Residents Share 10 Wild HOA Rules They're Supposed To Follow

When you buy a home in a community that's governed by a homeowner's association (HOA), you agree to live by their rules. Their rulebook is known as the CC&Rs, or Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions, which dictate everything from maintenance guidelines to the color of curtains allowed.

For some, joining an HOA is a smart homeowner move. But for others, the rules can feel crushingly oppressive. We skimmed Reddit threads for you, and here are some of the craziest HOA rules out there.

"Curtains in windows visible from [the] street must be white or off white."

No bold colors here. If your windows face the street, your HOA wants the drapes as neutral as possible. This rule is often related to "architectural harmony clauses," which is sometimes buried in CC&Rs. Similarly irksome, some HOAs ban vertical blinds, fairy lights on balconies, and the type of furniture you can put on your patio using this rule.

"We're not allowed to have patios, play equipment, vegetable gardens, excetera expand past the 'side planes of the house.'"

With this type of language, the HOA is policing what's visible from the street. These kinds of limitations usually trace back to clauses about exterior modifications requiring approval. Strictly interpreted, even a small plot of dirt with a wood frame — yes, that means your veggie garden — could count as an "unauthorized structure."

"They [garbage containers] must be in the garage per CC&Rs."

You might assume your trash can belongs at the curb. Nope. Many HOAs argue that visible garbage cans are unsightly and attract pests.

While many find this reasonable, not everyone does. As one Redditor observes, "The idea of fermented garbage hanging in their garage and wafting into their home in the interest of appearance and neighborhood aesthetic is just pretentious."

"Children are not allowed to play on the common grounds, people are not allowed to set up lawn chairs or towels for lounging in common areas, dogs cannot step foot on these sacred grasses."

Common areas often come with strict rules. HOAs justify these limits by citing liability concerns, wear and tear, or maintenance costs.

For dogs, it's a bummer. But restricting children from enjoying common areas — like trails, swimming pools, and other shared spaces — may be illegal. For example, mixed-age communities (i.e., not a 55+ senior living community) cannot legally restrict kids from these spaces, even if other residents find them obnoxious. Rules that specifically signal out children often violate the Fair Housing Act and have been struck down in court.

"They required all owners to sign over Power of Attorney to the HOA."

Yes, this is real. One Redditor said she encountered an HOA that required all members to grant limited Power of Attorney (POA) to the board, allowing them the right to make critical decisions about the homeowner's property.

While POA is likely meant only for extreme situations, like emergency repairs when the homeowner is away, the board's powers could even extend to property sales and insurance payouts — yikes!

"No window mounted A/C units. The house was built in 1946 and doesn't have central air."

One Redditor homeowner laments seeing triple-digit temperatures during the summer without central air to cope.

HOAs commonly ban window units for aesthetic reasons, arguing they disrupt visual harmony. Unfortunately for those living in areas where summer temperatures can spike, the aesthetic of the community can sometimes take precedence over comfort.

"Garages are to be used solely for the purpose of storing vehicles."

HOAs commonly use this rule to control street visual uniformity. They want homeowners to park cars in the garage, leaving streets and driveways wide open.

This rule has the potential to get sticky. For example, if an HOA discontinues landscaping services and snow removal, homeowners will have to buy the equipment necessary to do this job, without having anywhere to store it.

"Nothing [allowed] on [the] patio."

One Redditor got in hot water with the HOA for keeping a chair on the patio. HOAs sometimes ban patio furniture, grills, or even wind chimes in a desire to maintain uniform appearance and prevent visual clutter. It makes you wonder, what's the point of a patio if you can't keep a patio chair there.

"All paint colors need to be approved, even plain white trim."

The color white may seem like a safe choice when it comes to painting the exterior of your home, but some HOAs will require approval of the shade before you're allowed to break out your paint brushes and rollers.

That's because the color white brings a lot of complexities. As of 2023, Sherman-Wiliams has nearly 200 distinct shades of white, according to The Washington Post, and bridal gowns come in 50 exhausting shades of (mostly) off-white.

"My HOA states our garage doors cannot be open longer than 15 minutes unless we are actively doing something in the garage, such as cleaning or even working out [or] transitioning in or out."

We feel for this homeowner who lives in Las Vegas where summers are scorching hot, and people often raise their garages a few inches for air flow. This HOA rule is likely about appearance and security, but a 15-minute limit — especially in hot climates — seems a bit heavy-handed.

Homeowners love to vent about their HOAs, and we love to read them. But, living in an HOA where the CC&Rs feel suffocating can make it hard to make your house feel like a home. That's why it's important to research the rules in the development you're looking to move into before you sign any paperwork.

Otherwise, you may find yourself forced to supplement your income with a second job so that you can afford to look for a new place to live.