Associations generally have the right to regulate their communities. In Washington, this probably includes the right to ban registered sex offenders and other persons with criminal history from living in the community. However, an association’s right to evict existing occupants based on their status as a sex offender is less clear. In addition, associations considering…
Category Archives: Fair Housing Act
Animals: May a Community Ban or Restrict Them?
An Association may ban or restrict animals, if the restriction is: A) reasonable; B) enforced uniformly; and C) included in the governing documents. However, there are some exceptions: Service animals An Association may not ban service animals. A service animal is an animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled…
Discrimination Against Children
Associations trying to keep their condominium child free may want to think again. Associations which try to utilize governing documents to discriminate against owners with children could find themselves going up against the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). In one case, an association’s management company, the association,…
Accommodation of Service Dogs Under Fair Housing Act
A recent case from Florida highlights the need for Associations to carefully familiarize themselves with the laws regarding service dogs and other types of trained animals that might be needed by persons with disabilities. In Sabal Palm Condos. of Pine Island Ridge Ass’n v. Fischer, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36040 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 19, 2014),…
Category Archives: Fair Housing Act
Sex Offenders and Criminals: Can They Be Banned by a Community?
Associations generally have the right to regulate their communities. In Washington, this probably includes the right to ban registered sex offenders and other persons with criminal history from living in the community. However, an association’s right to evict existing occupants based on their status as a sex offender is less clear. In addition, associations considering…
Animals: May a Community Ban or Restrict Them?
An Association may ban or restrict animals, if the restriction is: A) reasonable; B) enforced uniformly; and C) included in the governing documents. However, there are some exceptions: Service animals An Association may not ban service animals. A service animal is an animal that is trained for the purpose of assisting or accommodating a disabled…
Discrimination Against Children
Associations trying to keep their condominium child free may want to think again. Associations which try to utilize governing documents to discriminate against owners with children could find themselves going up against the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). In one case, an association’s management company, the association,…
Accommodation of Service Dogs Under Fair Housing Act
A recent case from Florida highlights the need for Associations to carefully familiarize themselves with the laws regarding service dogs and other types of trained animals that might be needed by persons with disabilities. In Sabal Palm Condos. of Pine Island Ridge Ass’n v. Fischer, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 36040 (S.D. Fla. Mar. 19, 2014),…
