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My wife and I lived in a Homeowners Association (townhome) community for eight years.
When we arrived a group of miserable, single, mid thirty types got control of the board.
They wanted the older people out so they made ridiculous rules to aggravate them (you couldn't plant a flower without board permission)and many left.
When we left the board members were in their forties and were pressuring the young families with children to move.
They limited the areas where children could play and imposed discretionary fines.
If you attended a meeting to complain they would insult you and brand you a troublemaker.
I'll live in a cardboard box before I ever sign another Homeowners' Association agreement.

"I'll live in a cardboard box before I ever sign another Homeowners' Association agreement."

hahahaha
i hear you!

they have so many damn rules. but some of these communities are sooooooooooo super gorgeous that i will gladly put it with it.

"If you attended a meeting to complain they would insult you and brand you a troublemaker"

now imagine being the only black home-owner in country club community with over 1000 homes in palm beach! and the youngest too. well, that's me. which means everytime i attend one of our meetings you can hear a pin drop when i get up to speak. do you think i would dare whine/complain about anything?

hahahaha it is just funny as hell.

To anyone living in a Deed Restricted community (i.e., Homeowners' Association), the best advise is to "read, read, read". Read the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions cover to cover. Pay particular attention to what it says you can and can't do and what you must request permission to do. The flip side to this is, technically, anything not covered is permitted. As far as I can tell, State law in Florida does trump Association DCRs because they have to have a charter to even exist. Florida's statutes regarding homeowners associations were passed specifically to standardize and to eliminate this sort of "change-the-rules-at-whim" mentality.

Never take at face value anything your board says is covered in the DCRs. Demand a cite and verify it yourself. More often than not, particularly in Florida where people move about from one HOA to another, they may be transposing rules from one community to yours. Most important, DCRs must contain provisions for modifying the document. Most HOA changes require a minimum 2/3rds vote of ALL voting members - generally every home (not 2/3rds of those bothering to vote). Can't speak for Townhomes/Condos but they must have similar rules. That requires a lot of dedicated work to get anything passed. If it is worth it, then let those supporting it explain it to every homeowner. It's not impossible though so if you are ademantly opposed to the proposal, you need to do the same leg work. Except you only need 1/3rd plus one.