HOA board threatens to fine homeowner $20/day for a standing basketball hoop, so he ‘digs around in the HOA covenants’ and uses their written rules against them

Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."

Sep 12, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

Arguing with your HOA always seems like a losing battle. Part of you regrets signing over your soul to an association that seems to have an excess of undemocratic rules. Whatever you wish to do to or with your property, the HOA board gets the final say. It's exhausting when you want to put something as simple as a basketball hoop in your cozy cul de sac, but board members insist on hounding you because you want to add some joy and togetherness to your neighborhood.

But when you are able to combat the board, that's a different feeling of success. When you are so maliciously compliant to the rules that your aggressors are thrown for a loop, wishing they hadn't written those rules into place at the onset. After all, the rules are written into effect for a reason—only a law-abiding homeowner would go so far as to take the rules word-for-word.

The original poster (OP) of this story was threatened with a $20 per day fine because of his standing basketball hoop, which he put in the back on an impasse in their cul de sac. It was enjoyed by many, so the OP was furious at the board member for trying to tell him to take it down. After some digging, OP realizes that the parameters discussed in the "HOA covenants" for where a hoop can reside are doable in his driveway. So, he places the hoop smack in the middle of his driveway, 25 feet from the street and 50 feet from his garage door. The board member threatens to fine him, so OP shows him, in writing, how he is in compliance and the board member tells him to "[insert impolite word here] off". It just gets better.

Scroll to read the entire story, and additionally, praise from commenters hoping they win the lottery so they can buy a house and pull stunts like these.