Texans hold onto their property rights like no other. State laws frequently limit what cities can dictate to developers and residents regarding their own properties, not to mention the far more limited power of county governments, but one often infuriating level of law remains. Homeowners’ associations continue to chime in where cities and counties cannot, sparking ire among some Texans.
Over the years, HOA battles have surfaced in San Antonio. A group of frightened residents was left with low-hanging wires after city services and a neighboring HOA denied responsibility for repairs, and a grieving mother was fined more than $1,000 by her association over signs honoring her late son, who died of health complications.
But the ire toward these entities runs deeper, with locals annoyed by lighting regulations, looming landscaping interjections and parking woes. In fact, these often nitpicky rules in HOA covenants have led several people to tell MySA they avoid the hyperlocal entities when shopping for a home.
“Years ago, when I was looking for a house, I made darn sure that they were not in an HOA,” Rosalinda B. told MySA while seeking input on the most frustrating HOA rules.
So, what are some of the most particular HOA rules we heard about from San Antonio? They turned out to be the trivial things you’d find in a Hollywood rendition of suburban living, often fueling comedy or horror with neighbors at the center.
For those chronically online, you may be familiar with an HOA board meeting that went viral, centered around outdoor light temperatures.
“We’re addressing why your house looks like a gas station at 2 a.m. You went 5,000 Kelvin, Carl,” a woman, seemingly an angered HOA board member, says to a man presumably named Carl. “We are a warm light community.”
Turns out, this is a thing. A Mission Del Lago resident expressed frustration with her HOA dictating which colors of lights residents can put around their house. In fact, reviewing the rules set by several HOAs in San Antonio shows they are pretty strict about approving all exterior lighting during buildout and any subsequent changes.
In fact, the City of San Antonio regulates exterior bulb color temperatures –– requiring bulbs to emit light above 4,100 Kelvins –– for buildings within the Military Lighting Overlay District.
Flowers and landscaping were a major sore spot for locals ready to rumble over their neighborhood regulators. In Redbird Ranch, Hunters Pond and Hillcrest, HOAs’ heavy hand when it comes to front yards has folks shaking their fists or typing at their keyboards.
“Got fined for planting wildflowers and removing some grass,” a Hunters Pond resident vented to MySA. “Have the best lawn in the neighborhood, and they wanted to pick on me.”
Numerous residents also had a bone to pick with parking. One claimed their HOA fined them for a trailer parked in front of their house, even though it wasn’t theirs. Another had a dollar amount billed to them because they had a “classic car” in their driveway, kept there for weekend drives.