Florida Statutes Section 720.3045 Prohibits Regulation Of Installation, Display, And Storage Of Certain Items

A new law under the Florida Statutes Section 720.3045 gives homeowners in planned communities more freedom to install, store, and display items on their property. This new law effectively denies a homeowners association’s ability to regulate the storage or possession of certain items that were previously not allowed.

HOAs, Architectural Guidelines, and Rules

Homeowners associations are well-known for being strict with their architectural standards. A community’s architectural committee often regulates, denies, and approves what homeowners can and cannot do with their homes. This includes everything from the height of their fences to the paint color of their home’s exterior walls. Homeowners associations often enforce these rules to protect or enhance the community’s curb appeal.

Moreover, many associations even regulate what homeowners can store, install, and display on their property. Communities may even restrict the storage of these items, even if they are hidden or out of sight. However, homeowners and HOA board members often conflict over these restrictive rules. Homeowners associations argue that these rules are in the community’s best interest. Meanwhile, many community members will disagree and assert that the rules are too limiting. This is where the Florida Statutes Section 720.3045 comes into play.

Florida Statutes Section 720.3045

The Florida Statutes Section 720.3045 is part of House Bill 437. It was enacted earlier in 2023 and has now come into effect. The law addresses a homeowner’s ability to display, install, and store certain items in their parcels within HOA communities.

According to the law, homeowners associations may not restrict the storage, display, and installation of any items on a parcel that are not visible from the adjacent parcel or the parcel’s frontage. However, the exception is if the item is prohibited by general law or a local ordinance.

Furthermore, the section gives certain items as examples of what HOAs cannot restrict. These include, but are not limited to, flags, recreational vehicles, boats, and artificial turf. This is especially relevant to HOAs that restrict equipment and vehicles like these. Section 720.3045 also affects communities with ponds, walkways, parks, and golf courses, as it may allow backyard storage.