HOA Problem

[McDave]

The thing is, we all have HOA's whether we like it or not: they're called zoning laws, and cover everything from what animals you're allowed to keep in your yard, to what you're allowed to park in front of your house and for how long, to where and how high your fence can be. HOA's are a little more in-your-face than zoning laws, but the zoning enforcement officers have the power of the law behind them, and they can shut you down before the HOA can even get on the phone with their lawyers. I remember when I first moved in and had small kids, I built them a tree house that was visible from the street, someone complained, and a zoning officer showed up within a few days. Fortunately, she must have been a mom and had sympathy for me. She dug through the rule book and found a loophole I could squeeze through. The nice thing for me was that then I had a favorable ruling which would have been difficult for someone to overcome, so the complaints dried up. I think with a HOA, if the original complainer was still unhappy with the treehouse, they could have continued to bedevil the HOA with new complaints.

[billrector]

I believe a lot of rural areas have NO zoning laws.

[mimiandrews]

I believe a lot of rural areas have NO zoning laws.

Right! That's why my next-door neighbor can pile all kinds of junk on his property and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it.

[Countryboy59]

Originally Posted by mimiandrews

I believe a lot of rural areas have NO zoning laws.

Right! That's why my next-door neighbor can pile all kinds of junk on his property and there's absolutely nothing I can do about it.

So what?

[McDave]

Originally Posted by billrector

I believe a lot of rural areas have NO zoning laws.

I doubt there are many rural areas that have none. For example, I remember when my grandfather in the ‘50’s found out about the zoning laws regarding pig farms in a rural area near Palestine, TX. Rural NV has zoning laws about where houses of ill repute can be located. I would imagine most rural areas have laws about what businesses can be located near schools, where liquor can be sold, etc. Mostly for the good, I suppose, although it sure riled up my grandfather when they told him he couldn’t raise pigs on property he owned, after he already had the pigs there, of course.

[CruizinDux]

To take McDave's comments further, all cities and counties are required to have state approved general plans that guides growth. Lane county calls theirs a comprehensive plan. Density which is really the driver is delineated, zoning (residential, commercial, openspace, heavy/light industrial, ag are the main land uses. Limits of growth are determined by urban growth boundaries. They also ensure larger cities don't gobble up smaller ones. City of Eugene i believe is just finishing theirs. they worked on it for 5 year when i was there and i retired a couple of years ago. It involves study, community input, public hearings, again in perpetuity. A Big Deal and then has to be approved by the state.

As i understand it city/county code is where the "rules" are. These have priority over recorded organiztional documents, CC&R's/Declarations, usually the responsibility of the developer. HOA's are next inline with ther recorded cc& r's etc, and their HOA rules come last.

Most subdivided land since the early 1900's (a guess) has some form of recorded covenants, called declarations or CC&R's. The County & city of Eug is fighting the heirs of Euger Skinner in court re the original covenants recorded in the mid 1800's (guess) re what the use of the land will be...note WILL BE in perpetuity. Rules are everywhere and will be there forever. When you buy land, regardless of any improvements,you buy into the (recorded covenants & unrecorded) the existing "rules".

Do your homework. If you buy and utilize an escrow or attorney, you'll sign "acknowledged, read and approved"

Bob

[normandgrace]

In my development, boats and rv's and work trucks are not allowed. I always kept it off site, except when preparing to travel and I would then bring it and park in front of house for up to 48 hours before leaving. 12 years and nothing from my HOA about this. It all depends on the association and how they want to enforce rules.

[Boxite]

All good comments. We own two houses... Our primary residence is a remodeled hunting lodge which originally was located in the middle of 1500+ acres. When we moved-in 30 years ago...we enjoyed a bucolic/sunset view and cannot see or hear civilization from here. We have our own turf runway and hangar where we store our Airstream and airplane toys. No one can make a fuss about it when I let the trailer sit outside for a few days because for so many years...there's NO one to complain.
The ranch as been broken-up into smaller plots over the years by various heirs, and our lodge is now on the western edge of our property-line and our neighbors to the west cannot be seen from our house but their property is basically a junk-yard. There's no telling what leaks into the groundwater over there.
Although no "zoning" laws apply... any damage to our property caused by negligence or deliberate-activity over there ... is subject to lawsuit and damages recovered. But WE would have to bear the risk and result of prosecution. (And the resultant "bad blood" between rural neighbors is not a pleasant prospect.)
The difference between this situation and the other home we own in a gated-HOA neighborhood is.... the HOA-home's value is better identified/protected by the HOA rules...which was a attraction for us when we selected that property for purchase. (We presently rent it out but intend it for our "old-age-home" as it's "in-town" and closer to what we anticipate our old-age needs such as doctor/hospital, grocery, etc.) If it weren't for the HOA rules that property would likely not appreciate as an investment as we intended.
Our country home could find itself some-day surrounded by trailer-houses and slums (especially the way those things are marketed to todays consumers who no longer enjoy the prosperity of our parents as our economy is transformed.) The water-supply is our well...which could be drained by adjacent development. Our sewer is our septic system...but the neighbors might use obsolecent "cess-pool" systems unless we go to the expense/risk of prosecution. Etc, Etc.
Sooo.... "you gets what you bargains-for." Choose wisely.

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by Countryboy59

So what?

Rats
Skunks
Decreased sale value