New homeowner cited by HOA for "ugly" backyard furniture despite being in full compliance with neighborhood bylaws

Does this resident stand a chance, or should he just pay the HOA fines?

This young resident had recently moved into the neighborhood, all but three months ago, and yet, he is already fighting against the local homeowner's association. No, the citations he received had absolutely nothing to do with any negligence on his part, nor did they have anything to do with a refusal to comply with the written policies in the HOA bylaws.

In fact, the homeowner acknowledged that when he first moved into the suburb, he was keen on avoiding any conflict with the organization and thus studied up on the rules and regulations. Unfortunately, those attempts to stay away from neighborhood drama proved to be futile, as all it took was the disgruntled neighbor next door to stir the pot.

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  • A homeowner in a white dress shirt stands in his backyard surrounded by greenery.
    via Christian Buehner

    A homeowner in a white dress shirt stands in his backyard surrounded by greenery.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • HOA cited me for “commercial grade fixtures” because my neighbor didn’t like my backyard furniture

    "I'm three months into owning my first home, and I'm already dealing with peak HOA nonsense. I live in a subdivision with a very strict board, so before buying, I read the bylaws carefully.
    via Hyzz20
  • Nothing about backyard furniture beyond basic safety and nuisance rules. I figured as long as I kept things clean and out of sight, I'd be fine.
    via Hyzz20
  • Last weekend I hosted a small housewarming party. About twenty people. I needed extra seating and I'm house poor right now, so I checked out for four heavy-duty outdoor benches, checked Amazon and Alibaba, and finally found a supplier.
    via Hyzz20
  • They're the kind you see in public parks: steel frame, coated, ugly but solid. They were cheap, they work, and they were placed fully inside my fenced backyard.
    via Hyzz20
  • A homeowner in a white dress shirt sits in a white chair in his backyard.
    via Christian Buehner

    A homeowner in a white dress shirt sits in a white chair in his backyard.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • During the party, my next-door neighbor leaned over the fence and asked if I was "opening a bus station." No hello, no conversation. Just that. I ignored it.
    via Hyzz20
  • Monday morning I woke up to a violation notice taped to my door. The HOA cited me for "commercial grade fixtures" in a residential property and referenced clauses about
    via Hyzz20
  • unauthorized signage and non- permanent structures. There is no sign. There is no rule about furniture being commercial based on appearance or durability. These benches are not rented, branded, or used for business.
    via Hyzz20
  • I attended the board meeting and pointed this out. I asked them to show me where backyard furniture material or design is restricted. They couldn't. Instead,
    via Hyzz20
  • got vague comments about community standards and appearance. When I mentioned that other neighbors have cheap plastic chairs that look like they came from a gas station, the board shut the discussion down.
    via Hyzz20
  • At this point, it feels less like enforcement and more like catering to one neighbor's taste. These benches are in my backyard, behind a fence, not visible from the street.
    via Hyzz20
  • Has anyone successfully pushed back on an HOA over furniture like this? Is this worth formally disputing, or is the reality that HOAs can just make things up as they go?"
    via Hyzz20

  • Now that we know the reasons behind this unnecessary madness, do we think this guy can get out of having to pay these fines? Clearly, this is the type of HOA that aligns with the interests of the entitled neighbor and other folks who have been living in the residential area longer than everyone else. 

    To that end, where will things stand once this issue is resolved? As several members of this online community noted in the comments section, there is a high likelihood that the disgruntled neighbor will strike again. This time, it's the backyard furniture. Next time, it could be the length of the grass. 

    Regardless of whether or not he has any backing by the HOA bylaws, this neighbor is the kind of individual who will pick a fight with the homeowner for breathing differently, especially now that he is fighting this first citation. If I were him, I'd start thinking about how to get out of the neighborhood entirely.

  • A homeowner in a white dress shirt sits in his backyard surrounded by greenery.
    via Christian Buehner

    A homeowner in a white dress shirt sits in his backyard surrounded by greenery.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • tlrider1 It all depends on what your documents say. Theres 2 ways this goes and basically comes down to 1 thing: what do your docs say?
    via Hyzz20
  • The board only has power, the docs give them. The 2 ways this goes is: if your docs say you can't, you're screwed. If the docs say nothing, the board can get SC d.
    via Hyzz20
  • The board only has the authority that the docs give it. Though you have a bigger problem than the hoa. You have a neighbor problem now. I loathe the day I live next to someone that has the audacity to look over a fence and complain about what I have in my back yard.
    via Hyzz20
  • This person will likely be a nuisance the entire time you live there.
    via Hyzz20
  • a. If the benches are in your fenced backyard and the governing documents don't actually restrict backyard furniture, the board may be stretching the rule.
    via Hyzz20
  • "Commercial grade" usually matters when something looks like signage, equipment, or a structure used for business. Regular outdoor benches, even heavy-duty ones, typically don't fall into that category just because they're durable.
    via Hyzz20
  • A practical next step is to ask the board (in writing) to point to the exact section of the documents that prohibits that type of furniture. If they can't cite a clear rule, enforcement can get harder for them to justify.
    via Hyzz20

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