to be permanant, you should be fine. (My HOA made me remove the razor wire.) ------- sig starts "I've heard some drivers saying, 'We're going too fast here...'. If you're not here to race, go the hell home - don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Why don't you tie a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
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Depends on if your deed recognizes the Codes set by the HOA. Some are just information associations to help interact with the city. In which case did you get a city (county ... what ever level) permit for the building of the fence. If the fence is compliant with the buiding codes. Go get the notification done. If it is not complaint with the codes, it comes down, unless you pay off the inspector. You assumed the builder was going to handle the paper work. Why did they not? Did your contract have any words to the effect of hanlding permits, etc? Most do, go check that. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
Actually, placement or style of fence might be the issue. Our old HOA disallowed fences of any description around the front yard. Our neighbor was in the middle of building a really nice brick post/wrought iron fence around his front yard, and they made him stop. Now, he has a bunch of brick posts around his yard because he wasn't about to remove them since they aren't technically a fency. He now calls them "statuary", and there's nothing in the HOA charter about having statues in the front yard. For a while, he even had the wrought iron arranged artfully around the brick posts. :) ------- sig starts "I've heard some drivers saying, 'We're going too fast here...'. If you're not here to race, go the hell home - don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Why don't you tie a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
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Actually, placement or style of fence might be the issue. Our old HOA disallowed fences of any description around the front yard. Our neighbor was in the middle of building a really nice brick post/wrought iron fence around his front yard, and they made him stop. Now, he has a bunch of brick posts around his yard because he wasn't about to remove them since they aren't technically a fency. He now calls them "statuary", and there's nothing in the HOA charter about having statues in the front yard. For a while, he even had the wrought iron arranged artfully around the brick posts. :) ------- sig starts "I've heard some drivers saying, 'We're going too fast here...'. If you're not here to race, go the hell home - don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Why don't you tie a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Actually, placement or style of fence might be the issue.
Exactly. Out building codes have the same wording. No fencing may be forward of the house/building in the direction of the street address. Those on corner lots have been inventive. :) Closely plant bushes do also work. :) "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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Hmmm, looks just like your neighbors? Did you paint a mural on the fence? The worst that could happen is they could make you take it down, but usually, as long as it meets HOA rules regarding fences, and as long as the machinegun emplacements don't appear to be permanant, you should be fine. (My HOA made me remove the razor wire.) ------- sig starts "I've heard some drivers saying, 'We're going too fast here...'. If you're not here to race, go the hell home - don't come here and grumble about going too fast. Why don't you tie a kerosene rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt "...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
The worst that could happen is they could make you take it down, but usually, as long as it meets HOA rules regarding fences, and as long as the machinegun emplacements don't appear to be permanant, you should be fine. (My HOA made me remove the razor wire.)
I assume the bunkers are cammoed with landscaping to be less obvious. :D
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
The worst that could happen is they could make you take it down, but usually, as long as it meets HOA rules regarding fences, and as long as the machinegun emplacements don't appear to be permanant, you should be fine. (My HOA made me remove the razor wire.)
I assume the bunkers are cammoed with landscaping to be less obvious. :D
Storm Shelters are perfectly ok in this part of the country. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
Actually, placement or style of fence might be the issue.
Exactly. Out building codes have the same wording. No fencing may be forward of the house/building in the direction of the street address. Those on corner lots have been inventive. :) Closely plant bushes do also work. :) "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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Storm Shelters are perfectly ok in this part of the country. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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code-frog wrote:
There shouldn't be one. HOA leadership is comprised of fellow home owners. I would simply take a picture fill out the notification form and submit it. Explain what happened and that should be it.
HAHAHA! What homeowner association do you live with? The ones my friends have told me about, the homeowners are more like Nazis than friendly neighbors. Make somebody a member on a committee, and you'll wish they were committed! Marc Pensieve Functional Entanglement vs. Code Entanglement Static Classes Make For Rigid Architectures
In Idaho things are still a bit different than elsewhere. Here community still means *A LOT* to a lot of people. That's why Boise is always in the top 5 of places to move. Yes, we get all the idiots but the natives bring them up to speed pretty quick. HOA's here aren't bad. Inbound Californian's with a screw you attitude cause way more trouble.
A Plain English signature. Code-frog System Architects, Inc.
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Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
Closely plant bushes do also work.
any mention of a moat? Or pit of burning tar? Gary Flickr Photos[^]
Gary Thom wrote:
any mention of a moat? Or pit of burning tar?
A moat (if filled!) would be a welcome option and the burning tar would be a quick ride to jail. We are in a drought and no open fires are permited. :sigh: "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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Michael A. Barnhart wrote:
Storm Shelters are perfectly ok in this part of the country.
Normal shelters don't have crewserved weapons though.
dan neely wrote:
Normal shelters don't have crewserved weapons though.
Normal Northern shelters don't have crewserved weapons though. Is that what you ment? "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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As the ex-chairman of a large residents/homeoweners association I can tell you that it is not like that at all. I gave up in the end becuase I was driven to distraction by stupid people too ignorant to think or act for themselves and who put unrealistic demands on myself and the rest of the committee, who, I might add did it in their spare time and without any hint or desire for reward other than to ensure that we built a real community that we could all share and enjoy. It ended up taking at least one full day a week of my time as I represented the residents in any disputs with the local council, the builders, the management company, the builders and the lawyers (whom, I might add, I thought were, each and every one, scum, without exception). On top of which there are the complete wankers who believed that I was on the make (god knows how) and constantly picked fights or threatened to sue me if I didn't do what they thought was right. Finally there are the people who always know how to do it better than you yet resist all invitations to join the committee and prove it. So they may appear to be overly pedantic 'Nazis' but I can assure you that they're simply trying to balance the demands of every individual that the association represents. In contrast I've yet to come across a project that was embroiled in anything like the difficulties and political nonsense we had to endure as committee members. I'd rather run a global project with Martians than return to being part of an association no matter how much we still managed to achieve. www.merrens.com
www.bkmrx.comHere in Tarrant County Texas wording has very explicit meaning. Homeowners associations are legal entities that may add building codes to the properties in there boundaries. Often there is a tax / fee to pay for lawyers, etc. Neighborhood associations are legal entities that represent the citizens to the city/county as a collective voice but may not impose any restrictions / codes. Only pass information and opinions / concerns between the parties. FYI I have served on our neighborhood association. They have requirements to pass information on and to meet on a regular basis in a publicly accessable location. In neither case would the association represent residents in disputes. "Every new day begins with possibilities. It's up to us to fill it with things that move us toward progress and peace.” (Ronald Reagan)
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The role of the HOA is to make sure that your fence complies with the standards of appearance set for your comunity in your HOA rules. As stated above, submit your plans, explain the situation, and wait for thier response of "Okay but next time submit the request first". As mentioned above, they do this on their own time and are not interested in doing something that take up more of thier time. They will probably just accept it. The risk is that if the fence does not met the HOA guidelines you could be asked/told to change it, but that would have been avoided if you had followed the procedures in the first place (misunderstandings about who was going to do it set aside). Check your contract with the guy who built your fence. Does it state that he will get all of the approvals/permits? If it does, you may be able to get him to make any needed changes.
Hang on - so this association can tell you what your home should look like? :wtf: Who are these people? Who elects them? Who regulates them? The tigress is here :-D
