[themafia]

> building scaffolding on top of balconies

As a permanent structure or for temporary renovations?

> ripping up common area plants

Just for fun? Were they drunk? Or is the border between the "common area" and "their property" somewhat hazy? Are you not able to simply forward the invoice for repairs to the resident? That's not a fine and doesn't seem like it would be covered?

> parking issues (we all have garages, street parking is guest only)

This impacts property values? What about tow to impound?

> drying food on the pool deck (really)

> dumping garbage bags outside in the common area

A $100 fine is not adequate for these relatively petty issues?

It might just be me. I don't have kids and I don't spend a lot of time around home. I don't understand HOAs at all.

[elaus]

Yes, as a non-American, HOAs seem so strange to me. It seems like most of those issues could be resolved by the existing legal system (destroying other people's property, dumping stuff in public areas, etc.) or by the city's regulations and codes.

[OptionOfT]

When you buy a house you know whether there there is an HOA, so there shouldn't be any surprises.

HOAs are interesting for cities as they cordon off certain parts for which the city pays no street maintenance, no park maintenance, yet it collects full taxes.

For people living in an HOA it can provide amenities like more private parks, pools etc.

[jerlam]

The city doesn't govern what happens in HOA common areas, because the HOA owns that property. Destruction of other people's property - clearly yes, but destruction of the HOA's property is different, because the homeowner is part of the HOA and thus it's their own property (but shared among all the other homeowners). Thus the HOA has to come up with a set of rules to govern its own property from its own homeowners.