Pool Closing at Night

We too close the pool at 10pm. While renters do live there they have no voice in what rules the HOA has. As to enforcement, you enforce against the owner, if you catch the renter in the pool at 11pm, you fine the owner. That or you hire private security to enforce the rules.

The rules for the pool are made by the board of directors, I hope after input from the residents. And if the residents don't like the result they can remove the board of directors and reinstate the rule.

So residents can't "demand" unless they have a big enough majority. Get out there and agitate.

Ours is open daily 11-8, but it always has a lifeguard. Curious - Is this pool staffed with a guard? It amazes me that a lot of pools in other areas in the south (it seems) are not staffed with a lifeguard. Sorry that's not the issue, but I was just curious.

Ours is open daily 11-8, but it always has a lifeguard. Curious - Is this pool staffed with a guard? It amazes me that a lot of pools in other areas in the south (it seems) are not staffed with a lifeguard. Sorry that's not the issue, but I was just curious. (Mike)

Mike,

True. Many small community pools in Florida are not staffed with a lifeguard ; there are just warning signs all over the place which people happily ignore. Pools are a huge liability since the code in Florida (or certain counties) call only for a 4 or 5 foot fence, I believe. And, the neighborhood kids can and do easily climb over the fence at night. However, in the Orlando area I saw many pools closing at ‘dusk’ and they were locked and the fences were about 8 ft., so that is much better.

I do not think the Board should authorize the pool to be open until midnight without owners consent.

Alex,

Put yourself in place of those who live around or near the pool. Let's see here, uh, noise after 10 pm? Not acceptable. Those people have rights to quiet and 10 pm is a reasonable time.

Why would you "officially" close a pool and then let people swim in it after closing? What does not loud mean? That sounds like a can or worms getting ready to climb out. Everyone should go by the same rules and standards, even the former President.

Our HOA's motto was "For newlyweds and nearlydeads". It wasn't a party like place with many loud people. Plus the person who lived next door to the pool, often took care of any unwanted late night visitors. We had a combination lock on the gate to the pool and it was well-known. My only real method of closing it was using a chain with a keyed lock around a post.

I worked 2nd shift so my best time to go swimming would be after I got home. This allowed me to relax and to check the pool area before people came in the next day. I would clean up the trash and check out any maintenance issues. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to monitor the area at all. See nothing wrong with taking a quick dip alone in a pool for a few minutes when not making any significant noise.

I never said I denied other people access after hours at the pool. The person next door kept an eye on the pool since they had a bird's eye view of it. If they had an issue, then they would handle it. If it were serious, I would get notified about it. I would chain up the pool but not on a routine basis. Plus it was pretty easy to access the pool area whether or not it was chained. I had to work through a HUGE amount of maintenance/containment issues at the pool before all that was corrected. So really couldn't do much about denying access to the pool area to anyone. However, every HOA is different in how they handle their pool area.

We got lucky with the people who lived near the pool. They never had many issues with people using the pool any hours of the day. When there were times of issues, then I would take the time to do some extra security. Otherwise, it was a healthy respect for your neighbors that kepte people in line at the pool area.

There's a fine line you have to follow in a HOA in having certain amenities like pools. Our dues covered having the pool/clubhouse access. So to cut it off completely, would not set well with the community. The issues weren't serious enough to close the pool but to make sure they were addressed. Which is one of the things I accomplished being president.

The health department does regulate pools in our area. We also had a hired pool contractor that took care of our pool, chemicals, and maintenance. So it wasn't a health hazaard. The pool itself was safe and maintained as well as any other local pool in the area.

Our problems extended from age. The builder had used railroad ties for a retaining wall. Over time these ties, deteriorate. I had to hire a contractor replace the wall with cement brick wall. The wood fence hadn't been painted ever and had weather damage. So we painted the fence. We tore down an old deck that had been neglected and never weather treated properly. I had new fence installed and access points addressed.

These were issues I had inherited when I became president. They were also ones I addressed and got fixed. Hence, why I was at the pool area early in the morning after work monitoring any issues. If I saw any, then I would address them at our meeting to fix them. If I hadn't become president, our pool area would have been a danger zone of neglect and dispair. I spent 10K making that area safe for our residents. I liked the fact they could enjoy it safely at any time they choose.

It says renters are demanding later nights for pool season. The HOA represents property owners who pay the community bills. Renters have no say and certainly no room for demands of an HOA. They are to follow community rules or their landlords will be held responsible.

This is an old post from 2011...