Green Lawns Required by HOA? (house, neighborhoods, quality of life)

[pink caddy]

I just finished a news article while sitting at the airport waiting for my flight. (NY TIMES). It concerns HOA is sun baked Arizona requiring lawns to be kept green during the summer no matter what. (ie: change the type of grass, water at great expense, astro-turf etc.)

So one enterprising person said "why not spray paint". It's done with a vegetable dye and may or not be acceptable by various HOAs.

So....does your HOA require green lawnas and would they accept sprayed- on lawns?

[chicagocubs]

I think that, in the midst of a drought, (or being in a desert!) the requirement that your lawn remain green is ludicrous. I like the idea of the spray-on colour, but, knowing HOAs as I do, this probably won't be allowed either. Plus, it is probably quite pricey anyway.

Glad that my HOA has not attached itself to this as of yet. Would have to fight it if they did.

[BobosCurse]

I can't wait to get out of an HOA neighborhood. We got a letter because our garbage can was visible. Someone else got a letter because they had weeds in their lawn!!!!

We inherited a horrible "lawn." There's no grass at all, just weeds and dirt. Considering it's a postage stamp, the previous owners had to be pretty lazy. I purchased the entire program from Tru-Green. We'll see how that goes. But if some pathetic little dweeb sends me a letter about my yard, I'm going to blow.

[baybook]

I don't understand this sentiment. You bought a house in a HOA. I am guessing that you liked the neighborhood. I would think that the guidelines set bythe HOA helped set the look/feel/ambiance that led to you liking the neighborhood.

Now you don't want to follow the rules? I just don't get it,

No, I don't like seeing my neighbors garbage cans when I drive up to my house. It looks tacky. It doesn't take a lot of effort to move the can. Move it next time.

As for TRue green, it helped us when our neighbors let weeds take over their lawn. Hope it works for you.

Originally Posted by BobosCurse

I can't wait to get out of an HOA neighborhood. We got a letter because our garbage can was visible. Someone else got a letter because they had weeds in their lawn!!!!

We inherited a horrible "lawn." There's no grass at all, just weeds and dirt. Considering it's a postage stamp, the previous owners had to be pretty lazy. I purchased the entire program from Tru-Green. We'll see how that goes. But if some pathetic little dweeb sends me a letter about my yard, I'm going to blow.

[BLUEDIAMOND64]

The problem I have with HOA's is that the rules are not for everyone. While, I think HOA's a great for perserving property values, I have problems when the HOA's picks on some people and allows others to do whatever they want.

[BobosCurse]

Originally Posted by BLUEDIAMOND64

The problem I have with HOA's is that the rules are not for everyone. While, I think HOA's a great for perserving property values, I have problems when the HOA's picks on some people and allows others to do whatever they want.

Exactly. After I got the letter I noticed the next day as I drove to work just how many garbage cans are on people's driveways. I can assume that they all got the letter as well, but the cans are still there and mine is stinking up my garage.

As for looking tacky, it's a plastic green city garbage can with the lid closed. If it detracts from your quality of life, you have a truly pathetic existence.

Meanwhile the dogs continue to bark 24/7. I may just put the can back outside just to see if the HOA actually does anything, or if they just send letters.

[baybook]

And attitudes like that are one of the reasons why nice neighborhoods end up looking rundown and like crap over time. Someone moves in and thinks the neighbors suck if they don't want to look at your cars on the street or see your trash can in front of the house 7 days a week. It is simply not aesthetically pleasing. Put it behind your house. Or add a privacy fence and put it there.

The rules are the rules.

Originally Posted by BobosCurse

Exactly. After I got the letter I noticed the next day as I drove to work just how many garbage cans are on people's driveways. I can assume that they all got the letter as well, but the cans are still there and mine is stinking up my garage.

As for looking tacky, it's a plastic green city garbage can with the lid closed. If it detracts from your quality of life, you have a truly pathetic existence.

Meanwhile the dogs continue to bark 24/7. I may just put the can back outside just to see if the HOA actually does anything, or if they just send letters.

[yantosh22]

Originally Posted by BLUEDIAMOND64

The problem I have with HOA's is that the rules are not for everyone. While, I think HOA's a great for perserving property values, I have problems when the HOA's picks on some people and allows others to do whatever they want.

In NC, if you are sued by a HOA, and you can show one good example where the rules are not applied in a consistent manner, then the HOA will lose the case. The law requires them to handle each property in a equal manner.

HOAs do routinely send out reminders for people to follow the rules. I see nothing wrong with this.

[chicagomichauds]

Originally Posted by BobosCurse

I can't wait to get out of an HOA neighborhood. We got a letter because our garbage can was visible. Someone else got a letter because they had weeds in their lawn!!!!

We inherited a horrible "lawn." There's no grass at all, just weeds and dirt. Considering it's a postage stamp, the previous owners had to be pretty lazy. I purchased the entire program from Tru-Green. We'll see how that goes. But if some pathetic little dweeb sends me a letter about my yard, I'm going to blow.

We are using Tru-Green this year too! I've seen some lawns around my neighborhood that they take care of, so I have high hopes for our yard as well.

[chicagomichauds]

I don't think our HOA cares too much about how green the yards are, given the state of some of the lawns I've seen. When they do get involved is when the lawns are not mowed. But we are talking an extreme situation of not mowing: very high grass which frankly apart from looking ugly could harbor other things such as snakes Jungle is not cool in the middle of the city. I would say overall our HOA is pretty good about live/let live. (And no I'm not on the board!).