Hot Button Issues Tag

Idaho is a great place to live.   More and more Idahoans are choosing to live in homeowner associations and condominium associations. Idaho’s law needs to recognize this and to facilitate the effective operation of these associations. It is time for homeowner associations and condominium owner associations in Idaho to stand up and have our voices heard. Those of us who work with associations...

In April 2013, Governor Brewer signed Senate Bill 1278-Parking on Public Streets, which is a law forbidding HOA’s that are formed after January 1, 2014 from regulating the public streets within a neighborhood. This gives some closure to a years-long battle driven by complaints to Arizona lawmakers from frustrated homeowner. When a subdivision is formed, the developers write a set of rules for...

If you think hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes and floods won’t happen to you or that you don’t need to insure against these disasters, you’re among the nearly half of U.S. homeowners and renters who lack the insurance coverage to deal with potential losses, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In a recent NAIC national survey, about 48...

Gun violence at HOA meetings is rare, but receives much media attention. No one will forget the tragic murders of two women and the wounding of three others in Arizona when a man opened fire during an HOA meeting in 2000. More recently is the shooting in Louisville, Kentucky, where a homeowner shot and killed two board members during an HOA meeting. Disagreements at board meetings are not...

Press Release Quoting VF Law Attorneys Re: Senate Bill 1310 In order to address the issue of homeowner association fines in Idaho, Senate Bill 1310 represents the beginnings of a promising effort. This bill, with Senator Rice as the driving force, will streamline existing government regulations, reduce red tape, and minimize bureaucratic waste. “The laws currently governing the community...

As the weather starts to turn from winter to spring, a great transformation happens in this part of the country: people begin to come out of their homes and start spending more time outdoors. With the increase in yard work, outdoor recreational activities, and leisurely strolls through the neighborhood, a great American past-time begins to sprout alongside the daffodils and tulips: garage...

Over the last number of years, we have seen policy trends in cities and developments in an attempt to become more “green” as a community. Homeowner associations and condominiums are a prime example, and are recently—as a whole–considering alternative energy sources. In some communities, boards of directors are even receiving requests from owners to install solar panels or use...

Lawyers are often asked about an HOA’s ability to restrict or prevent the installation of satellite dishes. An HOA generally has the authority to restrict or prohibit all sorts of things; shouldn’t a satellite dish be included? Given that some believe a satellite dish to be a cumbersome eyesore, it would only seem logical that the HOA could preserve the look and feel of the neighborhood by...