A recent incident involving an HOA sending residents a letter about prohibiting guns in certain common areas sparked conversations and questions online.
In response, the Port St. Lucie Police Department released a statement May 15 stating the letter is not Florida law, therefore, not enforced by the agency.
Here’s what to know about the statement and what law enforcement can enforce in Florida.
Can police enforce HOA rules?
“The Port St. Lucie Police Department enforces Florida state law — not private HOA policies or community association rules,” the agency stated in the news release.
During calls for service regarding private property, officers evaluate every situation based on the circumstances and applicable Florida law.
Can you open carry in Florida?
A state appeals court on Sept. 10, 2025, ruled that Florida’s ban on openly carrying guns is unconstitutional.
Open-carry means you can publicly carry a legally owned firearm that is kept in plain sight or partially concealed, usually holstered. In Florida, openly carrying a firearm has been a second-degree misdemeanor with a $500 fine or a maximum of 60 days in jail.
Olivia Franklin is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at olivia.franklin@tcpalm.com, 317-627-8048 or follow her on X @Livvvvv_5.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida gun laws don’t rule private HOAs, Port St. Lucie police say