Block party restrictions

We got a request from one of our homeowners in the single-family section of our HOA to host a block party in their cul de sac. We have had block parties in the past and have no objection to neighbors getting together. However, these neighbors are proposing a large gathering where each driveway has a "theme" and they use the actual cul de sac for a live band and gathering. The HOA owns the cul de sac. They also want to be able to park cars in the clubhouse parking lot and use golf carts to shuttle people to the party.

This cul de sac has a lot of gatherings and this year for Christmas they advertised on social media for one night to view the Christmas lights.

Our fear is that they will advertise the block party on social media again and end up with several hundred people like a "festival" instead of a block party.

We are ready to tell the homeowners yes for the block party but not social media advertising, and also try to limit to neighbors and friends and not general public. There are no restrictions in our documents.

However, I am concerned about the liability to the HOA of giving permission to use the cul de sac and the parking lot, then having someone leave the party drunk and get in an accident. It seems to me that a law firm would go after the HOA's deep pockets.

Has anyone else faced a similar issue? We want to encourage community but are afraid with live music and large numbers of people it could get out of hand.

Have the previous block parties been resident organized only? Has the Board previously given permission for resident's to hold block parties?

Your concerns are very valid. My thoughts are that the Board can not stop resident's from having their own block party unless it's stated in the HOA docs. Then it becomes a governing docs or R & R violation.

Perhaps your local police dept. can disburse an owner organized party if it falls under local ordinances or restrictions.

If the Board gives permission for a block party, then yes, the HOA certainly maintains some liability. Just as it would for any HOA community hosted event.

Lori

Is this proposed party for HOA owners only? How may units in your HOA?

Thanks for the comments so far. We have a very large HOA - 820 doors (mix of single-family, duplexes and condos). The homeowner said she would open it up to the whole community which is when I started to get concerned about the size of the party. We have had block parties before, but it's usually just a few houses getting together, neighbors only. The homeowner is implying that she wants to invite a lot of guests to the block party and we are concerned with a lot of "outsiders".

It is a gated community and we own all the roads. Another issue is how these guests are going to all get in the gate. Our system is unmanned with just a call box. There aren't permanent codes to get in, you have to call or get a temporary code from the office.

Our parking restrictions are that you can't park in the street overnight and you can't park in the clubhouse parking lot overnight. So technically as long as the cars are gone from the clubhouse lot by midnight they aren't breaking any rules. We have very narrow streets (if people park on both sides of the road there is barely room for a car to get through let alone emergency equipment).

I will call our insurance agent tomorrow to discuss the liability issues with him. I'm also going to speak directly with the homeowner.