So frustrated by HOA

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The HOA can enforce its own rules and assess rule breakers with fines.

FWIW I can understand why your neighbor is complaining. Fire pits absolutely stink up a neighborhood and if you're using a fire pit all the time then no wonder your neighbor is unhappy.

The HOA can't make up its own rules to enforce, though. Unless there is a pre-existing bylaw re fire pits, it likely has to go to a vote by a quorum of homeowners before they can start money grabbing and threatening liens.

I mean, Jesus, most HOA boards are the neighborhood busybodies who are measuring other people's grass and timing trashcan pickup, can you imagine how out of control they would be if they got to make up their own rules on the fly, too?

Not 100 percent true. Every rental, condo, coop or HOA has a general clause about the right to enforce the nuisance provision in HOA bylaws. Every HOA has a right to call out illegal activities on your property.

Your loud noises and smoke are causing neighbors to no longer be able to use and enjoy their property. Plus your activity may be illegal and in violation of lays. My condo we would have the ask the neighbor ask you to stop it, then if that failed the managing agent will call, if that fails we send a letter, if that fails the lawyer sends a letter. Only once we had a women who would not stop. At that point we instructed folks we are out. Call building dept or 911 every time you see them break a law. One old lady did just that. Funniest thing in the world, called 911 and of course they say yea yea we will come by as a minor thing, she calls the local place, they go yea yea, next day they do go by to ring the bell. But first a quick google on the name, the guys son was a wanted criminal they showed up with the whole swat team and caught his son at 2 am.

Hope you enjoyed breaking the rules dad


Nearly all CC&Rs3
contain a provision saying that
certain conditions or activities will be considered a
“nuisance” and not permitted by the homeowners’
association (HOA.) Some CC&Rs’ nuisance
provisions list specific examples, such as loud noise
at certain hours or foul odors, while others merely
make a general statement that any activity or thing
affecting residents’
health or welfare will
not be permitted.
If secondhand
smoke is drifting
into your unit and
your neighbor won’t
agree to work out an
informal solution, you
may ask the HOA to
enforce the nuisance
provision against
the neighbor

[Anonymous]

[quote]I am a officer in an HOA and I don’t even live there. But just last week guy two sets of complaints about smokers and grills. Folks are working from home have allergies and you get folks smoking, having a beer and Hanging out outside their windows stinking up the place.

But a damn house on a large plot if you are white trash and enjoys you beer drinking, Covid spreading, fire pit, pot smoking swinger parties on your own land

This post would be a source of amusement if it wasn't so pathetic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in a NOVA Community with an HOA that has been surprisingly pleasant to work with. They have been prompt, friendly and highly efficient with resources.

Yesterday we got a letter saying no more fire pits or anything that emits heat in our yards. While the official letter said a neighbor has complained of increases in smoke smell, one of the board members told me off the record that a couple neighbors hate the idea people are hanging around their fire pits with neighbors and spreading covid. They obviously couldn’t put that in the letter though.

We have been living by our fire pit making s’mores with our kids or roasting hot dogs to pretend we are camping. And yes, we have had socially distant outdoor gatherings in the fall with the fire lit for heat. Guess we all will be shut ins the rest of the winter.

"Anything that emits heat" in a yard would include:
BBQ grill
Exterior lighting
Multiple exhausts from a house

Guess you can't grill, turn on the furnace, or turn on your outside lights anymore.

+1 also no more running your dryer inside, so you best put up a clothesline in your backyard immediately.

your house emits heat. Anything warmer than the temperature emits heats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Open fire pits are most likely illegal, you are making nose and smells that are ruining neighbors ability to enjoy their home.

I am a officer in an HOA and I don’t even live there. But just last week guy two sets of complaints about smokers and grills. Folks are working from home have allergies and you get folks smoking, having a beer and Hanging out outside their windows stinking up the place.

But a damn house on a large plot if you are white trash and enjoys you beer drinking, Covid spreading, fire pit, pot smoking swinger parties on your own land

1. what is the difference between a fire pit and a weber grill?

2. people like you are the reason that people avoid buying houses with HOAs

[Anonymous]

Love that I don't have a HOA. Been enjoying my fire pit like hell the last month or so! Nothing like sitting around an open fire at night!

[Anonymous]

Just a note, I have a Solo Stove. It's not ideal for fire enjoyment, and it does emit plenty of smoke in some circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Open fire pits are most likely illegal, you are making nose and smells that are ruining neighbors ability to enjoy their home.

I am a officer in an HOA and I don’t even live there. But just last week guy two sets of complaints about smokers and grills. Folks are working from home have allergies and you get folks smoking, having a beer and Hanging out outside their windows stinking up the place.

But a damn house on a large plot if you are white trash and enjoys you beer drinking, Covid spreading, fire pit, pot smoking swinger parties on your own land

You are part of the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The HOA can enforce its own rules and assess rule breakers with fines.

FWIW I can understand why your neighbor is complaining. Fire pits absolutely stink up a neighborhood and if you're using a fire pit all the time then no wonder your neighbor is unhappy.

The HOA can't make up its own rules to enforce, though. Unless there is a pre-existing bylaw re fire pits, it likely has to go to a vote by a quorum of homeowners before they can start money grabbing and threatening liens.

I mean, Jesus, most HOA boards are the neighborhood busybodies who are measuring other people's grass and timing trashcan pickup, can you imagine how out of control they would be if they got to make up their own rules on the fly, too?

Maybe if varies by HOA, but our HOA board can make new rules or modify existing rules. Just this spring, there was an uproar about people putting signs in their yard and leaving them there for too long. Some claimed this was a way to stop others from displaying "Hate Has No Home Here" signs claiming the signs are divisive (If you don't have a sign does that mean you allow hate in your home?). Anyway, 6 months later, we have a new rule about signs in yards. Personally I find the new rules contradictory, but regardless of what I think, the HOA board voted on and enacted new rules. There was an open meeting for residence to voice their position on signs, but there was no vote by the home owners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Open fire pits are most likely illegal, you are making nose and smells that are ruining neighbors ability to enjoy their home.

I am a officer in an HOA and I don’t even live there. But just last week guy two sets of complaints about smokers and grills. Folks are working from home have allergies and you get folks smoking, having a beer and Hanging out outside their windows stinking up the place.

But a damn house on a large plot if you are white trash and enjoys you beer drinking, Covid spreading, fire pit, pot smoking swinger parties on your own land

1. what is the difference between a fire pit and a weber grill?

2. people like you are the reason that people avoid buying houses with HOAs

Big difference NJ and NYC bans recreational fires. You can’t light a fire for fun. And fires must have grill and cover like a bbk. I only mentioned I don’t live there as I hear very little complaints as I don’t live there and no owner has my contact info

[Anonymous]

open burning without a permit is prohibited in Montgomery County, and fines of $500 per day may be imposed. Chapter 3 of the Montgomery County Code and Maryland regulations (COMAR 26.11.07) place restrictions on open burning.

It is illegal in nearly every part of country. Your neighbor should just call 911

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:open burning without a permit is prohibited in Montgomery County, and fines of $500 per day may be imposed. Chapter 3 of the Montgomery County Code and Maryland regulations (COMAR 26.11.07) place restrictions on open burning.

It is illegal in nearly every part of country. Your neighbor should just call 911

This is complete BS. Recreational fires are allowed almost everywhere that isn't an urban center.

[Anonymous]

Are you being a good neighbor or a bad neighbor, OP? Lots of people don't like the smell of fires in fire pits. Are you in a dense housing area and bothering your neighbors because you keep insisting on using your fire pit? It sounds like the HOA is fighting fire with fire. Try to be a better neighbor and maybe the HOA will work with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:open burning without a permit is prohibited in Montgomery County, and fines of $500 per day may be imposed. Chapter 3 of the Montgomery County Code and Maryland regulations (COMAR 26.11.07) place restrictions on open burning.

It is illegal in nearly every part of country. Your neighbor should just call 911

Open burning is not a fire pit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:open burning without a permit is prohibited in Montgomery County, and fines of $500 per day may be imposed. Chapter 3 of the Montgomery County Code and Maryland regulations (COMAR 26.11.07) place restrictions on open burning.

It is illegal in nearly every part of country. Your neighbor should just call 911

Open burning is not the same as having a fire pit or outdoor fireplace in any way shape or form. Most counties in Maryland (mine, not MoCo) require fire pits to adhere to certain safety standards, most obviously being a certain safe distance away from a fence or housing. If OP’s fire pit meets those conditions, the smoke really should be minimal for any neighbors.

Some people, I swear, just don’t like seeing neighbors using their backyards—as if it somehow is rude to enjoy one’s own space if others can observe that enjoyment. I mean, don’t put up an ugly structure in your backyard that is an eyesore for neighbors, don’t have loud parties (especially now), don’t let your kids scream outside late into the evening. But enjoy a damn glass of wine by a backyard firepit all you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:open burning without a permit is prohibited in Montgomery County, and fines of $500 per day may be imposed. Chapter 3 of the Montgomery County Code and Maryland regulations (COMAR 26.11.07) place restrictions on open burning.

It is illegal in nearly every part of country. Your neighbor should just call 911

Open burning is not the same as having a fire pit or outdoor fireplace in any way shape or form. Most counties in Maryland (mine, not MoCo) require fire pits to adhere to certain safety standards, most obviously being a certain safe distance away from a fence or housing. If OP’s fire pit meets those conditions, the smoke really should be minimal for any neighbors.

Some people, I swear, just don’t like seeing neighbors using their backyards—as if it somehow is rude to enjoy one’s own space if others can observe that enjoyment. I mean, don’t put up an ugly structure in your backyard that is an eyesore for neighbors, don’t have loud parties (especially now), don’t let your kids scream outside late into the evening. But enjoy a damn glass of wine by a backyard firepit all you want.

Edited to clarify that I’m sure MoCo has similar distance requirements for fireplaces, I just don’t know them off the top of my head because I live in a different MD County.