Can an HOA tell me what I can have in my backyard? (renter, condo)

[Tallblonde11]

Can an HOA tell me what I can have in my backyard?
I am a renter of a condo and the HOA is giving me a hard time about my motorcycle being parked in my fenced in back yard. Its a 6ft wooded privacy fence so its not like it can be seen unless the HOA looks over my fence. Now my question is this.....can they tell me what I can have in my back yard? the Rules state that I can only have two motorized vehicals parked on condo property...of which i was inturperting as the common areas and the parking lot? If I am responsible for cutting the grass and taking care of the back yard how can they tell me that I cant park a motocycle in my yard (out of site)? I could see it if it were loud or an eye sore but you cant see it? I forgot to say that my LandLord knows about the motorcycle and I have his permission to have the motorcycle parked in the yard.


If anyone has some insight for me as a Renter pls let me know.

[Kris73]

Looks like the backyard is interpreted as common area despite the fact that it is fenced in. Your landlord needs to check the condo docs, there should be a paragraph in there explaining this.
If it's any consolation, I own a condo and received a warning for a folded patio chair on my patio and "too many plants"....I asked if an unfolded chair is fine and sure enough as long as the chair is unfolded they are cool with it. These management companies are a yoke.
Can you park the motorcycle on a guest parking space?

[lcole07]

In our development that would never be a problem, as they don't allow motorcycles in at all. And yes the gates are manned 24hr with roving patrols, also 24hr. I keep ours at my father-in-laws.

[Tallblonde11]

Originally Posted by Kris73

Looks like the backyard is interpreted as common area despite the fact that it is fenced in. Your landlord needs to check the condo docs, there should be a paragraph in there explaining this.
If it's any consolation, I own a condo and received a warning for a folded patio chair on my patio and "too many plants"....I asked if an unfolded chair is fine and sure enough as long as the chair is unfolded they are cool with it. These management companies are a yoke.
Can you park the motorcycle on a guest parking space?

Oh my goodness guest parking is for "guests" only and if I have my sister visit from outta town I have to practally clear her vist with the HOA it is so ridiculious....I even had written permission to use a neighbors available praking space but that I was told was NOT allowed. I really dont have anywhere else that i can park the motorcycle and I dont want to pay for it to be kept in a storage facility when i can only have acces to it between certian hrs....I just dont see how they can do that, I mean she litterally has to stand on a stool to look into my back yard.....

[Magnolia Bloom]

Originally Posted by Tallblonde11

Oh my goodness guest parking is for "guests" only and if I have my sister visit from outta town I have to practally clear her vist with the HOA it is so ridiculious....I even had written permission to use a neighbors available praking space but that I was told was NOT allowed. I really dont have anywhere else that i can park the motorcycle and I dont want to pay for it to be kept in a storage facility when i can only have acces to it between certian hrs....I just dont see how they can do that, I mean she litterally has to stand on a stool to look into my back yard.....

Your landlord really should have let you know the restrictions within the community. Have you read the governing documents? The details of what you can and can't have in the yard should be in there. Should also check to make sure that you can't use the neighbor's space.

If you have to keep it at a storage facility, I have looked at several within the last year and all allowed 24/7 access. Not sure about vehicle storage, though.

[Tallblonde11]

Originally Posted by Magnolia Bloom

Your landlord really should have let you know the restrictions within the community. Have you read the governing documents? The details of what you can and can't have in the yard should be in there. Should also check to make sure that you can't use the neighbor's space.

If you have to keep it at a storage facility, I have looked at several within the last year and all allowed 24/7 access. Not sure about vehicle storage, though.

My Landlord did give me the info and I asked him about the Motorcycle being parked in the back yard he said that was ok however the HOA states diffrently. I have a cpl of neighbors that have motorcycles parked in their yards behind the wooden fence and weas told they are "grandfathered" in...my point is that it can be interpeted diffrently cause of the way its written loosely. All it states is that each unit is allowed two vehicles parked on condo property and not allowed guest spaces they are for "guests"....I read that to be the common areas and the parking lot not my fenced in yard its not like i am trying to park a car back there...when the huirricanes came thru and knocked down my fench I was responsible to fix it so I assumed that it was my yard to with in reason put stuff in. I know that to place a shed and so forth i need permission but just to put the motorcycle back there? I think this lady just doesnt have anything better to do then to pick at me over things as this isnt the first time she has hassled me its just the latest....

[rusty78]

Love is Bliss....and HOA's can really DUCK...there always seems to be some a-hole on the board or some whining sniveling nosey neighbor...that has nothing else to do but make everyone's life miserable... What you need to do is see if you can get a copy of the HOA Regulations/etc... available at the HOA Office and or management company... and see for your self what you are allowed to have in your enclosed yard... perhaps one of the residents that have been grandfathered in would be willing to keep your bike in their yard until you can find a solution...

[rainroosty]

Bring the motorcycle inside the home. It's great decor anyway.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by Tallblonde11

Oh my goodness guest parking is for "guests" only and if I have my sister visit from outta town I have to practally clear her vist with the HOA it is so ridiculious....I even had written permission to use a neighbors available praking space but that I was told was NOT allowed. I really dont have anywhere else that i can park the motorcycle and I dont want to pay for it to be kept in a storage facility when i can only have acces to it between certian hrs....I just dont see how they can do that, I mean she litterally has to stand on a stool to look into my back yard.....

Buy a really large hammer and play Whack-A-Mole when she raises her head above the fence, to peek in your back yard. Another option is to call the cops(repeatedly) with a Peeping Tom complaint when you catch her doing it. See how she likes the sex offenders list!

[flguy123]

Um, unless you are driving it through your condo, how do you get the motorcycle back there in the first place? If it's because you are driving it around the common area and going behind other people's houses with it then I can definitely see it being a problem for others. Most likely you were reported by a neighbor who doesn't like it, not that the HOA people are actually "looking" for it.