Preventing Pool Parties

We have 12 units in our development, so we limit each unit to a maximum of 12 people, with a total # from all units in the pool & pool area at any one time of 64.

The rule was passed because last year one unit monopolized the pool on a Saturday and had a party with 40-50 people and other units (with families) were scared off to use the pool.

How do we enforce the rule (fine, suspension)? Other complication is many owners rent out. But we want to give our rule teeth. A bad rental can have owners collecting via security deposit

We understand a party of 8 could be as disruptive as someone inviting 40 people over. But we are more worried when someone invites the town over (100+ people via fb invite)

Snippet of current rules:

- Each unit is limited to a maximum 12 people in pool area at any time.

-. No parties permitted without the written permission of the HOA.

Can anyone suggest some language to add?

Pita has a point (say that fast three times!) All of this reminds me why our community got rid of our pool (too expensive to maintain, not enough people used it and the ones who did had some occasional behaviors that resulted in one or two homeowners being banned from the pool for the entire season.

After the one unit monopolized the pool, you should have sat down at that time to come up with some rules that would go into effect this year, complete with a fining schedule and appeal rights. But, better late than never, I guess. I would imagine your pool season will kick off around Memorial Day, so you need to work quickly. At the end of this season evaluate everything, ask homeowners for their comments and tweak the rules as needed.

First of all, remind the homeowners that they are ultimately responsible for the behavior of their visitors, tenants and members of their household - renting the unit shouldn't make any difference. Check with your association attorney to make sure you will be able to issue fines, then come up with a schedule (first offense, pay X amount, second offense XX amount and perhaps a suspension of pool use for two weeks or so) and distribute that to the homeowners, along with the rules. Continued bad behavior should result in a ban for the remainder of the season and perhaps into next season, depending on how obnoxious the behavior got. You might also check with the local parks department to see how they regulate things in the community pools.

If crowd control is an issue, you might want to consider reducing the number of guests any one unit can have, e.g. 2, with the owner or someone living in the unit accompanying the visitors at all times. Issue passes and have an attendant check them, as Pita suggested (we used an off duty cop, which helped with discipline). If someone wants to have a party, make them rent the pool area where they'll have to pay a deposit, rental fee and hire their own attendant. The area could be inspected before and after the event and the deposit withheld partially or completely for any documented damages.

Of course, you'll need other rules if you don't already have them to cover things like no peeing in the pool, infants and toddlers must wear swim diapers, no glass bottles around the pool area, etc. Finally, check with your association insurance carrier for suggestions, as you want to ensure the association protects itself from liability from injury.

I say limit the amount of guests an owner can bring to the pool. An off the top of my head amount would be no more then 3 unless permission form the BOD is given for more. As an example, that crazy family with all the kids (on TV) might warrant an exception.