Who's fucking up HOAs and returning lawns to nature?
October 7, 2024 7:17 PM Subscribe
Everyone talks about how bad the suburban lawn is for the environment. But HOAs still require "attractive" lawns or levy massive fines. Are any groups or individuals organizing around this?
Alternately, have any groups attempted litigation around the limited notion of what constitutes "attractiveness"?
Alternately, have any groups attempted litigation around the limited notion of what constitutes "attractiveness"?
I'm curious to see an HOA covenant that is as vague as "attractive" without specifying more details.
The ones I've seen and worked with will describe permitted landscaping materials, allowable varieties and even colors of plants and shrubs, maximum acceptable height of lawns and fences, etc. Those are enforceable. Anything more subjective would be easy to litigate in court and nullify. IANAL BTW KTHXBYE
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:34 PM on October 7
The ones I've seen and worked with will describe permitted landscaping materials, allowable varieties and even colors of plants and shrubs, maximum acceptable height of lawns and fences, etc. Those are enforceable. Anything more subjective would be easy to litigate in court and nullify. IANAL BTW KTHXBYE
posted by JoeZydeco at 7:34 PM on October 7
State legislation can limit the power of HOAs in this regard. For example, California has laws that prohibit HOAs from enforcing rules prohibiting the use of low water-using plants to replace lawns. In a few years, the law will prohibit HOAs from using potable water on "nonfunctional turf" entirely. It also looks like Colorado has substantial restrictions on the ability of HOAs to require lawns.
Since this is largely a state-by-state matter, groups organizing around this would likely be state-level environmental and water conservation orgs.
posted by zachlipton at 7:38 PM on October 7 [2 favorites]
Since this is largely a state-by-state matter, groups organizing around this would likely be state-level environmental and water conservation orgs.
posted by zachlipton at 7:38 PM on October 7 [2 favorites]
The recent article in the NYTimes doesn't concern a HOA, but does detail how one couple turned their turf yard into a wild meadow without upsetting their neighbors (mostly). This older article (also NYTimes) is about a couple suing their HOA in Maryland, winning, and changing state law.
posted by coffeecat at 9:02 PM on October 7 [1 favorite]
posted by coffeecat at 9:02 PM on October 7 [1 favorite]
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Fight the turf-industrial complex!
Save the world, plant native!
posted by SaltySalticid at 7:33 PM on October 7 [10 favorites]