'HOA is demanding I move my plane': Snooping neighbors insist homeowner remove the sensible buoys and safety signs around his seaplane

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Mar 17, 2023 3:00 PM EDT

Home Owner's Associations often delight in trying to get people to change their homes, but this HOA extended their reach even further. 

For this person, their HOA didn't just try to control their property, but even made a lake their jurisdiction! As the OP wrote to r/AmItheA******, they live in a lakefront cottage. The OP is also a pilot who owns a seaplane, which they can keep conveniently parked in the water in front of their home. In an effort to keep everyone safe around the plane, the OP created their own warning signs, and put up buoys to demarcate a large area around the plane. Seems commonsensical? Not to this HOA, who came knocking at this homeowner's door to demand he get rid of it all. 

Scroll down to read through the way this guy handled these HOA folks who were in his business. Then, check out these ultimate fails from people who are kicking themselves for their mistakes. 

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  • 01
    Water - 'I told her that if she or the HOA comes onto my property again they will get arrested for trespassing.' 2-MBF Sma
    via Muhammadh Saamy
  • 02
    Human body - r/AmItheA ole Posted by u/Infinite-Badger1362 AITA for ignoring my neighbors and their HOA group?
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 03
    Font - I live in a cottage that I inherited after my grandfather passed away three years ago. The cottage is one of the oldest homes in the area and unlike my neighbors I am not a member of the HOA. The cottage itself is a waterfront one in which I have a small grass yard that turns into a beach on the lake. I never had a problem until recently over a seaplane and buoys. Due to having a private pilot's license and being really fortunate, I own a Piper Super Cub on floats. When I am not flying th
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 04
    Font - A month ago I decided to make some new additions to my property, these additions were two lines of buoys at the edge of my property with signs on each. The buoys extend 15 feet past my dock and are still technically on my property. The signs themselves are ones that I got custom-made warning about prop wash. I decided to add the buoys and signs because whenever I take my seaplane out there are sometimes boaters/ kayakers who will stop to watch me leave. Normally this is not an issue if th
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 05
    Font - With the addition of the buoys, I can keep a 100 X 300 ft safety rectangle. This makes it so that at the bare minimum I will always have around 100ft off of each wing of safe space. Additionally, it prevents people from cutting me off when I come to dock or park on the beach. About a week and a half ago I got a letter from the HOA.
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 06
    Font - The HOA is demanding I move my plane to a local seaplane base as well as remove my buoys and signs. In response, I wrote them a letter explaining the reasons behind having the buoys and told them I have no intention of changing anything. About two days later I got an angry visitor who was an HOA member, I told her that if she or the HOA comes onto my property again they will get arrested for trespassing. Before leaving she used some very colorful words and called me an a hole.
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 07
    Font - buck_godot Totally NTA, but get cameras and a lawyer on retainer, you're likely in for an annoying ride with the HOA, even though you're within your rights.
    via u/buck_godot
  • 08
    Font - letstrythisagain30 These are all safety modifications as well. Nothing like a reflective gold statue of OP flipping the HOA the finger or some other nuisance. If OP did everything above board and legally, I think the proper legal phrase here is that the HOA can go pound sand.
    via u/letstrythisagain30
  • 09
    Font - Natural Writer9702 I'm so frigging happy HOA is not a thing in the UK. I could never imagine some jumped up little twerp thinking they could tell me what I could and couldn't do with the property I own. Screw those people
    via u/Natural_Writer9702
  • 10
    Font - BaronsDad NTA. You mention in other comments that you have documentation on your ownership that proves the legality of your actions. I would hire attorney and stop replying to them yourself. Have the attorney send a letter to the HOA to kindly stop harassing you when you are not part of their HOA and that any harassment would be reported to the authorities. If you can afford it, set up cameras. And let them know any trespassers will be recorded.
    via u/BaronsDad
  • 11
    Human body - [deleted] This. Honestly this situation can easily get out of hand.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 12
    Font - MusketeersPlus2 Also smart to have a camera pointed at the water so that if a kayak gets overturned by the prop wash and someone gets injured he has proof that the kayak was inside his warning buoys.
    via u/MusketeersPlus2
  • 13
    Font - or myshellly Parta ant [3] INFO: Are you 100% sure that what you are doing is legal according to the property laws of your county/state/country? Where I am, private property does not extend out onto water like that. If you are in violation of any ordinances, laws, codes, etc., you would be the a ole. If not, then not. But this is a more nuanced question than just whether you are subject to the HOA or not. 1.6k Share Infinite-Badger1362 OP Yes I know for 100% sure as I have all the paperwo
    via u/myshellly
  • 14
    Font - Philip_J_Friday Where I am, private property does not extend out onto water like that. That's true of the ocean/beach in many places, but even a small lake? What if it's fully on your property?
    via u/Philip_J_Friday
  • 15
    Font - XStonedCatX Certified Proctologist [23] Even IF OP is violating local ordinances, it's not up to the HOA to enforce those ordinances. The HOA can pl right off. They could report OP to the correct authorities but the HOA itself has no business bothering OP
    via u/XStonedCatX
  • 16
    Font - [deleted] NTA, HOAs are just about always TA. I understand the benefits to an HOA, and why some people choose to be in them, but they attract control freaks. Imagine the audacity of demanding someone change how they use their own property even when they're not in your club of complainers.
    via u/deleted
  • 17
    Font - ImAPixiePrincess I wouldn't mind one that collected for amenities and keeping the area clean. But when they start flipping out about an ungodly trash can or trying to tell me what colors I can have my home, they can fo right off.
    via u/ImAPixiePrincess
  • 18
    Human body - [deleted] Anybody who pies off a HOA is never an a hole!
    via u/deleted
  • 19
    Font - 403badger A ole Enthusiast [5] Info: is what your doing considered legal by whatever local/state municipality? 88 Share Infinite-Badger1362 Yeah and it is not uncommon for people to have buoys past their docks. Typically people use these buoys to secure their boats during storms. OP
    via u/403badger
  • 20
    Font - or SammyLoops1 Supreme Court Just-a [122] NTA - I'm genuinely curious why you think you might be TA here. It's your property and they're trying to tell you what to do with it. You're putting in measures to ensure the safety of everyone around you, not burning tires or having meth parties. Just count your blessings that you have such a privileged and fortunate lifestyle. What would you tell someone who posed this question to you? 4 Share Infinite-Badger1362 OP I think I may be the a hole b
    via u/SammyLoops1
  • 21
    Font - Charles Muskrat A hole Aficionado [17] ΝΤΑ yet another HOA thinking they can flex on their neighbors. screw 'em
    via u/

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