2021-10-21
Condo owner associations often deal with parking problems and complaints. Whether your building has adequate parking, but homeowners refuse to go by the rules, or there's a lack of available spaces and your board deals with frequent complaints, associations must have clear rules (and enforcement) regarding parking.
What rules can an HOA have for resident parking? How should your community managers enforce the rules? Keep reading to find out what you need to know from our community association management team!
Parking Problems Can Hurt Your Community
Condominium associations never want their community to be known for inadequate parking or problems. However, when residents don't have a secure place to park, or there are constant disputes about parking lots or spaces, it can lead to disputes between neighbors, contentious board meetings, and condo owners leaving for a more peaceful and parking-friendly condo building.
A professional community manager recommends addressing the rules, enforcement, and concerns about parking sooner rather than later. Whether you can add more spaces or not, knowing that their HOA board is aware of specific issues and enforcing rules with homeowners that don't comply helps your community feel heard and cared for.
What Parking Rules Can My Condominium Management Association Implement?
Condo associations and homeowner association managers must understand what they can and can't enforce. HOA parking rules vary by building and the rules set up by your association's governing documents. While rules can change as resident needs change, community associations must set reasonable rules and enforce them fairly.
The best HOA management companies recommend parking rules that can include:
- Restricting vehicle types in the parking areas. Associations can limit onsite parking to cars, trucks, SUVs, or motorcycles while prohibiting RVs or larger vehicles from parking areas.
- Identifying specific parking locations. Depending on your available parking, you might have an area for motorcycles and bicycles. Condo owners on specific floors or with higher-end homes could have priority parking. Of course, every building needs clearly-marked handicap accessible spaces for residents and guests.
- How long residents can part in specific areas. For parking locations that are outside of designated or assigned spaces, HOA boards can specify the length of time residents can park there. For example, for loading or unloading a truck on moving day, residents can access entryway parking areas. However, it's not permitted to park there overnight or when not loading or unloading a truck.
- Guest parking. When condo owners have guests, they must follow the rules for where guests should park, if they need to alert association management, and how long guests can utilize parking areas.
Ultimately, the parking rules at your condominium building should fall in line with community association governing documents without violating local ordinances for safety or building permits. It can also benefit your community to talk with residents and review complaints to adjust parking rules that accommodate condo owners' needs.
How Can a Homeowners Association Enforce Parking Rules?
When enforcing homeowners association (HOA) parking rules, the first thing your board must do is refer to your governing documents. Your CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) should clearly dictate what your HOA parking policies are, leaving no room for misinterpretations. Use specific language when crafting your parking rules so that homeowners know exactly what to expect.
With the rules clearly documented, board members can respond to complaints and enforce the rules with supporting paperwork. All condo owners receive copies of the CC&Rs when moving in, so they know and agree to the building's parking rules. If residents have an assigned space for daily parking, make sure their welcome documents note their space and what happens if they park in a different space.
What Type of Enforcement Is Appropriate?
In most cases, condo associations have the right to tow from unauthorized spaces. However, if parking is limited and you don't have a designated parking enforcement provider, you must do the work yourself or hire a contractor to tow vehicles.
If appropriate, enforcing the rules can also include revoking privileges for residents who repeatedly break parking rules or refuse to pay fines. However, HOA board members must enforce the rules fairly across all homeowners and instances of parking violations.
When to Make Changes
If your condo owners association frequently struggles with a lack of parking or violations, it might be time to adjust the rules or find a way to rework parking spaces or add parking. While it could require a special assessment to add parking, it could be worth it to reduce problems and make more parking available to residents.
Let a Community Association Management Company Handle Parking!
Using an HOA management company can eliminate these enforcement tasks so you and your community association managers can focus on more important community efforts. Reach out to Trestle Community Management if you could use support when handling complaints about parking or rule enforcement. We offer consulting services or more in-depth association management services, depending on your condominium management needs!
Learn more about operating a successful HOA when downloading our free resource, "Best Practices for HOA Operations: A Checklist!"
