'I got a letter from the HOA... demanding I move my plane': Lakefront cottage dweller gets in squabble with HOA over their "seaplane and buoys"

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 12, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

This person is really living the dream: they have a lakefront cottage and their own seaplane! That sounds like a cozy life: they inherited their place from a family member, and they're not even required to join their local homeowner's association. 

Just because you aren't part of this HOA, doesn't mean they won't still try to bug you! The HOA members are certain that they could make this dude move the seaplane. It seems to be a fairly common issue for HOAs to try everything to get more money from people in their neighborhoods, and they clearly have a desire for more power and money from people in surrounding areas too. They can never be satisfied! 

This person was wondering if they were wrong for the way they talked to the HOA folks. They told the HOA people in no uncertain terms that they were not welcome at all. However, in the comments section, people had more questions for the original poster, and the seaplane owner took some time to respond. You can read the whole story below, and see if you side with the seaplane guy or the HOA. 

Up next, this worker was just trying to plan a trip, but their boss thought it was too pricey, saying, "What do you think you're doing? You're not one of the big shots."

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10387410176
    via Karl Callwood on Unsplash
  • 02
    AITA for ignoring my neighbors and their HOA group?
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 03
    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
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 04
    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 the plane is either tied to my dock or is pulled up onto the beach and strapped down when the weather is bad.
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 05
    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
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 06
    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 they keep their distance however recently they have been getting too close for comfort.
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 07
    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
  • 08
    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
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 09
    property again they will get. arrested for trespassing. Before leaving she used some very colorful words and called me an
    via u/Infinite-Badger1362
  • 10
    Charles Muskrat NTA yet another HOA thinking they can flex on their neighbors. screw 'em
    via u/Charles Muskrat
  • 11
    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
  • 12
    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
  • 13
    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
  • 14
    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
  • 15
    [deleted] This. Honestly this situation can easily get out of hand.
    via u/[deleted]
  • 16
    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
  • 17
    myshellly 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. Infinite-Badger1362 OP Yes I know for 100% sure as I have all the paperwork including the documents that sho
    via u/myshellly
  • 18
    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
  • 19
    XStonedCatX 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
  • 20
    [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]
  • 21
    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
  • 22
    [deleted] Anybody who pies off a HOA is never an a hole!
    via u/[deleted]
  • 23
    403badger Info: is what your doing considered legal by whatever local/state municipality? Infinite-Badger1362 OP 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.
    via u/403badger
  • 24
    SammyLoops1 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? Infinite-Badger1362 OP I think I may be the a hole because of the psychology attached to the sign
    via u/SammyLoops1

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hoa house planes home owners association driveway plane home airplane neighbors neighborhood neighborhood-drama neighborhood-stories lake
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