Condominium and homeowners associations are prevalent throughout the West Coast of Florida.  Such communities are often appealing to potential owners because they offer attractive, well-maintained and uniform appearances.  Maintaining attractive appearances means that condo owners must follow the restrictions provided in communities’ governing documents.

While this sounds reasonable, unfortunately, the rules and regulations for activities within such communities can be unclear and/or lack the specificity needed to resolve a particular situation or dispute.

Examples of such issues range from permissible parking within a community, responsibility for the expenses of plumbing problems, or the colors which owners are allowed to paint their homes.

Additionally, the Florida Statues and the Florida Administrative Code are frequently changed annually, creating additional potential interpretation issues for the volunteer owners serving on a community’s board of directors.

Finally, sometimes problems come simply from the fact that a community’s governing documents contain out-dated restrictions that no longer serve the community’s needs.