So frustrated by HOA

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you are part of the problem that they are trying to resolve - people having gatherings in their yard with unrelated people.

[Anonymous]

F them. What are they going to do you? Call the HOA police?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:F them. What are they going to do you? Call the HOA police?

Seriously. What’s the penalty? A fine? I’d happily pay a fee to the HOA to keep using the fire pit.

[Anonymous]

I would be really upset too! Can you gather all the pro-firepit people to fight back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:F them. What are they going to do you? Call the HOA police?

Seriously. What’s the penalty? A fine? I’d happily pay a fee to the HOA to keep using the fire pit.

First penalty is a warning then $350 up to $800 an infraction.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

The next letter will discuss the safety issues with fire pits and the terrible risk you take of burning down you or your neighbors house.

It should arrive in about three weeks.

[Anonymous]

Is it against the written rules? Or are they just willy-nilly deciding against fire pits?

[Anonymous]

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


I should have been more specific. Grills are currently allowed and exempt, but the letter noted they would be discussed as part of the ban and they would follow up with additional correspondence.
Guess you can't grill, turn on the furnace, or turn on your outside lights anymore.

[Anonymous]

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.

I hate to interrupt with science, but I emit heat. About 100W at idle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The next letter will discuss the safety issues with fire pits and the terrible risk you take of burning down you or your neighbors house.

It should arrive in about three weeks.

I assume they are greasing the wheels to double down using safety next. Ugh. I’ve lived here 20 years and shockingly no one has burned their house down yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it against the written rules? Or are they just willy-nilly deciding against fire pits?

This. Is your board allowed to create rules on their own? I’d be pissed. We live in an HOA community but it’s pretty chill with very basic rules. I don’t think our board could invent rules that are not already on the books without community approval.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The next letter will discuss the safety issues with fire pits and the terrible risk you take of burning down you or your neighbors house.

It should arrive in about three weeks.

I assume they are greasing the wheels to double down using safety next. Ugh. I’ve lived here 20 years and shockingly no one has burned their house down yet.

They aren't going to get any movement with a simple ask. The next step is to create fear and hope your friends and neighbors will use peer pressure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The next letter will discuss the safety issues with fire pits and the terrible risk you take of burning down you or your neighbors house.

It should arrive in about three weeks.

Local ordinances usually govern issues with fire pits. The HOA should stay out of it.