In 2021, about 29% of the United States population lived in a Homeowners Association (HOA) community. If you are a pet parent, you might wonder how HOA rules and regulations affect your furry friends. Though HOA pet rules and restrictions vary from community to community, there is some general knowledge that you should be familiar with.
Keep reading to learn more!
Key Takeaways
- A Homeowners Association, or HOA, is a private organization that governs a housing community. It usually establishes rules and regulations to maintain order, cleanliness, and community values.
- If you’re a part of an HOA, it’s a good idea to book professional dog waste removal services to ensure your community stays clean, safe, and sanitary.
- Rules and regulations can vary from HOA to HOA, though there are a few commonplace rules. For example, pets must be registered, waste must be properly disposed of, and pets must be leashed.
See Related: Dog Feeding Chart: How Much Should I Feed My Dog?
What Is a Homeowners Association?
A Homeowners Association, or HOA, is a private organization that governs a housing community. It usually creates standards and regulations that help maintain general order and preserve property values. This often involves things like community amenities, property maintenance, or financial obligations.
HOA rules and regulations often extend to pet ownership. Many HOAs have pet policies that establish clear expectations about the number of pets permitted and how to care for them. Usually, this only applies to dogs – most HOAs don’t care about the number of goldfish or hamsters someone has.
Property Management & Dog Waste Removal
If you’re a property owner or a community leader, it’s a good idea to invest in quality dog waste removal services. This will ensure that your green grass is always feces-free!
At Scoop Masters, we offer pet waste removal services for communities and families, whether you’re a single homeowner or an apartment complex manager.
We can scoop poop from apartments, condominiums, parks, special events, and more. We can even install pet waste stations to make cleanup that much more convenient. If you’re a part of an HOA, we can help make your community much more clean, sanitary, and beautiful by keeping pet waste away!
Bonus: How To Firm Up Your Dog’s Poop
Common Examples of Homeowners Association Pet Restrictions
It’s important to note that different HOAs will have different rules. If you want information on specific pet restrictions, contact your local HOA for more information.
Regardless, there are a few general rules and regulations that are pretty commonplace.
#1. Pet Owners Must Register Their Pets
It can be hard to enforce a HOA pet policy if there’s no clear tally of how many pets reside in the community. That’s why many HOAs require pet owners to register their furry friends. Many HOAs also require pet parents to submit registration forms before they bring home a new dog.
Pet registration allows for HOAs to monitor the pets in their community. It also allows for HOAs to enforce restrictions on dog breeds and pet limits. Without pet registration, it would be nearly impossible for an HOA to realistically enforce dog restrictions.
Pet owners are also often required to register any service animals or emotional support animals, though the HOA has a legal obligation to make reasonable accommodations for service animals or emotional support animals, according to the Fair Housing Act.
#2. Pet Waste Must Be Properly Cleaned Up
Animal poop is unsightly and unsanitary. Improper waste cleanup is actually a major issue for many HOAs, which is why we offer pet waste removal services for HOAs and other housing communities. If left unattended, dog feces can be toxic and hazardous to humans and other animals.
To help encourage homeowners to clean up after their furry friends, you can have poop bag stations and waste cleanup stations installed around the common areas of the community.
#3. Pets Must Be Leashed When in Community or Public Areas
Dogs will be dogs. Even if you trust your toy poodle with your life, that doesn’t mean other community members are keen on having a furry animal up close and personal. It’s important to keep animals on a leash whenever you go into common areas.
An unleashed pet can be a danger to themselves and to others. Even a docile and unaggressive dog can be triggered by certain circumstances.
To remedy this situation, your HOA can build a dog park to encourage dogs to play and socialize without leashes.
#4. Pets Must Not Be Persistently Loud
It’s normal for dogs to make some noise. However, excessive barking or prolonged loudness is usually not permitted by HOA pet restrictions. In essence, it can’t reach a level that will annoy or disrupt neighbors.
For example, occasional barking during daylight hours may be acceptable, but even infrequent barking at nighttime can cause disturbance.
#5. Pet Owners Have Liability for Their Pets
Pet owners are responsible for their pets. That much should be obvious! Animal owners are completely responsible for anything and everything their dog does. That’s why many HOAs establish a liability policy for pet owners in their community.
This helps protect the HOA in the event of pet-related damage, injury, or disturbance. A liability policy also reduces the risk of requiring costly and tedious legal proceedings in the event of a pet-related accident.
Additional Homeowners Association Pet Restrictions
Can my HOA enforce a pet limit? Can my HOA restrict pet breeds? These are common and fair questions that many pet parents ask if they live or move to a HOA. There are a few other common HOA pet restrictions that you should be familiar with if you own a dog, such as:
- Limit on the number of dogs.
- Dog weight limit.
- Dog breed restrictions.
- Spay or neuter requirements.
Again, if you have any further questions or concerns about the HOA pet rules in your community, contact your local HOA for more information. These are only general pet regulations and rules, which can vary from community to community.
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Scoop Masters offers professional dog waste removal services in California, Texas, Florida, and Tennessee. Since 1988, we’ve saved dog owners across the country from the overly unpleasant task of picking up after their pets. Each poopy project we complete gives them the freedom, convenience, and sanitation they deserve! Contact us for a free quote, or simply stock up on enough dog poop bags to keep your pet’s number twos at bay. To stay in the loop, follow up on Facebook and Twitter/X. If your dog can poop it, we can scoop it!
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