20+ Mildly infuriating HOAs that are bugging residents with their rules: 'HOA ripped out three trees overnight because they “didn’t look orderly”'

A world with no HOAs would look quite different than the world we have today. Instead of those cookie-cutter cul de sacs where every lawn is pristine and all the cars are hidden inside garages, people might be more carefree with their decorating. 

Homeowners Associations operate as if all homeowners are slobs who only want to trash their neighborhood. They'll see someone put their trashcan outside too early and think that they're a delinquent, instead of the reality, which is probably that they just have a long list of chores to get through and are trying to be proactive. HOAs are known for handing out utterly ridiculous fines, but that's not all. Some of them also take matters further. Just ask the person who discovered that their HOA had cut down two of their trees! That's just so unacceptable, and I hope their HOA had to answer to someone for their actions. 

Next, read about the hardware store "employee" who weighed down a customer's car with no less than 30 bags of concrete: 'I started moving the bags, 2 at a time.'

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Author image for Remy Millisky Remy Millisky
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  • 01
    'My HOA won't let me turn off this porch light at night... the porch lights are as bright as a thousand suns.'
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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  • 02
    Our HOA has a rule to set trash out at 5 pm. I set it out at 4:30... ESTIV CHEE WITH CARE AGILE MANE V M11824 Violation Notice No trash is to be put out prior to 5pm the day before trash pick up
    via u/OverpricedGoods

    The sign reads, "Violation Notice. No trash is to be put out prior to 5pm the day before trash pick up." Come on, HOA, is that really necessary? 

  • 03
    HOA cut our privacy bushes in half without asking.
    via u/mccarthybergeron
  • 04
    HOA penalized me for "excessive weeds in front yard."
    via u/Roney35
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  • 05
    HOA violation for parking on grass. HOAs are the worst. ■■ Verizon 9:30 AM 66% Violation_14538 2 Done Please Correct the Following: Parking - On grass Inspection Date: August 14, 2023 Correction Date: August 12, 2023 Comments: Illegal parking on grass
    via u/KaleidoscopeOk1346
  • 06
    This new dog policy my inlaws' hoa is implementing. Dog Registration Policy All dogs that live in or visit the DNA database. This program is run b are required to be registered in a for Prints and works by creating a unique DNA profile for each dog in the community. The DNA is collected by swabbing the inside of the dog's mouth to collect cheek cells. The DNA profiles of all the dogs in the community are entered into a database stored by Lab. When a waste sample is found, it is collected by our
    via u/AuthorHarrisonKing

    Let's break down the letter: 

    "Dog Registration Policy 

    All dogs that live in or visit the DNA database. This program is run by [redacted] for P**  Prints and works by creating a unique DNA profile for each dog in the community. The DNA is collected by swabbing the inside of the dog's mouth to collect cheek cells. The DNA profiles of all the dogs in the community are entered into a database stored by [redacted] Lab. When a waste sample is found, it is collected by our management company and sent to the lab. The DNA in the dog's f*ces is matched to a dog in the system and the violator is fined and charged for the cost of the analysis. 

    New and existing dogs and visiting dogs of existing owners are required to be registered within 2 weeks of program implementation or occupancy or visit. The cost for the DNA program registration is $86.14 per dog. This cost covers the DNA swabbing, DNA collection kit, and database registration. Payment can be made with your regular monthly assessment.

     Pet Registration is [redacted] scheduled times at the community clubhouse or by appointment at [redacted]. Please email DNA Program Manager [redacted] with any questions or to make an appointment. 

    FINE SCHEDULE 

    First Fine = Analysis and test fee and postage 

    Second Fine =  $150 plus analysis fee and postage 

    Third Fine = $150 plus analysis fee and postage 

    Analysis fee and postage = $147.30 

    Failure to register a dog within 2 weeks of move in = Progressive fines starting at $150, up to $500 per month."

     

    What a crock of… well, you know. This seems like a giant waste of money for everyone involved! 

  • 07
    HOA making me repaint my entire house during Christmas week because the paint has slightly faded Please see below comparison. 日 The photo of the house on the left is from a few years ago and the one on the right is how the house is currently the fascia is faded, and the pops outs are fading into an orange pink color and those colors are not in the approved paint schemes. To fix the violation you would need to repaint the home. Please see below link for the paint schemes in the community.
    via u/kvsnake
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  • 08
    We bought a new house earlier this year, just in time for the HOA to add new rules demanding everyone build fences around their A/C units because god forbid this thing be visible from the street.
    via u/AllyMarie93
  • 09
    This email I got from my HOA For even more infuriating context our monthly HOA fee is they doing with our money that they can't hire $800+ someone. 10:13 < All Mail 954 Seeking Volunteers for Light Duties Good evening, The Board is looking for owners to volunteer in 2025 to help offset the cost of some maintenance items. 1. Remove the waste bags from the Pet/Fido station near your unit. 2. As you're walking the property, pick up trash on the ground. 3. Sweep the entryway of the clubhouses from t
    via u/iamayamsam
  • 10
    Kids are having fun with friends so a neighbor reported to HOA that they must be running a childcare. THIS IS NOT A DAYCARE I JUST HAVE KIDS/ *and they like to play with the neighbor kids *
    via u/JustJJ92
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  • 11
    Two days before Christmas my HOA hits us with the news we will owe $3400 in special assessment fees on Jan 1 As the title says, my HOA had a special assessment voted on to fix a roof and repave already fine roads. I voted no, but whatever. Each townhouse owes $17,000. We received an email on Dec 2nd that it was voted as approved and would either be $3400 yearly for five years or $17000 all at once. They sent this out Dec 23rd to clarify that unlike all other special assessments that increase the
    via u/Silly-Coconut7093
  • 12
    Corp 3- *CORRECTION* To Special Assessment email Our apologies for the typo in the previous email sent regarding the Special Assessment. The 2 options are either paying lump sum OR yearly payments of $3,400 due the 1st of Jan. each year for 5 years. The Special Assessment of $17,000 per unit, either lump sum payment or YEARLY payments, will be due Jan 1st, 2025. If you would like to pay the lump sum, please respond to this email letting us know and your account will be set up accordingly. Yearly
    via u/Silly-Coconut7093
  • 13
    I asked the HOA president if a Ring doorbell can be installed My new tenant just moved in and asked if he's allowed to have a Ring doorbell installed, so I asked the HOA president. This was her response. He asked if he's allowed to have a Ring doorbell installed on his door? What door.. Leading directly into his unit ?? Not sure where this ring doorbell would be wired to?? That's a no It is wireless Good grief.. it's one thing with this tenant. Besides that ring is illegal to install in condo bu
    via u/Majestic_Fox_428
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  • 14
    My HOA won't let me turn off this porch light at night... Just moved into this condo complex and the porch lights are as bright as a thousand suns. There's no light switch to control it, and when I just unscrewed the bulb, someone from the HOA came and screwed it back in.
    via u/kamikaze_official
  • 15

    These stickers seem to be a blight on the community

    This sticker the HOA put on my car for expired registration tags. G/NO PARKING IR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ALE TO CONRESULT IN YOU BOOTED EXPENSE ODISABLED parking spo AUD, EXPIRED parking perm dong in a LOADING ZONE or IDLING LOADING RESERVED parking spot ECEVING DOCK or GARBAGE BIN WANCE TO BUILDING DRIVEWAY GED SD or in UNACCEPTABLE CONDITION ROCKING CARS ROPERLY DATE SOVED]=19 Hirshics will be towed p DAY DATE
    via u/NormalAssistance9402
  • 16

    This person got one too !

    Okay, I broke the HOA rules. But did you have to put a sticker on my car that I can't remove? WARNING ADVERTENCIA LEGALLY PARKED FOR ONE OR MORE OF LLOWING REASONS AND ARE SUBJECT TO BEING TOWED OR BOOTED AT YOUR EXPENSE ESTA ESTACIONADO INCORRECTAMENTE POR UNA O MAS DE LAS PER SQUENT ESTÁ SUJETO A QUE SE LE RETIRE CON GRUA O SE LE APLIQUE CECCARDO Parked in a HANDICAPPED spacela No valid PARKING PERMIT PERMISOL Parked in a NO PARKING zonel Parked in a FIRE LANE/Está CARL DEBOERE Blocking entran
    via u/IslandTwig
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  • 17

    This is utterly bizarre

    My HOA replaced the American flag with the Betsy Ross flag without any explanation as to why
    via u/GloriousGlorias
  • 18
    HOA sent me a violation for a neighbor's contractor parking on my grass while I was at work 3/1/2023, 12:26:46 PM
    via u/ttoteno
  • 19
    HOA "Violation Notice" for "w_d mitigation" & the drive-by picture they send with it w d mitigation
    via u/lawwdhammercy
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  • 20
    This letter from my HOA, written in purple ink, telling me they rejected my check because it was written in purple ink We are in receipt of your check # 144 dated 3/31/2023 in the amount $ 293.00 and are unable to process this check for the following reason: must be written in Blue or Black link. Enclosed, please find original check. Please be sure to make the necessary corrections or issue a new check and mail to the above address as soon as possible in order to avoid your account becoming deli
    via u/Okay_Tacos
  • 21
    My parents HOA passed a rule this year that all houses in the neighborhood must be 35' from the road. These neighbors may have to tear their house (which has been there for 12+ years) if they are not approved for a Variance Permit. NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC IT IS PROPOSED TO CHANGE THE USE OF THIS PROPERTY BY: VARIANCE PERMIT TO REDUCE FRONT BUILDING LINE FROM 35 TO 20 IN A RS-20 ZONING DISTRICT A PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE HELD AT COUNTY COURT NERS MEETING ROOM T HOUSE ON DEC 17, 2019 AT 6:00PM BY THE R
    via u/[deleted]
  • 22
    HOA ripped out three trees overnight because they "didn't look orderly" Totally love our new "orderly" patch of mulch /s
    via u/25thfloorgarden
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  • 23

    Here's what it looked like before... what a shame

    Cheezburger Image 10475944960
    via u/25thfloorgarden

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