[OK] and [SFH] - HOA board that enforces rules that don't actually exist in the CCRs?
I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this.
We've had HOA board members come onto homeowners' properties and issue violation notices for things that aren't even addressed anywhere in the CCRs. When you actually read the governing documents, the "rule" they're enforcing simply doesn't exist. It feels like they're making decisions based on personal preferences instead of what's actually written or what's best for the neighborhood.
What's even more frustrating is that this doesn't just affect existing homeowners. There have been new home builders who were forced to stop construction after the HOA demanded major design changes after the house was already framed. I'm talking about things like changing the orientation of the front door or relocating the garage doors—changes that should have been addressed during the plan approval process, not after framing is complete and the home is nearly ready for drywall.
These kinds of last-minute demands can cost builders and homeowners thousands of dollars and cause significant delays. If the plans were approved, why should someone have to redesign major structural elements because a board member changed their mind or has a personal preference?
Has anyone successfully challenged an HOA for enforcing requirements that aren't actually in the CCRs or for making arbitrary decisions? If so, what was the outcome? I'm interested in hearing how others have handled situations where it seems like the board is creating rules as they go instead of following the governing documents. They also keep making changes to the CCRs based on arguments they have with people just so it gets them in the right.