[al_c]

HOAs are crap. After receiving notice number 2 recently regaring my "improperly stored trashcan" ... I decided to fight back. The letter said the the trashcan needed to be stored further back along the side of my house out of the view of passersby. Here's the catch ... on the side of the house that I keep it on, my AC unit and that of the neighbor are too close to each other for the big plastic trashcan provided by the city to fit between. On the other side of the house (more visible to passersby), the grade is too steep and would cause the trashcan to fall over. HOA rep suggested the patio or the garage. So I moved at least the recycle container to the patio hoping to appease them. That's when I got this 2nd notice which included a notice of a citation if I don't comply. So I immediately sent an email stating that due to family time spent on the patio, along with patio furniture and a grill and the recycle container, I've got no available room left there. I also stated that I don't have room in my garage, nor do I want flies, maggots, stench or rats following the trashcan into that location. I closed by telling them that I've done what I can do and that if they want to issue a citation, I would contest it. I also told them that I don't appreciate that all the money I'm throwing into the HOA is going to things like trashcan patrol. They responded by saying they understood the situation and that I would receive no more letters from them on this issue.

So, I guess I win? Or will the next thing I get be a citation? I'm just waiting now ........

[CharlesWayneCT]

So, you moved into a neighborhood where they had a rule that your trash can had to be stored out of sight.

But in your case, you can’t do that because you can’t move it past the air conditioning units.

And having explained that to the people you elect to run your community, they agreed with your dilemna and decided to let you be.

And you are upset about it?

BTW, if any of you don’t like what your HOA does, run for election, find others in your community to agree with you and run for election, take over the board, and do what you think is right.

In a lot of neighborhoods, you have to pull teeth to get people to serve on the boards. But you might find that a majority of your neighbors LIKE the government they get from the HOA, and will not support you.

[SoothingDave]

So, the city gives everyone a trash can?

Why not buy some astroturf and throw it over the trash can on the side of your house when you're not using it? then it would just look like a part of the yard, or a small shrub.

I've got two old cracked trash cans sitting out by the curb for the last month cause I can't figure out how to get the garbage men to actually take them as trash.

[the OlLine Rebel]

How about suggesting you build/buy a nice little fence-thingy which the cans sit behind? I’m guessing a 90-deg orientation with 1 end against the wall, so the front and side would be concealed.

I know you’d have to spend something, and they’d probably have you make application to approve your little scheme, but maybe it would ultimately solve all the problems.

(That is, if it’s brought up again - and it WILL be brought up when you get a piss-ant on the HOA board.)

[Moorning Star]

If they give you any more trouble just just dig a hole with a ramp so you can “submerge” it. Hope you don’t have a high groundwater table, though.

[oh8eleven]

We don't have trashcan problems at Del Boca Vista.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

use a group called SCORE.org. They may have a lawyer who could assist. In the least they will give you free consultation. I have used SCORE in CA on more than one occasion and they are payed for by your tax dollars.

Hope it helps. Also, most law firms will offer an free consultation to determine the merits of the case. Call a few and ask.

[ViLaLuz]

Can you put up a short little fence to block the view of the trashcans where you had them originally? That would hide them from view.