Un-mowed Lawn - Mow, Fines, or Both?

We're a small association of detached condos and this is the first we've run into a situation where it looks like we'll need to possibly exercise our authority to correct a violation. Previously, we've been successful with violation notices and a fine or two in order to gain compliance.

We have an owner that seems to have quit caring. Told me he's "just not feeling the neighborhood thing anymore", whatever that means.

So we're working through our procedure of letters & notices, and we're pretty much at the fine assessment stage. Naturally, we also have the authority to enter upon his unit to correct the violation (mow the lawn). Then we would have the joyous task of seeking reimbursement from the apathetic.

Any experience with such a situation?

If there are no restrictions on what you can do and he's no longer into the neighborhood thing, I would:
- hire someone to mow it.
- bill him for the mowing.
- file a mechanic's lien if he doesn't pay.
- repeat as necessary.
In my view - much preferred to fining.

Other options:

1) wait for the grass to get 1 foot or higher. Then call the health department. He will likely listen to the city/County more than the Association. Note: height of grass/weeds varies by County/State on when they will act.

2) As a neighbor, mow his lawn.

We have a provision in our governing documents for a Resident Action Program (RAP) that authorizes the association to remedy the violation and add the cost and an administrative fee to the owner's account. We generally only use this program on homes that may be going through foreclosure. There is often little likelihood that we will recover these expenses but we consider it a reasonable expense to prevent abandoned or neglected yards from pulling down general property values in the community.

That's a broad blanket statement that is not necessarily true.

In our case, we have 2 primary sections to our documents
Master Deed: Definitions, what's what, general description of owner vs HOA responsibilities, easements, etc...
Bylaws: Defines the HOA, arbitration, reconstruction & repair, and RESTRICTIONS, then the details on how the corporation is to be run
The can-do/can't-do stuff is nearly 100% within our Bylaws

NPS, what happened to the neighborly way of doing things you state in other threads? You've stated that you would prefer to help the neighbor with a disability, but yet without any other explanation with this post, you are ready to throw the book at them. AN HOA board can't be choosey. That will lead to a lawsuit when an HO decides they've had enough of your picking an choosing what you enforce.