Stop the Slip-Ups! 🚦 3 Rules Homeowners Break Inside Their Own Yard

Stop the Slip-Ups! 🚦 3 Rules Homeowners Break Inside Their Own Yard

It might be your property, but when you live in a shared community, even your yard and driveway are subject to association guidelines. The biggest unintentional violations often happen right outside your door. Here are three common rules CamWise sees broken and how you can stay compliant:

 

1. Driveway and Street Parking Overstay 🅿️

 

Your community documents have specific rules about vehicles, and the most confusing ones relate to parking duration and storage.

  • The Rule: Commercial vehicles (those with business logos), un-plated cars, trailers, boats, and sometimes even RVs are often prohibited from being stored in the driveway or on the street. Daily-use vehicles should typically be stored in the garage overnight.

  • The Accidental Slip-Up: You allow a repair technician’s service van to stay overnight, or you leave your own vehicle on the street for weeks while you clean out the garage.

  • The Easy Fix: Use your garage for cars first and storage second. If you own a recreational vehicle (boat, RV) or a commercial vehicle, make arrangements for off-site storage before you bring it home. For guests staying longer than 48-72 hours, review your guest parking policy and notify management if required.

 

2. Landscape and Lawn Care Missteps 🌿

 

Consistency is key to a beautiful community, which is why lawn maintenance standards are almost always in your governing documents.

  • The Rule: Lawns must be regularly mowed, edged, and free of weeds. Hedges and trees must be trimmed, and dead landscaping must be replaced promptly.

  • The Accidental Slip-Up: You go on a two-week vacation in the summer and forget to arrange for a lawn service. When you return, the lawn is overgrown, and your neighbors aren't happy.

  • The Easy Fix: Establish a regular landscape vendor. If you handle it yourself, create a simple weekly checklist: Mow, Edge, Weed. If you plan to be away, arrange for service in advance. Remember, a dead shrub or tree is considered a maintenance issue and needs to be removed or replaced quickly.

 

3. Leash Law and Pet Cleanup Lapses 🐕

 

Pet rules are essential for common area maintenance and neighborhood harmony.

  • The Rule: Pets must be leashed at all times when outside the dwelling, and owners are required to immediately clean up after their pets.

  • The Accidental Slip-Up: You let your dog run off-leash in a "quiet" common area, or you've run out of cleanup bags on your walk and decide to "just skip it this one time."

  • The Easy Fix: Assume the rule is always in effect. Never leave home without two or three waste bags, and ensure your pet is on a leash from the moment you step outside your door. A pet-related fine is easily avoided with constant diligence!

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