LETTER TO EDITOR

Courtesy of SUN SENTINEL

Opinion by Larry Baum, Boca Raton
Posted July 11, 2004

There have been a number of recent articles concerning homeowners and homeowner associations. The topics have ranged from pets to mailboxes and American flags to golf course membership.

This has become such a hot topic that even your editorial cartoonist has weighed in on the matter. Unfortunately, until they experience it first hand, homeowners do not appreciate the absolute, often arbitrary control exerted by these associations.

I have had to obtain association permission to put a fence in my back yard and add new lights to my garage and entranceway. Pool and screening enclosure construction was delayed pending association approval. After the pool was completed, replacing landscaping and irrigation required additional association review and approval.

Painting my home required similar approval.

My association decides when it is time to replace my mailbox and orders me to pressure-clean my roof. When the association determined an application was not in order, workmen were ordered out of the community. A direct quote from my architectural control board's letter states, "If you fail to stop the improvements, the Board of Directors is authorized to levy a fine and/or turn the matter over to the association attorney for resolution.... govern yourself accordingly."

Why do we allow this to happen?