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BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820
Posted:
Most HOAs have a similar process to this: Illegal act noted, letter sent to violator with potential fine, info, etc. Give violator time to fix action, or appeal/talk to board about fine. If no action, fine is assessed against homeowner... that's the basics of most actions.

Now, let's say that someone parks illegally. we do all three steps, and assess them a fine. Or, they agree to remove the vehicle at step two. However two weeks later, they park illegally again. Do we go back to step one, and send a letter, give them a chance to appeal, etc.? Or, did we establish the "crime" already, with the first one, and give them their appeal already? Do we need to "restart" the process with every action? Or, can we assume "Hey, they have been told it's illegal, and they continue to do it. They did/didn't appeal, and continue to do it, so this time, we send them notice that another fine has been assessed, period."

Take the fence issue from another thread: Board notifies of illegal fence. owner removes MOST of fence, leaving some in violation. Does the process start over, and now we tell them the remaining fence is a violation, give them time to correct, etc.? Or, do we just fine them for not removing their fence correctly?

I see the same issues with parking, weeds/lawn care, etc.. Do you warn someone every time they let their weeds take over, or is one warning enough, and after that, it's just a notice of fine? How often do we reset the clock on violations?

thoughts?
RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067
Posted:
No Brian you do not start over. In your rules have a statement that if the same offence occurs again within 12 months there will be a fine.
BrianB (California)
Posts: 2,820
Posted:
Along the same lines, how often can an HOA fine someone?

For instance, weeds: if they are unsightly, overgrown, etc., and we do the process... they have by the 15th of the month to comply, they don't, we fine them.

When can we fine them again, if they simply refuse to comply? On the 16th? 17th? 20th? 1st of the month? Can we fine them every day? week? hour?

What is a reasonable (ie, what would a judge uphold) time frame for a continual violation, like weeds, parking, a fence or paint scheme?

ClaudeV (Florida)
Posts: 86
Posted:
Brian, our HOA rules say the fines/assessments are "so much $$$ per day/week/month". Set the fine at a daily rate for things that can be easily rectified in 24 hours and let the clock start to run! Fines for things that would be impossible to dissolve in 24 hours are set at a weekly/monthly rate, whichever is appropriate for the violation/solution. That is a reasonable action that any judge would probably agree with. IMHO....I'm NOT an attorney! :-)
RogerB (Colorado)
Posts: 5,067
Posted:
Posted By BrianB on 10/28/2006 4:42 PM
Along the same lines, how often can an HOA fine someone?

Follow your established Rules on enforcement of Covenants which have previously been provided to all owners.

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