Hang it out to dry: HOAs would have to allow clotheslines - wtop.com: "ANNAPOLIS -- A Frederick County state delegate wants to let people harness the power of the sun to dry their clothes.
Delegate Galen Clagett, a Democrat, introduced a bill that would require homeowners associations to allow clotheslines.
The bill gives HOAs the right to regulate size, placement and appearance of clotheslines for aesthetic or safety reasons, but it would prevent them and local governments from banning the lines completely at single family houses or townhouses."
---------------------
Shu Bartholomew sent this along, and I think it is like the flags and the satellite dishes--another perfectly fine specific limitation on mindless HOA restrictions, when what we really need is a carve-out of some broad areas of civil liberties and due process for owners.
6 comments:
Peace be with you
Giving HOAs the authority to regulate size, placement and appearance of clotheslines for aesthetic or safety reasons is to much latitude. Any and all of these can and will be used to stop or discourage a member from installing a clothesline, flag, solar collector etc. especially the aesthetic and safety reasons which are highly subjective and open to endless interpretation. Instead giving HOAs these powers will create new opportunities for conflict and more fines and the industries favorite more litigation. History teaches us that less is more when it comes to governing and in the culture of HOAs this is especially true.
The only authority that the HOA should have is “placement” so owners don’t place them on their front lawn, on a common area or part of lawn were the clothesline may block the sight line of vehicles when making a turn around a corner.
The problem is that no matter how legislatures try to reduce HOA discretion over things like this, whatever discretion they have left is still subject to abuse. The central problem remains: unqualified people with no oversight, running the lives of their neighbors.
Just what I want to see, someone's granny panties flapping in the breeze outside my kitchen window.
"The central problem remains: unqualified people with no oversight, running the lives of their neighbors."
Let's not forget the management companies and HOA attorneys that encourage this behavior for profit. Qualified or unqualified, no one should have such power. This is a governmental power.
As to the blogger ready to justify any conduct toward his neighboring owner on the basis of personal taste, there has never been an entitlement to hold the world accountable to your viewing pleasure. If you don't like it, then purchase the property.
Quote: If you don't like it, then purchase the property.
Well, I did purchase my property and so did my neighbor and we both knowingly entered into a contract that specifically precluded us from having clotheslines. Sadly, the real constitutional failing here is the governments abject failure to honor individuals freedom to contract. Thus the nanny state takes one more step in managing our lives and making our decisions.
You don't like the rules then look for somewhere else to live. Or even work with your neighbors to change them.
Post a Comment