Florida has recently passed new laws aimed at making homeowners’ associations (HOAs) more reasonable and fair in their operations. These changes, effective July 1, 2024, are outlined in House Bill 1203 and bring several significant modifications to existing regulations.

Key Changes in the New HOA Laws:

1. Fining and Suspension Policies:

   • HOAs can still impose fines for violations of governing documents, but these fines are capped at $100 per violation and cannot exceed $1,000 in total unless specified otherwise in the documents. Moreover, a fine of less than $1,000 cannot be turned into a lien against a property​ (Florida Condo & HOA Law Blog)​.
   • A fine or suspension can only be imposed after giving at least 14 days’ written notice of the owner’s right to a hearing. The hearing must take place within 90 days of the notice and can be conducted electronically​ (Florida Condo & HOA Law Blog)​.
   • If a violation is cured before or as specified in the notice, the fine or suspension cannot be imposed​ (Florida Condo & HOA Law Blog)​.

2. Specific Prohibitions on Fines:

   • HOAs are prohibited from fining members for leaving garbage receptacles out within 24 hours before or after the designated collection time, or for holiday decorations left up longer than specified unless the HOA has provided written notice and the decorations remain for over a week after the notice​ (Florida Condo & HOA Law Blog)​​ (Clark Partington)​.

3. Vehicle Parking:

   • Members and their guests can park any personal vehicle, including pickup trucks, in their driveways or any legal parking area, irrespective of HOA rules​ (Clark Partington)​.

4. Contractor Restrictions:

   • HOAs cannot mandate that members hire contractors only from a preferred list or those with specific licenses​ (Clark Partington)​.

5. Equal Enforcement:

   • Covenants and guidelines must be enforced equally among all members, preventing any special treatment​ (Clark Partington)​.

6. Interior Regulations:

   • HOAs cannot impose regulations on the interior of a home unless the changes are visible from the front of the home or common areas. They also cannot require approval for HVAC systems not visible from the front of the home and substantially similar to recommended systems​ (Clark Partington)​.

7. Vegetable Gardens and Clotheslines:

   • HOAs cannot prohibit vegetable gardens or clotheslines unless they are visible from the front of the home or common areas​ (Clark Partington)​.

These changes are designed to increase transparency, fairness, and accountability within HOAs across Florida, ensuring more balanced and reasonable governance for homeowners.

For more detailed information on these changes, you can refer to sources like the Florida Condo & HOA Law Blog, Clark Partington, and Varnum LLP

Description of the video below, in italics, below:

If you live in an HOA, you should read the new Florida law very closely. It impacts just about anyone who lives in a community governed by one, 

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The bill states that HOAs can’t fine residents for leaving out a trash can within 24 hours before or after the collection day or time, or for leaving holiday decorations up for longer than indicated in governing documents unless the decorations are left up more than one week after a written notice is issued, in the video published on June 4, 2024, by WFLA News Channel 8, as “DeSantis signs bill to limit HOA fines, increase transparency“, below:

Description of the video below, in italics, below: