We’ve all heard the stories of emotional support dogs, peacocks and even mini horses on planes, baffled on how the owners got away with it. How do you, as a community association, assess whether to allow support animals in your community if animal restrictions are established? The Fair Housing Act It is important to distinguish […]
Election season is over. For many of our Boards, this is an opportunity to go over and begin go implement your goals for the year. One thing that can quickly take away your enthusiasm for the year (and make you wonder why you volunteered to do this in the first place) is an angry member […]
Many board members take pride in knowing their neighbors. Maybe it's that pride that leads our clients to volunteer their time and energy to serve their community. However, it's getting more and more difficult to know your neighbors, let alone all the members of your community. An increasing percentage of homes purchased are now purchased […]
If a Board of Directors decides to hire a third party fitness trainer, can it prevent owners from inviting their own personal trainers to use the facilities? That was the question before the Fourth District Court of Appeals in Charterhouse Associates, Lt.d, Inc. v. Valencia Reserve Homeowners Association, Inc., 43 Fla. L. Weekly D2645 (Fla. […]
Many governing documents for community associations include provisions restricting "commercial vehicles" from being parked within the community. The intent of such provisions was to prevent the members from having to always see a large, sometimes-flashy, often-gaudy trucks or vans every day for the rest of their lives. However, often, the restrictions will not provide a […]
At DHN Attorneys, we often represent first-time entrepreneurs who are either looking to start a new business or even purchase an existing one. This is an exciting time for anyone, but the decisions you make at this juncture will greatly affect the success of your business. Of course, any attorney will tell you that the […]
Effective October 1, 2018, House Bill 617 from the Florida legislature created additional methods for preserving covenants and restrictions. Previously, the preservation process provided that only homeowners associations could preserve their covenants and restrictions and was limited as far as the procedures available for achieving preservation. The new Fla. Stat. § 712.05 provides three methods […]
This article was originally published to our newsletter in Fall 2016 and is being re-posted here. It’s autumn season, and the hot Florida sun has given way to cooler temperatures and shorter days. As you walk outside, you notice that things seem unusually quiet this evening. A few birds flutter overhead, but the crickets have […]
Floridians are no strangers to tropical storms and hurricanes, but many still fail to take the proper precautions every season, including community associations. It is never too early to prepare your community for hurricanes, but there is a point where it can be too late. Here are 3 simple things to keep in mind […]
