Heart Broken HOA says no to my front yard garden

geeboss · May 23, 2011

Have to move my front yard garden darn HOA

Sun City Linda · May 24, 2011

So sorry. I think its a beautiful front yard!!!! Linda

Bdobs · May 24, 2011

Sorry to hear that, but at least they are not in the ground!
Can ya move them to the back?

platys · May 24, 2011

Gah, I hate HOAs. God forbid a yard look any different from any other yard. I'd think a bunch of neat looking tomatoes would be the last thing they'd worry about, home value wise.

kimpossible · May 24, 2011

There needs to be nation-wide legislation (both U.S. and Canada), that makes HOA rules, etc. un-enforceable regarding ANYTHING that benefits the environment - clotheslines, veggie (&other) gardens, composting, backyard chicken coops, etc ...

dustdevil · May 24, 2011

Maybe you should consider renting a community garden space...

**Lee** · May 24, 2011

Actually, they would've been better in the ground. By the time they figured out
what it was, sent the letter of warning, and then the final letter, harvest time
would be over!

Other solution is to get on the board, and "volunteer" to be the covenant police.
That way you'd be in charge of what looks good and doesn't.....

Sorry to hear about your frustration... I hope you can find a good solution.

Lee

Worth1 · May 24, 2011

LOA's and HOA's are the reason I decided to NOT build on my land.
It was ok when I bought the land but after the developer turned it over the the residents it went hog wild with rules.

It seems a small group took over the association and made a dictatorship out of it.
The last meeting I went to there was a fight and after it was over I was asked by several people to run for president.

The idiots wanted to outlaw hunting on a several thousand acre ranch that was next to the subdivision.
That's right they wanted to dictate what a Texas rancher wanted to do on his own land.

They said I couldn't kill a deer on my land because of the no firearms rule but then said you could shoot a snake.

I called the county judge and sheriff they both said I could shoot as much as I wanted.
They told me that they would not press charges but the LOA could sue me.
I told the judge that the idiots would have to figure out where that ONE SHOT came from. The judge laughed.
The LOA president said they had the right to come on my property and snoop anytime they wanted.
I let the person know that according to state law I had the right to protect my property and they just might get mistaken for a criminal. and get shot.

Now let me get to the core of the matter.
With my disposition and with the way that LOA acted I decided to not build there.

Where I live now there are city zoning laws.
I live in a annexed area that the city took over and the rules state no trailer houses no hog farms and such.
I can have chickens and such.
I can put the garden where I darn well please.

A word of advice to anyone thinking of moving into an HOA ruled area.
The rules can change with the wind.
A small group of people can shoehorn themselves into position and really mess things up.

Worth

biscgolf · May 24, 2011

your plants look great... welcome to northern virginia

remy · May 24, 2011

That sucks. At least they are movable. I could never live where there was HOA. Even though many people walk by and comment on how pretty my front yard garden is, I'm sure a HOA would hate it.
Remy

mjc · May 24, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

A word of advice to anyone thinking of moving into an HOA ruled area.
The rules can change with the wind.
A small group of people can shoehorn themselves into position and really mess things up.

Worth

To add to that and simplify...DON'T!

Basically, you are abdicating your authority over your own property. Turning your rights over to a non-governmental group with little or no oversight or controls.

attml · May 24, 2011

HOA's will be the downfall of modern civilization! I am thankful I live in the woods away from HOA do gooders!

MikeInCypress · May 24, 2011

There are Homerowner's Associations here in Texas that tried to ban flying the United States Flag. If I lived in that subdivision they could take me to court every day.

MikeInCypress

tuk50 · May 24, 2011

HOA'S are why we moved out of the city and built a new home. The last straw was when my BACKYARD tomato trellis was over 5ft tall.. had been there 4 years and did it the same way each year till a new neighbor moved in and complained.. instantly I was wrong and had to lower them to below 5ft(the height of our walls)... bought the land outside the city the next year and now can Pxxx off the front porch if I please... LOL.

Oh yeah! I planted grapefruit trees along that side of the fence to really give the neighbor a good view all legal and kosher in 06' .. went by there this winter and a nice green wall there now and so the new owner can do as he pleases... LOL.

Worth1 · May 24, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeInCypress

There are Homerowner's Associations here in Texas that tried to ban flying the United States Flag. If I lived in that subdivision they could take me to court every day.

MikeInCypress

Yep that one was brought up at the meeting too.

I helped a friend move his storage building three inches to satisfy city code after the neighbor complained about it.

Worth

May 23, 2011	#1
geeboss Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fairfax, VA Z7 Posts: 524	Heart Broken HOA says no to my front yard garden Have to move my front yard garden darn HOA

May 24, 2011	#3
Bdobs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Martinez, CA Posts: 92	Sorry to hear that, but at least they are not in the ground! Can ya move them to the back? __________________ -Brian

May 24, 2011	#5
kimpossible Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Z5b SW Ont Canada Posts: 767	There needs to be nation-wide legislation (both U.S. and Canada), that makes HOA rules, etc. un-enforceable regarding ANYTHING that benefits the environment - clotheslines, veggie (&other) gardens, composting, backyard chicken coops, etc ... __________________ *So Many Tomatoes ... So Little Time*

May 24, 2011	#7
Lee Tomatopalooza™ Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NC-Zone 7 Posts: 2,188	Actually, they would've been better in the ground. By the time they figured out what it was, sent the letter of warning, and then the final letter, harvest time would be over! Other solution is to get on the board, and "volunteer" to be the covenant police. That way you'd be in charge of what looks good and doesn't..... Sorry to hear about your frustration... I hope you can find a good solution. Lee __________________ Intelligence is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing not to put one in a fruit salad. Cuostralee - The best thing on sliced bread.

May 24, 2011	#10
remy Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Z6 WNY Posts: 2,354	That sucks. At least they are movable. I could never live where there was HOA. Even though many people walk by and comment on how pretty my front yard garden is, I'm sure a HOA would hate it. Remy __________________ "I wake to sleep and take my waking slow" -Theodore Roethke Yes, we have a great party for WNY/Ontario tomato growers every year on Grand Island! Owner of The Sample Seed Shop

May 24, 2011	#2
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	So sorry. I think its a beautiful front yard!!!! Linda

May 24, 2011	#4
platys Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2010 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 176	Gah, I hate HOAs. God forbid a yard look any different from any other yard. I'd think a bunch of neat looking tomatoes would be the last thing they'd worry about, home value wise.

May 24, 2011	#6
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Maybe you should consider renting a community garden space...

May 24, 2011	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	LOA's and HOA's are the reason I decided to NOT build on my land. It was ok when I bought the land but after the developer turned it over the the residents it went hog wild with rules. It seems a small group took over the association and made a dictatorship out of it. The last meeting I went to there was a fight and after it was over I was asked by several people to run for president. The idiots wanted to outlaw hunting on a several thousand acre ranch that was next to the subdivision. That's right they wanted to dictate what a Texas rancher wanted to do on his own land. They said I couldn't kill a deer on my land because of the no firearms rule but then said you could shoot a snake. I called the county judge and sheriff they both said I could shoot as much as I wanted. They told me that they would not press charges but the LOA could sue me. I told the judge that the idiots would have to figure out where that ONE SHOT came from. The judge laughed. The LOA president said they had the right to come on my property and snoop anytime they wanted. I let the person know that according to state law I had the right to protect my property and they just might get mistaken for a criminal. and get shot. Now let me get to the core of the matter. With my disposition and with the way that LOA acted I decided to not build there. Where I live now there are city zoning laws. I live in a annexed area that the city took over and the rules state no trailer houses no hog farms and such. I can have chickens and such. I can put the garden where I darn well please. A word of advice to anyone thinking of moving into an HOA ruled area. The rules can change with the wind. A small group of people can shoehorn themselves into position and really mess things up. Worth

May 24, 2011	#9
biscgolf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Virginia Posts: 353	your plants look great... welcome to northern virginia

May 24, 2011	#12
attml Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Annapolis, Maryland Posts: 222	HOA's will be the downfall of modern civilization! I am thankful I live in the woods away from HOA do gooders!

May 24, 2011	#13
MikeInCypress Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 963	There are Homerowner's Associations here in Texas that tried to ban flying the United States Flag. If I lived in that subdivision they could take me to court every day. MikeInCypress __________________ "Growing older, not up"

May 24, 2011	#14
tuk50 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Tucson, Arizona (catalina) Posts: 413	HOA'S are why we moved out of the city and built a new home. The last straw was when my BACKYARD tomato trellis was over 5ft tall.. had been there 4 years and did it the same way each year till a new neighbor moved in and complained.. instantly I was wrong and had to lower them to below 5ft(the height of our walls)... bought the land outside the city the next year and now can Pxxx off the front porch if I please... LOL. Oh yeah! I planted grapefruit trees along that side of the fence to really give the neighbor a good view all legal and kosher in 06' .. went by there this winter and a nice green wall there now and so the new owner can do as he pleases... LOL. __________________ Hangin on for dear life!