Choose a Non-HOA Community: The most straightforward way to avoid HOA fees is to buy a home in a neighborhood that does not have an HOA. Negotiate with the HOA: If you already live in an HOA community, you could try negotiating with the board to reduce your fees or request exemptions based on your circumstances.
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.
In some states, such as California, HOA bylaws are considered public record and must be made available upon request.
The local law supersedes the rules and regulations of the HOA, meaning that HOAs must ensure they are operating under the law.
An HOA's governing documents are usually in the form of a Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and bylaws. The CC&Rs explain the rules of the HOA community, while the bylaws cover how the HOA operates.