Are condo / townhome rules about working on vehicles actually enforced?

:dunno I've given my neighbors my cell phone number when I moved in and let them know in advance I have a surround system and have mild hearing loss / tinnitus from having previously been in heavy artillery. Just been like "let me know if it ever gets too loud and I'll turn it down."

In 20 years or so I've only ever had 1 text asking me to turn it down and usually the cell phone # swap turns into card nights, wine nights, etc.
 

Kurosaki

Akai Suisei - 赤い彗星
You'd be the first person I'm personally aware of that reacts that way. Good on you. :thumbup

I can't speak for anywhere but the neighborhoods I've lived in but it seems the lesser affluent places I've lived, people were more neighborly. Nobody's calling the cops unless absolutely necessary because nobody wants cops in the neighborhood if they don't have to be. And borrowing the proverbial cup of sugar from your neighbor was a thing. The more expensive the neighborhood, the less people give a fuck about their neighbors.

Trying not to paint with with too broad a brush here... because I grew up in Chino Hills, and my neighbors were incredibly neighborly and I'm ranting a bit now, I get it. We moved here, South Orange County, because the location made the most sense, commute wise, for the 3 of our jobs. But since work from home for me is a thing that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon, I'm thinking about moving next time my lease renewal rolls around this year. I can go anywhere. A lot of things about this area drives me nuts.
 

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
Not just this area, seems like CA in general. Maybe CA has more affluent neighborhoods?

When I lived in Santa Barbara, I got knock on door. It was a County official, very apologetically telling me he had to follow up on complaint. Apparently, guy next door took offence at me running my tech-consulting biz out of house. County guy said everything's fine since I don't have store-front with customers coming and going. He even showed me map of complaints and it showed a ring of about 9 houses. Idiot next door had complained about EVERYONE around him! Can't imagine what trouble guy like that can stir up if he had whole book of HOA regulations he can scrutinise entire neighborhood with.

I go by live-and-let-live idea. As long as neighbors aren't preventing me from doing what I want to do, I don't really care what they get up to. And I try to do same. Is the complaining-guy doing weed in his car hindering my life in any way? No! So I don't worry about it.

Lady behind me called one time about my salsa-dancing party going a little late and loud. Sure, I moved it all inside and closed doors & windows and called her back to see if it's OK. I guess lots of people don't turn it around.
 
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NorCalBusa

Member #294
I guess I'm used to living in neighborhoods where the community had the balls to approach your fellow neighbors if they have a problem and I thought that's what normal people do. And if someone asks us to keep it down, we actually keep it down, not just tell them to fuck off.

You've mixed things up a little. Its when you tell them to fuck off- you need to do so under your breath "keeping it down" so you've complied:afm199.
 

Maddevill

KNGKAW
I am SOOO glad I moved up to the boondocks. I'm on one acre, no neighbors on either side very close. I can do pretty much whatever I want. Play my music in the garage at Full Tilt Bozo...run around nekkid....

Mad
 

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
I am SOOO glad I moved up to the boondocks. I'm on one acre, no neighbors on either side very close. I can do pretty much whatever I want. Play my music in the garage at Full Tilt Bozo...run around nekkid....

Mad
Good for you! I'm looking at +20 acres in Oregon or AZ for same thing! Closest neighbor would be 1/4-mile away if I build in centre.
 
HOAs suck. I'm on the board in my building and I'm pretty sure it's taking years off my life. If could afford a house in the bay area I'd get the f outta hear asap. I *think* notes from the open board meetings should be available to you as a buyer. I'd give those a read to get an idea of how things are with the association.
 

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
Problem with HOA regulations is they are worded so generically and vague that anyone at ANY TIME can be busted for something. Like Steve's shade of white for example. Then any 5 different HOA members can subjectively decide whether they like it or not. Would be so much better if things were written in specific unambiguous terms:

- external screen doors shall be painted Pantone #11-4001-TCX "Brilliant White"
- after 2100 PST, noise shall be limited to less than 72 db-SPL as measured from spot on kerb at centre of edges of property
- etc.

Same exact standards for everyone so there is no subjective judgement possible. That would cut down on LOTS of the BS personality & character conflicts.
 
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Kurosaki

Akai Suisei - 赤い彗星
Same exact standards for everyone so there is no subjective judgement possible. That would cut down on LOTS of the BS personality & character conflicts.

Doesn't seem those on HOA boards usually want that actually. That subjective judgement works in their favor. They make the rules that suit them best.
 

DannoXYZ

Well-known member
Doesn't seem those on HOA boards usually want that actually. That subjective judgement works in their favor. They make the rules that suit them best.
Yup, they want vague and fuzzy so they can bust anyone they want any time.
 

Maddevill

KNGKAW
At our condo there was a rule that no Non functioning vehicles could be parked anywhere outside of the garages. My neighbor, who was on the board, got broadsided in his Jag. He was fine. Had the car towed to the complex and parked it right outside of our building. It stayed there a month.

Mad
 

Butch

poseur
Staff member
TLDR?
Become a HOA board member. That is what I did, a bizzilion years ago.
Easy. Certainly easy to attend and be active in board meetings. Blah blah blah..
 

Kornholio

:wave
As a renter, I've attended meetings and was welcomed. I've never experienced a board that wouldn't let me have the floor just because I was a renter. :dunno
 

Kurosaki

Akai Suisei - 赤い彗星
As a renter, I've attended meetings and was welcomed. I've never experienced a board that wouldn't let me have the floor just because I was a renter. :dunno

I've been to a few here. They were nice to me and receptive if I had something to say but ultimately dismissive since I'm not an owner.

Kind of like Danno said, a lot of the issues are about rules that are vague, fuzzy, and change like the wind.
 
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