HOAs often barriers to sustainable landscaping and solar energy, here’s how they could be bridges instead
If you build a house in the United States today, there’s a good chance you’ll be living under the dictates of a neighborhood homeowners association — roughly two out of every three new homes are in an HOA, as are a third of existing homes.
Some of these HOAs have evolved to encourage environmentally friendly yards, particularly in the desert Southwest, but many more throw up barriers to sustainability, even in communities where water is becoming more scarce, wildlife is under threat and homegrown energy can reduce pollution.
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAmy2?6E 2?5 y677 rC@F49 C2? :?E@ E96 D64@?5 EJA6] %96J DA6?E @G6C 2 564256 EFC?:?8 E96:C |2CJ=2?5 J2C5 :?E@ 3:C5 2?5 A@==:?2E@C 923:E2E[ H:E9 ?2E:G6 7=@H6C:?8 A=2?ED 2?5 EC66D] %96? E96:C 9@>6@H?6CD 2DD@4:2E:@? @C56C65 E96> E@ C6A=246 :E H:E9 EFC78C2DD]k^Am
kAm%96 6IA6?D:G6 =682= 32EE=6 E92E 7@==@H65 6?565 H:E9 E96 J2C5 >@DE=J F?492?865[ 3FE :E 96=A65 :?DA:C6 |2CJ=2?5 =2H>2<6CD E@ A2DD 2 =@H\:>A24E =2?5D42A:?8 =2H :? a_a`] %96 DE2E6 564=2C65 E92E C6BF:C:?8 EFC78C2DD @C C6DEC:4E:?8 A@==:?2E@C 82C56?D 2?5 I6C:D42A:?8 — J2C5D 56D:8?65 H:E9 5C@F89E\E@=6C2?E A=2?ED 2?5 >F=49 @C C@4<D C2E96C E92? 8C2DD — H6C6 “F?C62D@?23=6 =:>:E2E:@?D]”k^Am
kAmr2=:7@C?:2 92D 56G6=@A65 6G6? DEC:4E6C AC@E64E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 G@:5:?8 w~p CF=6D E92E 32? H2E6C\C6D:DE2?E A=2?ED @C 2CE:7:4:2= EFC7 @C C6BF:C6 EFC78C2DD[ 2=E9@F89 w~pD 42? DE:== 6I6CE 4@?EC@= @G6C >2?J 9@>6@H?6C 564:D:@?D]k^Am
kAmx? >2?J @E96C DE2E6D[ 9@H6G6C[ 9@>6@H?6CD C6A@CE 4@?E:?F:?8 4@?7=:4ED H:E9 w~pD[ :?4=F5:?8 @G6C I6C:D42A:?8 :? &E29[ ?2E:G6 H:=57=@H6CD :? %6I2D 2?5 923:E2E 7@C >@?2C49 3FEE6C7=:6D :? ‘:C8:?:2] ~E96CD 92G6 CF? :?E@ 4@?7=:4ED @G6C D@=2C A2?6=D 2?5 6=64EC:4 G69:4=6 492C86CD]k^Am
kAm(6 2C6 4@?D6CG2E:@? D@4:2= D4:6?E:DED :?E6C6DE65 :? F?56CDE2?5:?8 A6@A=6’D :?E6C24E:@?D H:E9 E96:C 6?G:C@?>6?ED] ~FC C6D62C49 @? w~pD 92D 7@F?5 E92E E96D6 AC:G2E6[ BF2D:\8@G6C?>6?E2= @C82?:K2E:@?D 2C6 2? @7E6? @G6C=@@<65 3FE :?7=F6?E:2= 7@C46 :? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= A@=:4J] (9:=6 w~pD @7E6? 24E 2D 32CC:6CD E@ C6D:56?E:2= 6?G:C@?>6?E2= DFDE2:?23:=:EJ[ H6 36=:6G6 E96J 4@F=5 36 3C:586D :?DE625] r:E:6D 2?5 DE2E6D 42? 96=A]k^Am
k9am!C:G2E6 CF=6D H:E9 AF3=:4 4@?D6BF6?46Dk^9am
kAmw~pD 92G6 6I:DE65 D:?46 E96 `g__D] pD DF3FC32? 56G6=@A>6?E 3682? E@ BF:4<=J DAC625 24C@DD E96 &]$] :? E96 `he_D 2?5 ’f_D[ w~pD 6IA2?565 H:E9 :E]k^Am
kAmw@>63FJ6CD :? 2C62D 4@G6C65 3J w~pD 2FE@>2E:42==J 364@>6 >6>36CD[ A2J 5F6D 2?5 28C66 E@ 7@==@H E96:C CF=6D 2D 2 4@?5:E:@? @7 @H?:?8 2 9@>6 E96C6]k^Am
kAm%9@D6 CF=6D — 4@56D[ 4@G6?2?ED 2?5 C6DEC:4E:@?D[ <?@H? 4@==64E:G6=J 2D rr#D – 2C6 @7E6? 4C62E65 3J 56G6=@A6CD[ H9@ :?:E:2==J 4@?EC@= E96 w~p] %96?[ 2D 9@>6D 2C6 D@=5[ C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ A2DD6D E@ 2? w~p 3@2C5 E92E :?E6CAC6ED[ 6?7@C46D 2?5 D@>6E:>6D 2>6?5D E96 CF=6D]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 2>6?5>6?ED @7E6? C6BF:C6 DFA6C>2;@C:E:6D @7 9@>6@H?6CD E@ 2AAC@G6[ 56G6=@A6C\HC:EE6? rr#D 2C6 5:77:4F=E E@ 2>6?5 2?5 42? D92A6 w~pD 7@C 564256D]k^Am
kAmw~pD @44FAJ 2 F?:BF6 A@D:E:@? 36EH66? AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ 2?5 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED] %96J 6?7@C46 CF=6D[ 4@==64E 766D[ 2DD6DD 7:?6D 2?5 >2:?E2:? D92C65 DA246D] %96J 2=D@ @7E6? C68F=2E6 9@FD6 D:K6[ 3F:=5:?8 >2E6C:2=D[ 5C:G6H2JD[ J2C5D[ EC66D[ @FE5@@C =:89E:?8 2?5 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@?]k^Am
kAm%96:C CF=6D E6?5 E@ C67=64E DEC@?8 AC676C6?46D 7@C 26DE96E:4 F?:7@C>:EJ[ 36=:6G65 3J D@>6 E@ 36 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 9:896C 9@>6 G2=F6D] qFE 2D 2 C6DF=E[ w~pD 92G6 4@?D:56C23=6 6?G:C@?>6?E2= A@=:4J A@H6C[ 27764E:?8 9@H 6?E:C6 ?6:893@C9@@5D FD6 H2E6C[ 86?6C2E6 6?6C8J[ AC@G:56 H:=5=:76 923:E2E 2?5 C6DA@?5 E@ 4=:>2E6 492?86]k^Am
kAm%FC78C2DD =2H?D[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 2 A2CE:4F=2C p>6C:42? @3D6DD:@?[ C6BF:C6D C68F=2C >@H:?8[ 76CE:=:K:?8 2?5 H2E6C:?8[ :?4C62D:?8 8C66?9@FD6 82D 6>:DD:@?D 2?5 H2E6C FD6] %FC78C2DD :D 2=D@ D:8?:7:42?E=J =@H6C :? 3:@5:G6CD:EJ[ A2CE:4F=2C=J @7 A@==:?2E@CD 2?5 3:C5 DA64:6D]k^Am
k9amw@H w~p A@=:4:6D 4C62E6 32CC:6CDk^9am
kAm~FC C6D62C49 E62> 2?2=JK65 E96 rr#D @7 b` 9@>6@H?6C 2DD@4:2E:@?D :? x?892> r@F?EJ[ |:49:82?[ 9@>6 E@ {2?D:?8[ E@ 86E 2 D6?D6 @7 9@H E96J :?7=F6?465 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ] (6 =@@<65 2E `g AC@G:D:@?D 27764E:?8 3F:=5:?8 DECF4EFC6[ =2?5D42A:?8 2?5 6?6C8J 2?5 7@F?5 E92E w~pD >@DE=J AC6D6?E65 32CC:6CD E@ C6D:56?E:2= DFDE2:?23:=:EJ]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ f`T 2?5 g`T @7 E96 w~pD :>A@D65 2 >:?:>F> 9@>6 D:K6 7@C D:?8=6\ 2?5 EH@\DE@CJ 9@>6D[ C6DA64E:G6=J] }62C=J 92=7 C6BF:C65 =2H? >2:?E6?2?46 2?5 :>A6CG:@FD 5C:G6H2JD[ @?6\E9:C5 =:>:E65 9@FD69@=5 6?6C8J AC@5F4E:@?[ DF49 2D D@=2C A2?6=D @C H:?5 EFC3:?6D[ 2?5 @?6\BF2CE6C AC@9:3:E65 4=@E96D=:?6D E92E H@F=5 2==@H C6D:56?ED E@ D2G6 6?6C8J]k^Am
kAm(6 7@F?5 4@>A2C2E:G6=J 76H AC@G:D:@?D E92E DFAA@CE65 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ] ~?=J ahT @7 E96 w~pD =:>:E65 @FE5@@C\=:89E H2EE286[ `hT C6BF:C65 C6D:56?ED E@ >2:?E2:? EC66D[ eT 4@?DEC2:?65 FD6 @7 76CE:=:K6CD 2?5 bT C6BF:C65 ?2E:G6 A=2?ED]k^Am
kAmx? D9@CE[ H6 7@F?5 w~p AC@G:D:@?D E92E :>A6565 DFDE2:?23=6 49@:46D H6C6 >F49 >@C6 4@>>@? E92? AC@G:D:@?D 6?4@FC28:?8 E96>]k^Am
k9amq2CC:6CD 3J 5672F=E[ 3C:586D 3J 56D:8?k^9am
kAm%9:D C2:D65 2 BF6DE:@?i (96? 2? w~p 5@6D 25@AE AC@\6?G:C@?>6?E C6BF:C6>6?ED[ 5@ E9@D6 CF=6D >2<6 2 5:776C6?46nk^Am
kAmx? 2 D64@?5 DEF5J[ H6 DFCG6J65 7C@?E J2C5D :? 2?5 2C@F?5 |25:D@?[ (:D4@?D:?] $:I @7 E96 w~pD H6 =@@<65 2E C6BF:C65 ?2E:G6 A=2?ED :? 7C@?E J2C5D[ 2?5 EH@ C6DEC:4E65 9@H >F49 J2C5 4@F=5 36 >2:?E2:?65 2D 4@?G6?E:@?2=[ EFC78C2DD =2H?D] (6 2=D@ 4@>A2C65 E9@D6 AC@A6CE:6D H:E9 ?62C3J J2C5D ?@E 8@G6C?65 3J E96 D2>6 w~p CF=6D]k^Am
kAm%96 5:776C6?46D H6C6 DF3DE2?E:2=] *2C5D DF3;64E E@ ?2E:G6\A=2?E C6BF:C6>6?ED 2G6C2865 ah]dT ?2E:G6 A=2?E 4@G6C[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 e]hT :? J2C5D H:E9@FE E9@D6 C6BF:C6>6?ED] %FC78C2DD 4@G6C286 H2D 2=D@ D:8?:7:42?E=J =@H6C H96C6 2DD@4:2E:@?D C6DEC:4E65 :ED FD6]k^Am
kAm|@DE DEC:<:?8=J[ J2C5D 8@G6C?65 3J 3@E9 ?2E:G6\A=2?E C6BF:C6>6?ED 2?5 =2H? =:>:ED 2G6C2865 23@FE ca]`T ?2E:G6 4@G6C[ 4@>A2C65 H:E9 “]eT H96C6 2? w~p C6BF:C65 ?2E:G6 A=2?ED 3FE 5:5 ?@E C6DEC:4E =2H? 2C62] }2E:G6 A=2?ED C6BF:C6 =6DD H2E6C 2?5 >2:?E6?2?46 2?5 AC@G:56 7@@5 2?5 D96=E6C 7@C 366D[ 3:C5D[ 3FEE6C7=:6D 2?5 @E96C H:=5=:76[ 4@??64E:?8 J2C5D E@ E96:C DFCC@F?5:?8 64@DJDE6>D]k^Am
k9am$E2E6D D6E A@=:4J 8F2C5C2:=Dk^9am
kAm$E2E6D 2C6 :?4C62D:?8=J DE6AA:?8 :? E@ D6E =:>:ED @? w~p 2FE9@C:EJ H96? AC:G2E6 CF=6D 4@?7=:4E H:E9 3C@256C AF3=:4 :?E6C6DED C6=2E65 E@ C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J[ H:=5=:76 4@?D6CG2E:@? 2?5 H2E6C\D2G:?8 =2?5D42A:?8]k^Am
kAmu@C 6I2>A=6ik^Am
kAm• |:49:82?[ |:??6D@E2[ pC:K@?2 2?5 s6=2H2C6 ?@H AC6G6?E w~pD 7C@> AC@9:3:E:?8 E96 :?DE2==2E:@? @7 D@=2C A2?6=D]k^Am
kAm• r2=:7@C?:2[ r@=@C25@[ (2D9:?8E@?[ }6G252 2?5 &E29 C6BF:C6 w~pD E@ 244@>>@52E6 5C@F89E\C6D:DE2?E =2?5D42A:?8]k^Am
kAm• |2CJ=2?5[ |2:?6[ u=@C:52 2?5 x==:?@:D AC6G6?E w~pD 7C@> 32??:?8 =@H\:>A24E @C ?2E:G6 =2?5D42A:?8]k^Am
kAm• }:?6E66? DE2E6D 92G6 A2DD65 C:89E\E@\5CJ =2HD E92E AC6G6?E w~pD 7C@> 32??:?8 @FE5@@C 4=@E96D=:?6D]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 E96D6 =2HD 5@ ?@E >2<6 w~pD 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 492>A:@?D[ E96J 6DE23=:D9 4@?DEC2:?ED @? AC:G2E6 CF=6>2<:?8[ 6?DFC:?8 E92E ?6:893@C9@@5 26DE96E:4 AC676C6?46D 5@ ?@E G6E@ 2 DE2E6’D 6?G:C@?>6?E2= @3;64E:G6D]k^Am
k9amp 36EE6C A2E9 7@CH2C5k^9am
kAmw~pD 2C6 F?:BF6=J A@D:E:@?65 E@ 36 =6256CD :? C6D:56?E:2= DFDE2:?23:=:EJ] &?=:<6 >F?:4:A2=:E:6D 2?5 E@H?D9:AD[ E96J 8@G6C? 2E E96 D42=6 H96C6 >2?J 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 564:D:@?D 2C6 24EF2==J >256i E96 9@FD69@=5]k^Am
kAm#62D@?23=6 4@G6?2?ED C6BF:C:?8 ?2E:G6 A=2?ED[ =:>:E:?8 EFC78C2DD 2?5 6?4@FC28:?8 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J 42? AC@5F46 A@D:E:G6 492?86D :? ?6:893@C9@@5 =2?5D42A6D] $E2E6D 42? 96=A 3J 6DE23=:D9:?8 8F2C5C2:=D E92E 2==@H C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J[ H:=5=:76 4@?D6CG2E:@? 2?5 H2E6C\D2G:?8 =2?5D42A:?8]k^Am
kAm%96 8C62E6DE @AA@CEF?:EJ[ 9@H6G6C[ >2J 4@>6 367@C6 E96 7:CDE 9@>6@H?6C 6G6C >@G6D :?] s6G6=@A6CD[ 4:EJ A=2??6CD 2?5 4@?D6CG2E:@? @C82?:K2E:@?D 42? H@C< E@86E96C E@ 4C62E6 >@56= rr#D 2?5 AC@G:56 E649?:42= 2DD:DE2?46 E@ w~pD 2D E96J 2C6 7@C>:?8] uFEFC6 ?6:893@C9@@5D 4@F=5 EC62E 6?G:C@?>6?E2= DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 2D E96 5672F=E C2E96C E92? 2D 2DA:C2E:@?D H:E9 @3DE24=6D]k^Am
kAmq642FD6 >:==:@?D @7 p>6C:42?D 2=C625J =:G6 F?56C w~p CF=6D[ E96 BF6DE:@? :D ?@E H96E96C E96D6 @C82?:K2E:@?D H:== D92A6 C6D:56?E:2= DFDE2:?23:=:EJ] %96J 2=C625J 5@] %96 >@C6 :>A@CE2?E BF6DE:@? :D H96E96C E96J H:== 4@?E:?F6 C6:?7@C4:?8 J6DE6C52J’D 26DE96E:4 ?@C>D 2E 2? 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 4@DE @C 364@>6 A2CE?6CD :? 4C62E:?8 >@C6 DFDE2:?23=6 7FEFC6D]k^Am