Homeowners In Tomball Display Defund The HOA Flag After A Petty Violation Notice

Two homeowners display a defund the HOA flag in Tomball, Texas. They do this after receiving a petty violation notice for maintaining their lawn. Afterward, they receive another violation notice for the flag.

The ‘Petty’ Violation Notice

Jennifer and Donald Sliva live in a community governed by the Three Lakes East Community Association. The community is managed by ACMI, a management company hired by the HOA. Over the past few months, the married couple has received several violation notices regarding lawn maintenance. The letter instructed the homeowners to sod the lawn where there’s no grass growing or where the grass is dead.

However, after a recent landscaping job, the Slivas have only been struggling to keep their yard green and well-trimmed this year. Their high school son helps them care for the yard year-round. He could only do so much to maintain it this time. The couple also says they’re not the only homeowners struggling to keep their greenery this summer.

“The grass is not even there anymore, I can’t help that it doesn’t grow,” said Jennifer Silva.

Over time, the HOA sent escalated notices to the couple. They became increasingly frustrated and annoyed by the notices. The Silvas sent a final notice before legal action in May and June. The couple shared the letters with 13 Investigates. It also included a $42.75 fine for the dead grass.

Displaying the Defund the HOA Flag

As the Silvas grew annoyed, Donald came across a Defund the HOA flag online. He chose to display it on their front lawn. However, the couple received yet another violation notice on August 23, telling them that flags are not allowed and to remove unsightly objects from public view.

The couple has lived in the community for over 20 years. They fly the Astros flag every baseball season without problems. Donald Silva says he can understand why the HOA is allowed to regulate flags during holidays or political seasons, but he doesn’t understand why they received this recent violation notice to remove the flag.

According to Donald, the flag was meant to be a funny joke. “But now, you turn around and tell me I’m not allowed no flags at all,” he says. Jennifer Silva also said she read through the deed restrictions twice. According to her, they did not violate any restrictions. There was no mention of flags at all.

ACMI’s Response

The management company, ACMI, told 13 Investigates that the notice was improperly worded. It should have specified that the flag flown at their specific home needed to be removed and was unauthorized. In addition, ACMI stated that their notice only mentioned an enormous Astros flag, not a Defund the HOA flag. They also mentioned no limitations on flying tasteful flags of sports teams, the American flag, or Texas flags.

According to ACMI, they discourage the flying of a huge flag. They intend to reduce the flags that may be a nuisance to the community or nearby homeowners and impact property values.

Meanwhile, the Silvas say their neighbors think the Defund the HOA flag is funny. They have no intention of removing the flag anytime soon. Donald Silva says the HOA should stop pestering homeowners about petty things or bothering with petty flags.