While Homeowners Associations (HOAs) were created to keep neighborhoods neat & organized, sometimes they go a little too far—and these aren’t your typical “no parking on the lawn” rules. Some HOAs have some bizarre rules that are enough to make anyone feel like these groups have gone too far. Here are ten crazy rules that only HOAs could make. Honestly, it feels like some of these rules were just made to annoy people.
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No Garage Doors Left Open for More Than 15 Minutes
In Alabama, residents in one community were told they couldn’t leave their garage doors open for longer than 15 minutes, which apparently came after concerns about people living in garages. The HOA hired a security patrol to monitor the area and make sure garage doors stayed closed unless someone was actively using the space. It applied to everyone—even if they were just cleaning the garage or stepping inside for a quick task.
Only White Curtains Allowed in Windows
Another HOA decided that all window coverings had to be white, including curtains, blinds & shades—anything visible from outside had to be white. The HOA actually told one family with beige blinds to take them down or face a penalty, regardless of whether the color difference was actually noticeable. According to the HOA, this rule helps keep the exterior look consistent and there are no exceptions allowed.
No More Than Six Potted Plants Allowed on Porch
In another neighborhood, residents were only allowed to keep six potted plants on their front porch—anyone with more than that would receive a warning and could be fined $100. A woman with seven small pots was told she had to remove one of them. The rule doesn’t specify plant size or type, meaning that you could, technically, have two huge planters filled with flowers and still follow the rule.
Cars Must Be Parked Facing the Same Direction
Some HOAs require that all cars parked on the street face the same direction, which isn’t actually a city law, yet the HOA claims it makes the street look more orderly. You could park your car legally according to city guidelines, but in the opposite direction from the other cars, and get fined. Parking your car the “wrong way,” even if you’re not blocking driveways or fire hydrants, could lead to you receiving warning letters and fines.
No Holiday Lights Before December 1st
Other HOAs have strict rules banning holiday decorations before December 1st, which includes lights, wreaths, inflatables, or anything seasonal. It doesn’t matter if the decorations are simple & don’t flash or make noise—these HOAs claim that the rule applies to all types of holiday displays. What holiday you’re celebrating isn’t important, either, because you have to abide by their regulations.
Bird Feeders Completely Banned
One HOA banned all bird feeders and residents aren’t allowed to hang them from trees, mount them on poles, or place them in flower beds. The HOA said feeders ruined the appearance of yards and would attract too many birds or other animals, even though one homeowner tried to explain that their feeder was helping birds during winter. Of course, this isn’t a blanket rule for all HOAs and such a ruling would depend on local & state laws, too.
No Hanging Laundry Outdoors, Ever
Many HOAs have rules that ban all outdoor clothes drying, with the consequences being fines or worse. It’s not a safety problem or the issue of blocking views—most HOAs claim that outdoor laundry doesn’t match the look they wanted. Residents who hang their clothes outside are told to dry everything indoors or use a machine, regardless of whether the clothes are only outside for a short time and aren’t visible from the street.
Permission Slip for Changing Mulch
In one HOA neighborhood, switching out your mulch isn’t something you’re able to just do, as you actually have to ask first. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little scoop or if your yard is already tidy—none of that matters because the HOA wants to make sure the new color doesn’t look out of place with the rest of the street. As such, the mulch police are a very real group in certain HOA neighborhoods.
Fined for Putting Trash… in the Trash
Lots of HOAs have rules about when to put out your trash and in some cases, doing so too early could lead to you receiving a warning letter from the HOA. It breaks a rule because “the smell could attract pests”—never mind that you’ve sealed the bin and put it neatly where it always goes. No flies, no raccoons, just one regular trash bag inside a regular trash can is enough to upset an HOA.
Trucks Have to Sleep in the Garage, Not the Driveway
In a Florida neighborhood, some people found out the hard way that their HOA doesn’t like pickup trucks at all—you can’t park one in your own driveway overnight. You could drive it every day & keep it spotless, yet that’s not enough for these neighborhoods. Some people tried covering them with tarps to sneak around the rule, but the HOA still gave them notices and fines to pay.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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