What are unenforceable HOA rules? Keep you out of court. Hush up litigation. Discriminate indiscriminately. Enter your home without cause or notice. String you out on the (clothes)line. Fine you for fun. Change rules on the fly. Demand you take down your dish.
While you can propose rule changes through proper channels, there's no legal way to simply ignore or “get around” the HOA's covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that you agreed to when purchasing in the community.
Laws always supersede governing documents IF they conflict and the law applies to your HOA. In California, the Davis-Stirling Act may take precedent over general corporation codes because it's specific to HOAs.
In 2024, the California legislature passed an amendment that allowed online elections to be held within HOAs. It recognized that this could open the door to digital vote manipulation within the HOA's management, though, so the state mandated that each HOA election needed to have an independent inspector of elections.
An HOA has the authority to enforce the rules and regulations of the community using the community rules, or “bylaws and covenants.” These rules are considered “agreed upon” since homeowners approve them through board-elected representatives.
Legal Framework Governing HOAs in Massachusetts In Massachusetts, homeowners' associations (HOAs) are subject to a robust legal framework. This framework not only aligns with federal regulations but also includes state-specific laws designed to regulate the formation, management, and operation of these associations.
Once you buy a home that's part of an HOA, you automatically become a member of the HOA. HOA rules are legally binding, and you must adhere to all rules and regulations in the governing document. Yes, there are bylaws that you may not like, but there are no HOA loopholes.
As Kriegstein explains, “In order to enforce an HOA rule, the association must have the authority to do so, as outlined in its governing documents. This may include the ability to impose fines or penalties for noncompliance or to take legal action against homeowners who refuse to comply.”
No, there is not a way to ``leave the HOA'' without moving. The HOA covenants are tied to the property permanently.