Latest news with #HOAs
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is it legal to park in front of someone else's house in Georgia? What to know to prevent a tow
In neighborhoods across Georgia, it's a common frustration to return home to find an unfamiliar car parked right in front of your house. It's frustrating, especially if it happens often or blocks your view, but is it actually illegal? Usually, no. In most cases, it is not illegal to park on a public street in front of someone else's house in Georgia. According to Georgia law, streets are considered public rights of way, meaning any licensed driver can legally park there, unless specific laws or signs prohibit it. However, according to state Code 40-6-202, it's unlawful for drivers to stop, stand or park a car — attended or otherwise — on a street in a residential area if there's a more practical place to park off the road. Georgia Code 40-6-202 outlines where parking is explicitly prohibited. Drivers are not allowed to stop, stand, or park: On the roadway side of a vehicle that's already parked on the street On sidewalks, crosswalks, or within intersections Between a safety zone and a curb, or within 30 feet of a curb opposite a safety zone Alongside any street excavation that obstructs traffic On bridges, railroad tracks, or controlled-access highways In the area between roads on a divided highway Where signs prohibit parking or stopping In front of a public or private driveway Some neighborhoods governed by Homeowners Associations (HOAs) may have rules that restrict street parking altogether, and violations can lead to fines or other consequences, even if the street is technically public. If your neighbor is hosting a party and their guests are parked in front of your house, there's likely not much you can do, as long as no one is blocking your driveway or violating posted signs or traffic laws. It's legal and permitted on most public streets. If parking on the street is prohibited in a neighborhood or area, the penalty is usually a fine. However, some cities may also enforce towing or booting, according to the Macon Telegraph. Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@ This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Parking laws in GA: Is it legal to park in front of someone else's house?
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fed up homeowner takes legal action after HOA demands solar panel removal two years after installation: 'Check your state laws'
One Illinois homeowner considered drastic action when their homeowners association demanded that they remove the expensive and useful solar panels they had already installed. They posted about their experience in an anti-HOA subreddit. "My HOA in IL is requiring that I remove my solar panels that have been installed for 2 years from the street side of my house," the frustrated homeowner explained. "They say I can put them on the side roof like other neighbors have… But I have a gable roof not a hip roof and they could not figure out why I don't have a side roof." Though this demand is nonsensical, it's also not surprising. Many HOAs are against solar panels, or at least against visible ones. Despite the money they save homeowners and the way they protect the planet by generating clean energy, many associations restrict or prohibit solar panel installation. That's a pity because solar panels really are the best way to generate cost-effective and non-polluting energy for your home long-term. They pay for themselves over time in energy savings and can even be used to make your home independent from the grid. It's simple to get access to those benefits; to get the best deal possible, a great first step is to check out EnergySage's free online marketplace to find vetted providers near you and compare quotes. EnergySage can also help to navigate tax credits of around $10,000, depending on the size of the project. Those tax credits may only last through 2025, depending on what Congress does with the "Big Beautiful Bill" under consideration, so it's worth exploring sooner rather than later if you're considering panels of your own. The original poster wanted to hang on to their solar benefits and was willing to fight a legal battle to keep them. "I am trying to contact a lawyer right now," they commented. "You will want to check state laws and your hoa bylaws, master deed, and use and building restrictions for the neighborhood. If none of these mention that you can't have the panels then you can," advised a commenter. "I don't think an HOA can legally make you remove solar panels; check your state laws," another user agreed. Should homeowners associations be able to determine what you grow in your garden? Yes Only if it impacts your neighbors Depends on what you're growing Heck no Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
16 new vetoes boost Lombardo total to 49; HOA limits, price fixing bill rejected
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Gov. Joe Lombardo vetoed 16 more bills on Monday, including two that would have reined in powers wielded by HOAs — homeowners associations. He also vetoed a price-fixing bill. The Republican governor has now vetoed 49 bills passed by the Democrat-controlled Nevada Legislature, which adjourned in the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 3. Lombardo has 10 days after adjournment (excluding Sundays) to veto bills. Lombardo set a record after the 2023 legislative session, vetoing 75 bills. Veto messages reflected Republican principles — smaller government and pro-business laws — as Lombardo his decisions. Here's a closer look at some of the vetoes issued on Monday: PRICE FIXING: One of the vetoed bills, Assembly Bill 44 (AB44), was singled out as 'a striking case of government overreach.' AB44 would have granted the Nevada Attorney General the authority to investigate and prosecute pricing decisions involving an 'essential good or service,' a definition that Lombardo said threatened to cripple a wide range of businesses. Notably, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, who presented the bill to lawmakers, is a Democratic candidate seeking to challenge Lombardo in 2026. When prices go up, whether it's eggs, gasoline or electricity, there is often a public outcry for government action. But Lombardo attacked the language of AB44 as subjective and a threat to free markets. JUNE 4: Lombardo vetoes 33 bills in days following Nevada Legislature, 229 signed HOA POWERS: Two bills that Lombardo vetoed involved HOAs. AB185 would have required HOAs to allow in-home daycare businesses to operate inside communities. Democrats who sponsored the bill said community rules were preventing more child care businesses from setting up. In his veto message on AB185, Lombardo said: 'It is important to note that people choose to live in HOA communities with the clear understanding that certain activities are governed by agreed-upon rules designed to protect the consistency of the neighborhood. AB 185 undermines that mutual understanding by allowing some owners to bypass long-standing community standards through legislative action.' Senate Bill 121 (SB121) was also rejected, with Lombardo stating that the choice to buy within an HOA community comes with responsibilities to maintain community standards. The bill would have limited landscaping and parking restrictions. It also would have given homeowners at least three years after purchase to bring landscaping up to community standards. The same bill would have prohibited fines for some oil stains. CAMPAIGN FUNDS: AB79 would have toughened restrictions on how campaign funds could be used and required reporting on how that money is spent. But Lombardo said he was vetoing it for other reasons. 'Though ensuring transparency in elections is an important goal, AB 79 contains provisions, some vague, that would make political involvement less feasible for many and lack sufficial judicial oversight,' according to his veto message. He said the bill needed to do a better job of defining what constitutes a 'spent' or 'unspent' contribution. PROTECTING PROSTITUTES: AB209 would have set up protections for sex workers meant to encourage them to report violent crimes. It hinged on the prostitute asking for medical attention. But Lombardo said the wording of the bill could create a loophole that gives them immunity for more than is intended. A sex worker could actually use a request for medical attention to invoke immunity. Further, AB209 undermines law enforcement and assumes police aren't trustworthy. ICE ACCESS IN SCHOOLS: Lawmakers sought to keep immigration enforcement out of schools, but Lombardo vetoed AB217. The bill would have prohibited school employees, public schools or school districts from allowing access for ICE agents. Lombard called it well-intentioned, but attacked it as an overreach on a number of levels, even saying the bill would make school grounds into 'sanctuary zones' 24 hours a day. SUMMARY EVICTIONS: AB283 would have changed the summary eviction process, requiring landlords to file the initial court complaint. Similar attempts during the 2023 legislative session were vetoed, and Lombardo held firm with a veto on Monday. He called it 'lopsided, red-tape laden' and predicted disastrous consequences on Nevada's housing market if it were to become law. EXECUTIONS IN NEVADA: SB350 would have extended the time frame for executing a prisoner who was sentenced to death from the current 90 days to a full year. The bill sponsor argued that 90 days wasn't enough time to properly challenge court rulings. 'Since rather than promoting fairness or finality, SB 350 threatens to undermine the very foundation of justice by creating endless delays that retraumatize victims' families and erode public confidence in our legal system, I cannot support it,' Lombardo said in his veto message. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Contractor seeks legal guidance after HOA repeatedly denies neighborhood solar installations: 'Some HOAs think they are above the law'
One frustrated solar contractor in Ohio was stumped by a homeowners association president who refused to back down in the face of a new solar rights law. They posted about their baffling experience in the r/Solar community. "I am working with 6 customers in the same HOA in Ohio," they said. "They all stated that they want Solar, but the HOA is blocking them from going Solar." That story is sadly common. Solar panel installation (especially using EnergySage's money-saving tools to compare quotes) is one of the best methods available to reduce your energy bills. Solar panels turn sunlight into usable electricity, often enough of it to power your whole home for at least part of the year. It's great for your budget and also good for the planet, since this is clean energy. But HOAs often get in the way of this budget- and climate-friendly step, usually out of a concern for the appearance of the home. Much of the time, a homeowner's only recourse is to try to change the HOA's bylaws. But not so in Ohio, according to the original poster. "I looked up the laws and I see that SB 61 passed last year restricting the ability of the HOA to block Solar from being installed," they said. Even so, the HOA president would not budge. "I tried speaking with the property manager, and he said they can't block it due to SB61, but the HOA president said he wouldn't allow it when I spoke with him," said the original poster. "Has anyone in Ohio gone through the approval process for solar installs with a difficult HOA and found a solution?" Given that the law is on their side, some commenters thought the original poster should just forge ahead. "Some HOAs think they are above the law," said one user. "All you need is one homeowner to move forward with solar, and the rest will follow suit." "State law trumps any HOA bylaws or local ordinance," affirmed another commenter. "Sue, you will win if state law says that they can't interfere." The original poster could also help their clients by recommending EnergySage, which will help them with free services to make the solar installation process easier and cheaper. The average client receives almost $10,000 in incentives with this organization's help. What's the biggest factor stopping you from investing in solar panels? The cost The technology I'm a renter I'm already invested Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Disabled veteran sued by HOA over flagpole for which he has permit
The Brief An HOA is suing a disabled veteran over a flagpole he put up in his front yard to display the American flag. Florida statute says homeowners can have flagpoles even if their HOAs have rules about them. The homeowner does have a permit approved by the City of Port Orange for his flagpole. PORT ORANGE, Fla, - A Florida HOA is using a resident, a disabled veteran, over a flagpole he put up in his front yard to fly the American flag. What we know The Countryside Villas PUD-3 HOA in Port Orange is suing one of its residents, a disabled veteran, over a flagpole he erected to display the American flag. The HOA sent the homeowner a letter saying, "Permanent flag poles require approval prior to construction." They sent him warning letters, notices of fines and of increased fines, a hearing notice, and eventually served him with a lawsuit because he didn't pay the $1,000 fines they levied against him. One of the letters threatens they can place a lien on his home if he doesn't pay the fine. City records show inspectors came out twice and gave the flagpole the okay three weeks before the lawsuit was ever filed. An HOA attorney explained to FOX 35's Marie Edinger, Florida Statute now says as long as it's under 20 feet high, you can have a flagpole on your property, even if your HOA has rules against it. What we don't know FOX 35's Marie Edinger asked the HOA twice whether there was any remedy they could see that would result in the lawsuit being dropped; the first time, she did receive a response but that question was ignored, so she followed up to ask again. The HOA Board wrote back, "We would need to check with our attorney. However the resident is currently hospitalized." What they're saying Neighbors are up in arms over this issue. "Leave the veteran alone. He hasn't done anything wrong," said Frank Johnson, a veteran himself. Johnson assisted with the permit application for the flagpole. "He's called me crying that they're harassing him and bullying him," he added. "He's served this country. He's paid his dues. They want to get him on a flagpole and some weeds in the lawn. It's pathetic. It's really pathetic." Robert Sabatino say's he's pushing for a recall election because of all this. He's a history teacher. "I spend my year telling students all year that governments exist because the people allow it. And when the government becomes too abusive, it's up to the people to take it back and change it." Margaret Murphy sent the State Senator for the area, Tom Wright, a letter asking for guidance. "My father is a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He would be rolling over in his grave if I didn't say something." The HOA did not respond by FOX 35's deadline, but did respond afterward. The Board said in a statement that this is not about a flag or a flagpole. "The resident was told via multiple correspondences that he absolutely can have them. The situation boils down to that he failed to submit an ARC application which is required for flagpoles by the HOA. That rule has been in place since 1990," the HOA Board said. "Florida Statute makes it clear that an HOA resident also needs to follow the governing documents which he has failed to do. This situation is no different than any other Architectural guideline in our docs. As a result, a fine was imposed and he failed to pay the fine." An HOA attorney and the Managing Partner of Orlando Law group, Jennifer Englert, says this particular statue is much clearer than average: you have to allow flagpoles. "Why are you fighting about something that you know you have to allow, that is very clear?" she said. What's next There is a pre-trial hearing for this case in September. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source FOX 35's Marie Edinger read the lawsuit against the veteran in its entirety. She talked with two different HOA attorneys about the laws regarding flagpoles erected on private properties in communities with homeowners' associations in the state of Florida. She spoke with five people living within The Villas who discussed concerns over the HOA's handling of this lawsuit, as well as a woman who's been caring for the disabled veteran. She reached out to the HOA and to the HOA's attorney. She reviewed permit applications for the veteran's flagpole. She read a letter one community member sent the State Senator representing the area.
