Thread: Haunted House as HOA violation

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I saw this story on CNN today and I thought I would share. The gist is that a couple of brothers spent $40,000 to put together a massive home haunt. They didnt get approval from the HOA board before doing this and now are being closed down or forced to pay hefty fines each night.

The link to the video:

Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

Haunter's Beware,
Handy_Haunter

I cannot stand HOA's and would never live in a subdivision that has one. That being said though, if the brothers knew that there was an HOA in their subdivision, (and I am assuming they did), they should have checked with them BEFORE spending all that money. Still, I hope they hold the haunt and that folks will "donate" to their cause. Their haunt looks really cool.

I bet that story garners them alot of free advertising.

Looks like a nice haunt. I feel bad for them although I have to say I think they should have known better. Sounds like things were pretty invasive to the neighborhood as well. I also suspect since the report says that they did a similar house last year that someone then said something about it at that time so doubt this came as a total surprise to them.

We live in a new development, individual homes, and it's part of an HOA also. I hate HOAs. Not that we've ever had any problems with them and I can see benefits to having them, but still hate them. In our area it's hard to find newer property that isn't part of one because the city governments don't want to support parks so makes the developers build them and then make the local residents pay for them. Plus' and minus'.

Unfortunately non HOA developments are hard to find here in Arizona. I would certainly fight it if mine tried to close me down, as Christmas decorations generally never need approval.

The problem here probably lies in the fact that they were going to charge for the haunt, and that would be breaking most HOA's rules that state that you can't run a home business where people are coming and going from the home. Plus, they were going to alter the gates into the development to allow people to come and go.

I actually like HOAs. I've lived in neighborhoods without, and there is absolutely nothing you can do if a neighbor chooses to paint their house Pepto pink and keep a few rusting cars on the lawn as "decoration." Or the do-it-yourselfer that thought adding on a few rooms or converting the garage to a bedroom with scrap lumber and duct tape looked good. (all of which I've seen )

With a strong HOA, you never have to worry about the property values being brought down by shabby or bizarre homes in the subdivision, and if you have a complaint, they handle it if you are too chicken to go talk to the neighbor (or if they are rude/mean/scary).

I know the common tendency is to hate a HOA, but they are there to protect your home and neighborhood, and if they work properly (that is the key!) that is exactly what they do.

And no I'm not a member of one, and actually have gotten some write ups over the years for lawn upkeep. Which were completely justified.

~stepping off my soapbox~

As far as the OP's original subject, I have no sympathy for them. Sure, they went to a whole lot of trouble and it was probably a really cool setup, but to do a FOR MONEY haunt and disable the gates for anyone to come into that neighborhood... sorry, I think they should have thought this through more and rented a COMMERCIAL location to do their haunt. The HOA is completely right, and this could give TOT a bad name, since the neighbors in that subdivision might have been subject to hundreds of people trampling their yards, blocking their driveways and worse...

I could never live in an HOA home/ area. People shouldn't be allowed to decide what you do with your home, but since they probably knew that before they moved in there I can't feel too bad for them. And like Dark Star said they were planning on altering the gates to let people in, that wouldn't just be their gates it would be the gates of everyone in the whole area and then it gets into the messy area of messing with group property and what have you. It's too bad they didn't set it up at a different house, it looks pretty cool.

We live in an HOA community now and the hubby and I hate it! We hope to move next year and not have to deal with an HOA or paying $125 each month for HOA dues.

Originally Posted by Frankie's Girl

I've lived in neighborhoods without, and there is absolutely nothing you can do if a neighbor chooses to paint their house Pepto pink and keep a few rusting cars on the lawn as "decoration."

Heh, I would definitely be one of those people that would paint my house bright orange with black trim. No HOA on earth would accept me.

Step out my front door, to the left: non-HOA homes. To the right, HOA homes.

And, straight out my back yard, neighbors directly behind: HOA.

Now, come Halloween. Non-HOA: Cemeteries, walk throughs, yard haunts.

HOA: Bails of hay and a couple smiley scarecrows, and someone that had to take down a blowup. There was one person that dressed as a dummy and scared kids, though.

Come Christmas: Non-HOA: Light shows, animated deer, blowups, etc.

HOA: Everyone has THE SAME wreaths and garlands on their porch, and the eves get either color or clear C7 lights. That's it. It's kinda creepy...


I typically get several complaints during the year. From not liking me working on some decorations to claiming the haunt was a safety hazard. They have all come from HOA folks.

I didn't sign up for their rules, but each year, they try to bring in the cops to enforce their rules on me. It gets a little annoying. To a point I really wouldn't want to be in one.

I don't care if they COULD have prevented a former neighbor from building his "car port" out of used pallets and scrap tin.

Originally Posted by Handy_Haunter

Heh, I would definitely be one of those people that would paint my house bright orange with black trim.

ohh I like that idea.

I will never live anywhere where other busy bodies can tell me what plants I can put in and what the "approved" colors are that I can paint my house.


I do see where they crossed the line though with charging for admission. Now it's a business and that is a big step up from decorating your own house.