Topic: What the hell? Neighborhood ordinances

[IAmCitizenMe]

Has anyone else had problems with this?

My neighborhood "trustees" have decided that motorcycles, campers and boats are no longer allowed to be visible.



It reads:
Finally, a gentle reminder to all homeowners to please abide by the subdivision by-law restrictions (Section V, L) which states: "No commercial vehicles (excluding a van or pickup truck not being used for commercial purposes) boats, motorcycles, campers, recreational vehicles, house trailers, boat trailers and trailers of any other description shall be parked or stored on any street or portion of a lot other than a garage or carport, except that a construction trailer or commercial vehicle required in connection with approved construction. The foregoing prohibition shall not apply to temporary parking, such as for pickup, delivery or other commercial services." To clarify, no camper, trailer or any of the above-mentioned items should be parked on the street, driveway or elsewhere on your lot. They must be contained in your garage.

A "gentle reminder" to the homeowners about the by-laws. Please. There is no contact information, no names, nothing. Just a list of things that we are not allowed to do. Are the suburbs still that boring that these people, in some minimal position of power, have to apply ordinances to what we can and cannot do on our own property? This boils my blood.

[kslrr]

I'm not suprised.  Anything other than the Nanny State approved micro-transport and your in trouble. All hale the State!

Edit: In Las Vegas, 90% of the neighborhoods are HOAs.  I rent a house in one of these areas and I can't even have my porch swing visable.  I figure I'm realy screwed when they find out that I have a woodworking/motorcycle shop in the garage.

[Gordon]

Is this an HOA?

[Bob Wessner]

Is this an HOA?

Good question. From where do the "trustees" derive their power?

[MötleyRöx]

Tell them you thought it was fake, since it was not on an official letterhead and did not contain any verifiable contact information.  

[MCRider]

If I assume its a Homeowners Assoc, the covenants and officers are public record, you should have been made aware of its existence, by the realtor, when you bot in. If you bot in without a realtor, it would be part of your "due diligence" to inquire into covenants etc.

 IF the terms were disagreeable , you would be free to buy somewhere else.

part of society.

[MötleyRöx]

Agreed, Rider... covenants are there to help you.  Those that disagree, shouldn't be living there.
Not to be read as inequality nonsense, it just means that if you disagree, this is not the place for you.

[Bob Wessner]

Took a closer look at the attachment. At the bottom is says Summerfield Estates. A quick Google reveals they are all over the place and yes, a homeowners organization. Not much you can do but comply or move.

[sangyo soichiro]

It's only a matter of time before I get scolded.  I have an old car that doesn't run, and my Jeep that was totaled by a drunk driver is still in my driveway.  I've been meaning to do something about it, but you know how it is.


Anyway, I sort of see the reasoning behind such ordinances.  I think the basic principle is that we're free to do what we want on our own property as long as it doesn't 'hurt' anyone else.  For example, you could have your property in such bad shape that it reduces the value of your neighbor's property.  Now, for normal folks like us, it seems like a pain in the ass rule because, for the most part, we keep our properties nice and non-offensive to the neighbors.  

But yeah... seems a bit too much to include boats and motorcycles in that ordinance....

[Gordon]

A quick Google reveals they are all over the place and yes, a homeowners organization. Not much you can do but comply or move.

Yep.  It sucks for you, but things like this are among the many reasons I will never live in an HOA.  If you do, you have to take the good with the bad.   

[MCRider]

It's only a matter of time before I get scolded.  I have an old car that doesn't run, and my Jeep that was totaled by a drunk driver is still in my driveway.  I've been meaning to do something about it, but you know how it is.


Anyway, I sort of see the reasoning behind such ordinances.  I think the basic principle is that we're free to do what we want on our own property as long as it doesn't 'hurt' anyone else.  For example, you could have your property in such bad shape that it reduces the value of your neighbor's property.  Now, for normal folks like us, it seems like a pain in the ass rule because, for the most part, we keep our properties nice and non-offensive to the neighbors.  

But yeah... seems a bit too much to include boats and motorcycles in that ordinance....

The main thrust of the ordinance seems to be not to park them in the street, seems fair. The second part is not to park them on any part of the lot other than a garage or carport. That keeps the bassboat or the chopper out of the front yard.

This reads to exclude the driveway or a driveway extension as well, which I would have had a problem with if I were sitting in on the original writing of the thing.

Nevertehless, there it is and it wasn't a secret, I'll bet.

[Rocking-M]

you city slickers have a tough life. We have neighbor that has a small house on a small lot.
I built a set of Stalls and a tack room next to the line which happened to be next to my neighbor (who moved here from another
country i.e. the other side of the Mason Dixon). He took exception to my new stalls and all being less than 50 feet from his house.
But, never asked me a work about it.
He instead called the building inspector who came out and said. He heard we were putting in a saw mill and storing oil in the new barn.
The inspectors words were, "Not a thing I can do about it, since there is no zoning in Floyd County". I then started a rumor that we were storing pesticides in the barn (which by the way was right next to his well).

I ain't heard a word about it since.

[MötleyRöx]

HOA.  If you do, you have to take the good with the bad.   

Not contradicting in any way... If you don't, you have to take the good with the bad. 

[noahspop]

Yup, it does suck, that's culdisac life for you.
Who ever wrote the letter mentioned certain paragraphs that are written within your CC&R's (covenant's, conditions, and restrictions) This does not mean you have a HOA. I believe if you did have a HOA it would have the appropriate letter head. It could just be a pissed off neighbor.

You should lay low. If you own your home you were made aware of the CC&R's , if not you have a crappy real estate agent. If you rent, well you don't have any rights and must conform.

Me, "I shall not conform"

You could probably ignore it if you lay low, and if they confront you just play naive, and tell them you thought the letter was a joke, because there was no official letter head. Also you could see if there are other neighbors that might be in violation. Just to make sure you aren't being singled out.
Good Luck.

[seaweb11]

Our favorite Neighbour  

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=49.136185,-123.778659&spn=0,359.996532&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=49.136229,-123.778795&panoid=zqpDf0Bxp_EVhOUHj814Og&cbp=12,253.03,,0,5

no rules here........

[Rocking-M]

Our favorite Neighbour  

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=49.136185,-123.778659&spn=0,359.996532&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=49.136229,-123.778795&panoid=zqpDf0Bxp_EVhOUHj814Og&cbp=12,253.03,,0,5

no rules here........

looks like he's self sufficient. 

[IAmCitizenMe]

It's actually my folks' house. Two of my brothers still live at home and my dad has a pop-up camper. It's also where I usually do my motorcycle work since they have a garage that isn't full of junk (like my roommate's garage). It's just that, I can see why you want to keep certain things in order. Keep property value up and all that. But to tell someone they cannot keep their camper or motorcycle in their own driveway is pretty ridiculous. Front lawn? OK. Driveway? Come on, now. I know there are several other houses on the street that are going to have some issues with this as well. All the houses are nice. No one is disrespectful. In fact, the van I drive is probably the most offensive-looking thing on that street. There should be an ordinance against ugly mini-vans with missing wheel covers and dented sides. Can I get a 'hell yea'?

[Rocking-M]

'hell yea' and while we're at it let's just ban mini-vans in general. Those people can't drive.
Have you ever seen a mini van being driven well? 

[IAmCitizenMe]

Actually, I Tokyo Drifted it once going down an exit ramp during a rain storm. I corrected it with such grace you'd think Paul Walker himself was driving. But that's beside the point. My mini-van carries motorcycles so I don't need to get a trailer and worry about ordinances.

[BeSeeingYou]

This seems to be a suburban thing especially in new developments.  Some of them even regulate the colors you can paint your house.  No problems here in the city, about the only ordinance is that you cannot have unlicensed cars in your yard or have them parked on the grass and even that is not enforced unless someone complains.  There is usually some justification for this as in the burbs the lots are big and someone is going to junk up the place with multiple cars, bikes, boats, etc.  To bad if affects the responsible ones too.  One reason not to live in the burbs.  I don't know how these things are decided on.  Did you get a chance to vote on it.  I would like to see this come up for re-ratification periodically as people move, things change.  To be held to rules made by people who may not even live there anymore is a bit much.  Time to get involved.

Hey Rocking-M! .....I have a minivan, well more of a rolling toolbox but a minivan nonetheless.  

[Bonafide]

It's actually my folks' house.

When you get another 25 yrs of life behind you and own your own home that you've invested a good chunk of your life's earnings and want to keep it's re-sale value high ... then you'll understand. Those who dont want to live in established communities know up front when neighborhoods HOAs are in place as they're required to be disclosed (and signed) during the closing process. There's plus and minus to living in a HOA - same when you live 100 miles from nowhere.

[BobbyR]

The real question is, is there a clause in your deed giving them authority, or are they assuming you should comply. We have an Association, but we formed it to just bust balls on the Town.

[74cb750]

Well, I for one could never live in a Home Association Community,
but then again, now my neighbor has decided to have tons of deficating
animals on too small a lot.  Really stinks in the spring/summer/fall.

[bucky katt]

Well, I for one could never live in a Home Association Community,
but then again, now my neighbor has decided to have tons of deficating
animals on too small a lot.  Really stinks in the spring/summer/fall.

no limit on critters per acre there eh?

[754]

Get a sidecar or a trike..

 If ya gootta move a bunch of us on bikes can help.. you move... slowly.. hey they asked for it..

 Up here some of those covenants carry a lot of weight while the development is filling up.. sometimes later, especially if Bill & Wendy Whiner have no support, there is little they can do with out starting legal action.. and there it may end, or maybe not. But, some folks will complain forever, as long as it does not cost them out of pocket..