HOA Parking Rules FAQs and How to Enforce Them

Maintaining order in the community is one of the chief duties of every HOA.   

 As a board member, one of your responsibilities that affects everyone is how you manage community parking.   

 Residents rely on consistent parking to meet their needs. If your residents are constantly looking for parking, that will hinder their overall experience and leave them unhappy with the association.   

 Every resident should be knowledgeable about what their association's management services provide in terms of parking and where they can regularly expect to park.   

 In this post, we will go over some common HOA parking rules, parking FAQs, and HOA parking enforcement.  

Popular HOA Parking Rules  

 Many HOAs and property management companies use similar parking regulations. These rules have been proven to give residents a consistent and hassle-free parking experience.   

Below are a few of the most popular parking rules to help your property management in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana.   

Have a Set List of Restricted Vehicles  

Many HOAs have rules about what kinds of vehicles can park in resident lots or spaces.   

 Trailers, RVs, boats, and junk vehicles are most commonly restricted, but your community can vote on additional bans.  

Create Resident-Only Parking Locations  

 Many community associations have areas or lots that are meant specifically for residents.   

 Residents might pay for an HOA parking permit or parking may be included as a perk. Regardless, it is the board's responsibility to ensure that residents have access to their private space.   

In some associations, residents may be required to park in their driveway or garage.   

Parking Time Restrictions  

 Many HOAs have strict time limits on how long vehicles can occupy specific spaces.   

 Time limits often vary from 12 to 24 hours depending on the community.  

For busier communities, you may consider a 1-2 hour limit for on-street spaces.  

Easy Parking Registration for Residents 

Residents value their HOAs when they make their lives easier. Make the process of registering for a parking space or parking pass easy for residents with a simple online registration system.  

Your parking regulations and registration should all be in one place to minimize confusion and maximize usability. 

Install Signage to Help with Parking 

Your parking rules and guidelines should be clearly posted so residents know where they can park and for how long.  

Signage can also be used to direct drivers to off-street parking for their convenience.

Implement an Effective HOA Parking Enforcement Plan 

Your parking regulations need an effective enforcement plan, or else they will not work.  

• Use software to track warnings and violations
  
  
• Partner with a towing company to tow repeat violators at the owner's expense
  
  
• Develop a clear warning system to give residents a fair chance to follow the rules 

HOA Parking FAQs  

 Many board members and residents have frequently asked questions about HOA parking.   

 Here are a few popular FAQs.   

Why Isn’t There Enough Street Parking? 

Oftentimes community space and resources are better utilized for living, business, and recreation. Building parking lots is often an unpopular decision and community members would rather see that space dedicated to something else.  

Because of this, residents are advised to use their driveways and take advantage of public transportation whenever possible.  

Can the Board Ban Parking on the Street?  

 The answer depends on whether the streets are public or private.   

 HOA parking policies cannot stop people from parking on public streets, but if the streets are privately maintained, then yes, your HOA can ban street parking.  

Can a Resident Be Limited to the Number of Cars They Park?  

 The HOA can regulate how many cars a resident is allowed to park in the community. Usually, residents are restricted to two cars, and any additional cars will have to be parked elsewhere. 

Can the HOA make Residents Park in Their Garage?  

 Yes, HOAs often set rules requiring all cars to park in a garage instead of on the street.   

Can the HOA Restrict Certain Vehicle Types? 

Yes, some HOAs choose to restrict SUVs, motorcycles, or other types of vehicles. These rules can be added or removed by HOAs based on community opinion.  

Homeowners who already have these vehicles may need to park them in their garages or cover them.  

Why are there so many Handicap Spaces? 

People with disabilities need spaces to park, and these residents often have greater needs than other residents.  

The Fair Housing Amendments Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person because of their handicap, including for parking. Federal and state law requires a certain number of handicapped spaces, and communities may create more at the discretion of the board. 

Can I Use My Parking Pass for an Inoperable Vehicle? 

Some HOAs may let you, but standard practice is parking passes are meant for working vehicles only. Check your community bylaws for more information.

Can I Reserve Parking for My Guests? 

Your HOA may let you reserve guest parking. However, this is not always true. Most guests will need to find guest lots or park on the street. 

Parking lots and parking areas are HOA common areas. This blog teaches you the best practices for maintaining HOA common areas! 

Common HOA Parking Enforcement Policies  

 When residents break parking rules, they are subject to strict penalties. Here are four common parking enforcement policies.   

Tow Violating Vehicles  

 If a car is violating community rules and parking in a resident’s spot, it is a resident or board member’s right to have that car towed.   

 Post clear warning signs and partner with a reliable and trustworthy towing company for the best results.   

 In most cases, HOAs have a 48 or 96-hour parking policy. They alert the violator of their discretion, and they then have a set period to move their car, or it will be towed. This policy may be circumvented for repeat offenders.  

Enforced Speed Limits  

Speeding can cause accidents, especially in cases where residents have parked their vehicles on the streets.   

 Associations can set speed limits on private streets, to prevent accidents for both people and vehicles.  

Revoked Community Privileges  

 If a resident repeatedly breaks parking rules, HOA boards can revoke certain community privileges.   

 This includes taking away a resident’s car rights or restricting the use of community amenities for a set time.   

 This type of enforcement is typically only used for habitual violators.   

Channels for Disputes 

It is best practice for HOAs to have proper channels for disputing violations or justifying actions. In cases of emergency or ignorance, the HOA may negate your violation or drop the citation.  

HOAs should allow residents to defend themselves from violations.  

Parking is a part of your community strategy. Learn more about outlining your community's strategic plan when you read this blog! 

Management Plus Helps You Enforce Your HOA Parking  

 As a board member, you know how overwhelming property management can be. On top of your personal and professional responsibilities, you also must help enforce community rules and ensure residential stability.   

HOAs can have many rules that are difficult to enforce. But your property management in Cincinnati or Dayton, Ohio should not be a headache.  

At Management Plus, we make community management in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana easy.  

 If your board could use an extra hand when it comes to enforcing community regulations and property management, then it is time to reach out to Management Plus today!  

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