Boats and HOA's

[hivoltg]

I have been fighting with my home owners association about having a boat at my house ever since I get her home. Its something I never thought of when I purchased the boat. Im winning the fight...for now. I wanted to make people aware of the issue that have an hoa (read the rules before you purchase a boat) and see if any others have had this problem with their hoa.

Yes I can just get a dry storage spot right up the road but I enjoy working on the boat, and if I storage the boat it wont get as much love and attention from me. So, for now im fighting the hoa until I lose.

 

[Wind dog]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I would never own a home that required membership in a HOA, allready have to many "people" telling me what I can & can't do on my own property. But that's just my opinion.
Good luck with your "fight".

 

[agallant80]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I am looking at a new home with a HOA, I currently live in the city and there is no way that I could keep my boat at the house so its in storage. I looked at the HOA rules for the place I am thinking of building at. It states that you can keep your toys at your house but they have to be in the garage. I wonder if I will get in trouble if I leave the boat in the driveway over night if I have to bring it home to work on it.

 

[hivoltg]

Re: Boats and HOA's

Check and see if your HOA outsources the harassment duties to a property management company. They are driven by fines and search for them as a source of income.

Any other boat owners in the neighborhood? They will be very helpful with how restrictive a new neighborhood hoa is.

 

[eavega]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I am looking at a new home with a HOA, I currently live in the city and there is no way that I could keep my boat at the house so its in storage. I looked at the HOA rules for the place I am thinking of building at. It states that you can keep your toys at your house but they have to be in the garage. I wonder if I will get in trouble if I leave the boat in the driveway over night if I have to bring it home to work on it.

I've had this fight with my HOA. I can keep my boat on the property as long as it is in the garage or other approved enclousure. As to leaving it on the driveway, the HOA has rules that state we are allowed to keep a trailer on the property for up to 5 days. Some folks try to cheat and claim that they move the trailer every 5 days, so technically they are not "leaving" the trailer on their property. I am currently trying to get the rules changed to allow boats (and other items on trailers that do not exceed the height of a privacy fence) to be stored on property as long as it is not visible from the street.

-E

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Boats and HOA's

HOAs are for people who like to enforce their preferences on other people. Have not, and will not ever own a home in an HOA community. Bunch of housewives with nothing better to do with their time than to hand out "Yard of the Week" awards and pick at someone for having the wrong style of fence post or paint color. No thanks.

 

[LandOf10KLAKES]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I just moved from a home with a HOA, a ridiculous board of directors and too many sequences of petty issues by absentee board members to shake a stick at. I have been a part of many, many associations over the years from townhouses, condo's to homes and trust me, it is never a simple issue of what is stated in the bylaws and/or mandated my your municipality or state concerning association R & regs!
Needless to say, i am glad to be out of there. we had a huge parking area in a rural, lake setting with snowmobiling, boating and numerous recreation opportunities and you would think the board was trying to maintain an image worthy of a high rise condo in midtown Manhattan. Most rules end up being subjective in nature when it comes to individuals interpretation and our own ideal of what is appropriate, and hassles ensue. good luck and be respectful yet diligent.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I've had this fight with my HOA. I can keep my boat on the property as long as it is in the garage or other approved enclousure. As to leaving it on the driveway, the HOA has rules that state we are allowed to keep a trailer on the property for up to 5 days. Some folks try to cheat and claim that they move the trailer every 5 days, so technically they are not "leaving" the trailer on their property. I am currently trying to get the rules changed to allow boats (and other items on trailers that do not exceed the height of a privacy fence) to be stored on property as long as it is not visible from the street.

-E

I think the sad part it is you are looking at new construction they all have an HOA now.

 

[jmcrae]

Re: Boats and HOA's

No HOA - but I did manage to squeeze mine into my garage. The alley that feeds the garage is a separate issue...

The previous owners extended the garage about 11', really makes a difference.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Boats and HOA's

Interestingly - and worth checkin' out - my HOA (historically) has never said anything about boats in the driveway. Work trailers, we/they gripe about, but not boats or pop-up campers. 2 years ago, I got a note on my door from the city tellin' me I had 30 days to move my boat and trailer because of a CITY ZONING ordinance that required a "front yard" on my property. Turns out in my "zone" of the city, I have to have a "required front yard" 35' from the curb. I can only park vehicles in my driveway in that "required front yard," trailers, boats, campers, tractor-trailers, etc. - nope.

I putsed around for a day or two (while I made some space in the garage) with the boat laterally across the front of the garage (Driveway (45') - Required Front Yard (35') = 10' which is narrower than the beam of the boat ) - but eventually stored it inside.

Anyway - don't just fight the HOA, check your city ordinances too.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Boats and HOA's

Not fighting the HOA, knew a boat could only be here if in the garage. Boat owners here bring them home for 1 - 3 days a few times a year for cleaning and it is not a problem. I store my trailer at a facility and bought an indoor dry slip. So much better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[britisher]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I live an HOA area. I call the enforcement lot the Deed Police. Bunch of jobsworths. When I did the year long refurb on the boat, I moved it all way round back and wasn't visible from the street. The backyard is enclosed on all sides except the gaps either side of our house, but the boat wasn't visible. It was a PITA to move out the back so knew storing it round back was no go. When I parked it on the drive it wasn't long before the Deed Police issued a citation to move it. I checked and I could get a permit to keep it on the drive for 3 days with a 7 days gap in between. Good for doing jobs, but not ideal. My wife stubbornly resist moving her soft top out of the garage, so no go there either. Shortly after moving the boat off the drive and onto the grass verge outside my house, the deed police came driving by. I told the guy 'don't worry, I'm moving it'. He said no problems as the grass verge was not my property, but a county easement and as such they had no jurisdiction on that space. So there it sits outside my house on the county easement, which incidentally I mow for free. My boat is an 18.5 ft BR and I had thought about putting up fencing between me and my neighbor on one side with 2 gates at the front and parking it behind it. Fencing can't be any higher than 7 feet, so I reckoned the boat on the trailer was likely lower than that. BUT, it would cost me about $700.00 in fencing costs.
Motto... either don't live in an HOA area if you have a boat OR buy a toy one that floats in the bath. Jobnsworths?????

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boats and HOA's

It's not just HOA's you need to know about BEFORE you buy a boat; city zoning laws can be just as strict, and many prohibit boats on trailers (or RV's) in the front of the house.
Enforcement comes in two ways: complaints from neighbors, or officious zoning officials driving around looking for issues. Many times if the neighbors own boats, too, they take a live and let live approach. However, no one should have to look at a junker or anything covered with a big blue tarp.
Whether it's HOA or zoning, sometimes being behind a fence is not the answer, because your boat or whatever is still visible from the upstairs windows of neighbors--who shouldn't have to look at junk or anything under a big blue tarp.
Few zoning or HOA regs--or enforcement of them--would keep you from bringing the boat home occasionally to work on it. But iof you are one of the "move it every 5 days" types to get around it then you are being a jerk.

Like any law or reg, as long as it's enforced reasonably and fairly, I don't have a problem with them. They protect my property values, my views and my having to live in a crappy looking neighborhood. Anyway, you can't complain becuase the laws and regs were there when you moved in.

 

[hivoltg]

Re: Boats and HOA's

It's not just HOA's you need to know about BEFORE you buy a boat; city zoning laws can be just as strict, and many prohibit boats on trailers (or RV's) in the front of the house.
Enforcement comes in two ways: complaints from neighbors, or officious zoning officials driving around looking for issues. Many times if the neighbors own boats, too, they take a live and let live approach. However, no one should have to look at a junker or anything covered with a big blue tarp.
Whether it's HOA or zoning, sometimes being behind a fence is not the answer, because your boat or whatever is still visible from the upstairs windows of neighbors--who shouldn't have to look at junk or anything under a big blue tarp.
Few zoning or HOA regs--or enforcement of them--would keep you from bringing the boat home occasionally to work on it. But iof you are one of the "move it every 5 days" types to get around it then you are being a jerk.

Like any law or reg, as long as it's enforced reasonably and fairly, I don't have a problem with them. They protect my property values, my views and my having to live in a crappy looking neighborhood. Anyway, you can't complain becuase the laws and regs were there when you moved in.

I completely agree. My issue with my HOA is that our rules state you can have a boat on trailer in your garage or driveway but not on the lot or yard. No height restrictions or anything. They are trying to tell me it cant be in public view but those rules only state that for rv's and motorhomes. Im only asking for the rules as written to be followed by myself and the HOA. I cant make my own up to suit myself and they cant either.

We also have city zoning laws here about unattended trailers on the road and its not allowed for more than a few hours. Which is another great point and you need to check before buying a boat.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Boats and HOA's

HOA's have their advantages too but I agree the power is often abused and the "enforcers" unreasonable. Just like getting a survey on your boat, check out all the aspects of your neighborhood before buying.

 

[Alwhite00]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I also love how you can't have toys on your property but limit the size of the storage to 1/2 the footprint of the house or something stupid like that.

LK

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I've lived in various HOA enforced neighborhoods for the last 20 years. I've never had an issue with them. The reason? I knew/know the rules and abided by them. It was my choice to live there and I knew going in.

I have also restored four boats while living in HOA neighborhoods. The key to staying out of trouble is being respectful. Don't leave unsightly stuff laying around. Don't be grinding or making a bunch of racket (air tools) at 10:00 PM, etc.

When I made my current boat purchase, I kept the rules in mind. It fits where there is no issue. If I wanted to go bigger, i knew I would have to find another storage solution. Again, my choice.

I don't have much sympathy for someone that knows there is an HOA and tries to defy it. You won't win that battle. If you don't like the HOA situation, there are more places that are NON HOA than are. And, some look like it.

I also know what the speed limits are on surrounding roads. I can defy them if I want but I also know there may be expensive consequences. Just my opinion.

 

[TimBobCom]

Re: Boats and HOA's

My HOA has never said anything, but the city I live in does have an ordinance against parking boats in driveways. They allow up to 10 calendar days per year for normal prep work, and they do occasionally suspend the rule when flooding cuts off many storage lots. But, I got a warning when I left mine sitting on my driveway for a couple days after returning from the lake (while the river was too flooded to launch)

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Boats and HOA's

My HOA has never said anything, but the city I live in does have an ordinance against parking boats in driveways. They allow up to 10 calendar days per year for normal prep work, and they do occasionally suspend the rule when flooding cuts off many storage lots. But, I got a warning when I left mine sitting on my driveway for a couple days after returning from the lake (while the river was too flooded to launch)

Yup, Government trumps HOA. You think HOA's are tough. Governments have NO sympathy whatsoever.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Boats and HOA's

I've lived in various HOA enforced neighborhoods for the last 20 years. I've never had an issue with them. The reason? I knew/know the rules and abided by them. It was my choice to live there and I knew going in.

I tend to agree with this statement. I did not own a boat at the time we purchased. I don't really like leaving my previously pampered truck in the drive but these are the rules I agreed to when I bought here. I will abide by them and I expect everyone else to do the same.

I particularly enjoy not having to listen to the thump thump of a basketball (no hoops allowed).