DanielS15 (Georgia)
Posts: 48
Posts: 48
Posted:
If the HOA Board was notified of a large hornet nest in the common area, and chose to do nothing, would they (the Board) by liable if someone were to be stung?
A service of:
Community123.com
Professional websites for HOAs & condos, since 2004
Professional websites for HOAs & condos, since 2004
🎁 1st year FREE for HOATalk members! →
Hornet Nest
Started by DanielS15 • 8 replies • 180 views
💬 Join us to post & get advice from 50,000 HOA & Condo leaders.
Create Free Account →
⚡ Takes 30 seconds
Already a member? Log in
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,334
Posts: 1,334
Posted:
If the medical costs associated with the hornet sting were high, and I were an attorney, then I would certainly take the victim as a client on contingency.
SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964
Posts: 6,964
Posted:
Choosing to nothing isn't a good idea, but there may be other factors in play. I found this article intriguing - you might want to show this to the board
https://redinational.com/what-legal-considerations-exist-for-wasp-control-in-residential-areas/
https://redinational.com/what-legal-considerations-exist-for-wasp-control-in-residential-areas/
If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius
JackS20 (North Carolina)
Posts: 271
Posts: 271
Posted:
depends on location. there are tons of people that want to kill every living insect, even beneficial ones like spiders. They will act like crybabies if they see a hornest nest 100 feet up in a tree saying it has to be destroyed. use common sense. some times a warning sign is more appropriate than killing everything especially when unlikely to be stung.
LetA (Nevada)
Posts: 2,679
Posts: 2,679
Posted:
Yes the HOA as a whole will be liable if someone gets stung. If someone gets stung, is injured and sues, be prepared to
be individually named in a lawsuit as will the the HOA name et. al.
if you are not individually named, you are the et. al.
Factor the cost of a pest control visit or bee keeper versus a lawsuit with higher insurance premiums and higher assessments.
be individually named in a lawsuit as will the the HOA name et. al.
if you are not individually named, you are the et. al.
Factor the cost of a pest control visit or bee keeper versus a lawsuit with higher insurance premiums and higher assessments.
DeanJ
Posts: 1,786
Posts: 1,786
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By DanielS15 on 09/19/2025 11:26 AM
If the HOA Board was notified of a large hornet nest in the common area, and chose to do nothing, would they (the Board) by liable if someone were to be stung?
If the HOA Board was notified of a large hornet nest in the common area, and chose to do nothing, would they (the Board) by liable if someone were to be stung?
What if I report to you bees are using the flowers in your beds next to the side walk? Are you required to constantly be out there killing the bees? What if someone gets stung?
In the winter, hornets die, leaving only the new, mated queens to survive and overwinter in sheltered spots like tree bark or woodpiles. The old nest is abandoned, as all workers and the old queen die, and it will naturally degrade over winter.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
You don't want to take the chance that the person who gets stung is wildly allergic and dies.
Yes, an allergic person should be carrying EpiPens. But occasionally a person's first hint that they're allergic is anaphylaxis. And I vaguely remember some years ago that there was a shortage of EpiPens, or they cost an arm and a leg, or both. Not that we should be having any such problems now, of course not.
And yes, as a board member I have an obligation to address unsafe conditions on the property. Hornets in particular are foul-tempered and unwilling to negotiate if you approach their hive. No, I don't like to kill animals. But they can't be allowed to damage property or harm residents. And if the board opts for the gentler but more labor-intensive route of escorting the critters elsewhere, we get to have the always entertaining discussion of why the board chose the more espensive option.
(We found out that we had hornets this summer when the mailman got stung trying to deliver mail to the board president's home. Our manager sent out a community alert asking reisdens to tell us if they had hornet nests around their buildings. "Oh yes, we have a nest!" responded several people, one of whom was planning to climb from her deck into the tree that's leaning over the deck and spray the nest. Sweet Mother of Jesus, and they wonder why board members burn out.
Yes, it's been a long summer...)
Yes, an allergic person should be carrying EpiPens. But occasionally a person's first hint that they're allergic is anaphylaxis. And I vaguely remember some years ago that there was a shortage of EpiPens, or they cost an arm and a leg, or both. Not that we should be having any such problems now, of course not.
And yes, as a board member I have an obligation to address unsafe conditions on the property. Hornets in particular are foul-tempered and unwilling to negotiate if you approach their hive. No, I don't like to kill animals. But they can't be allowed to damage property or harm residents. And if the board opts for the gentler but more labor-intensive route of escorting the critters elsewhere, we get to have the always entertaining discussion of why the board chose the more espensive option.
(We found out that we had hornets this summer when the mailman got stung trying to deliver mail to the board president's home. Our manager sent out a community alert asking reisdens to tell us if they had hornet nests around their buildings. "Oh yes, we have a nest!" responded several people, one of whom was planning to climb from her deck into the tree that's leaning over the deck and spray the nest. Sweet Mother of Jesus, and they wonder why board members burn out.
Yes, it's been a long summer...)
ElleN (Idaho)
Posts: 1,334
Posts: 1,334
Posted:
Quote:
Posted By CathyA3 on 10/07/2025 10:41 AM
Our manager sent out a community alert asking reisdens to tell us if they had hornet nests around their buildings. "Oh yes, we have a nest!" responded several people, one of whom was planning to climb from her deck into the tree that's leaning over the deck and spray the nest.
Our manager sent out a community alert asking reisdens to tell us if they had hornet nests around their buildings. "Oh yes, we have a nest!" responded several people, one of whom was planning to climb from her deck into the tree that's leaning over the deck and spray the nest.
CathyA3 (Ohio)
Posts: 6,299
Posts: 6,299
Posted:
She's a former board member who apparently didn't learn much during her term.
🎯 You've read this entire discussion
Join the conversation with 50,000 HOA & Condo Leaders:
- ✓ Ask follow-up questions
- ✓ Share your experience
- ✓ Get expert advice
- ✓ Access 350,000 discussions
Create Free Account →
⚡ Takes 30 seconds
Already a member? Log in here