The bylaws of the HOA do NOT prohibit free-standing flagpoles or vertical masts. The bylaws are silent on this issue.
The objection is for “aesthetic” reasons that are purely subjective.
“....The objection is for “aesthetic” reasons that are purely subjective.”
Which is why people who live in a neighborhood covered by a HOA need to know who is on it and running it. Far too often owners sit on their hands letting the neighborhood Little Hitler run things until something like this pops up.
People don’t like the way the HOA is run show up at the next meeting and start to change it - get your neighbors invloved. At least you might find out who likes things the way they are.
The HOA legal beagles must be citing some article in the covenant. Do you know the specific wording? It is the crux on which this rests.
I'm guessing there are a LOT of things that are not specifically prohibited in the bylaws. Bylaws to not contain lists of every item in the world that you can't put in your yard.
Instead, they generally prohibit ANY freestanding structures without prior approval of the board, and grant the HOA the right to reject structures based on aesthetics and "architectural fit" within the community.
When things ARE mentioned specifically, it is as often to specifically ALLOW them as it is to specifically PROHIBIT them.
For example, my deed grants me the RIGHT to put an external TV antenna on the roof of my house, thus prohibiting the HOA from banning or regulating it.
But my deed says nothing about pink flamingoes -- that doesn't mean they are allowed.