A homeowner was recently confused when his HOA denied his request to plant trees on his property. The reason for the rejection? A disruption of the “symmetry” of the neighborhood.
In a recent Reddit post, the homeowner explained that the HOA rejected their proposal because the trees didn't meet the community's aesthetic standards. Instead, the board said the homeowner could plant a tree within their current treeline, with all trees planted required to be spaced 100 feet apart.
However, the homeowner said no bylaws mention such a rule or require neighborhood symmetry. They also noted that there was a “lack of symmetry” in the neighborhood in other ways, including different tree species, inconsistent spacing and varying numbers of trees along property lines.
“Lack of symmetry makes no sense,” the homeowner wrote. “It seems to me like an arbitrary rule that they came up with at random – and also retaliation, since I just complained to them about a huge, ugly trash can they placed just a few meters from my property for dog waste. “
The frustrated homeowner asked other Reddit users if they had “an argument” to challenge the denial.
A commenter who serves on an HOA board said the homeowner had reason to request clarification – and a copy of these rules and regulations. But they added that inconsistencies in so-called neighborhood “symmetry” may not be the best indicator of retaliation or unfair treatment. Instead, they said their own board had recently clarified rules to address disagreements in their neighborhood after previous boards failed to properly enforce rules around fence painting.
“We felt the rules were vague and tightened the language,” the commenter said of their HOA. “We then informed everyone of the date this new rule would come into effect and proceeded from there based on legal advice. People who think we are arbitrary quickly realize that we are not, but that some people approved the new rule, abiding by the rules at the time, others are abiding by the new rules.
Unfortunately, homeowners' associations often try to prevent homeowners from making eco-friendly upgrades to their homes, such as installing solar panels on the roof or planting native flowers and greenery. Reviewing the authority of property managers and homeowner associations – even in seemingly small cases – can help communities ensure their right to more sustainable housing improvements.
If you want to make eco-friendly upgrades – like planting native trees – the first step is to understand HOA rules and local regulations. Approaching your HOA board calmly and well-informed with research will help you advocate for positive changes that will benefit both your home and the neighborhood.
🗣️ Should HOAs be able to force homeowners to change their yard?
🔘 Absolutely not 💯
🔘 Yes – it’s part of the deal 🤝
🔘 Only in extreme cases 🏚️
🔘 We should ban HOAs 🚫
🗳️ Click on your selections to see the results and express your opinion
If you need to work with a property manager or HOA to make upgrades to your home, check out our guide to making green changes in an HOA-run community.
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