# How would you deal with the HOA moving/changing parking lines that you own? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2025, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761 "2025-12-16T18:52:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/21 "2025-12-17T19:29:01Z")
> [@phs3](#): > > Semi-related: our lot backs up to a path. There is a common area about 10’ wide between our lot and the path. We’ve been in this house for 35 years and I’ve maintained that area, weeding and mulching it. I suspect that if I wanted to be a jerk about it, I could claim adverse possession. It might be interesting to see what you own WRT the path. It’s possible that you own to the centerline of the path, to your edge of the path, to the far edge of the path, or even, possibly, to the property of the owner behind you beyond the path (if there is an ownership on the other side of the path, that is). It’s also possible that there may already be a recorded easement behind your property on which the path is situated. It’s possible that the HOA’s nastygram is their attempt to undermine an adverse possession claim by breaking the continuous use requirement, although it might be easier for them to send a notice basically saying, “We see your pavers and will tolerate them, but you have to remove them whenever we say so.” They could then require the pavers be removed every year or two. This would defeat an AP claim both by granting permission (so possession would not be hostile) and also interrupting the continuous use. IANAL, but I find this kind of shit fascinating. Sorry for the hijack. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/22 "2025-12-17T19:47:41Z")
All this talk about “owning” property where an HOA is a factor confuses me. In the OP, you ask the question “what should I do?” You should sell to some sucker and relocate to a property that you can actually OWN. Disclaimer: this is coming from a man who’s never owned real estate. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/23 "2025-12-17T19:59:07Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Disclaimer: this is coming from a man who’s never owned real estate. Obviously. Yes you own property that has an HOA ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/24 "2025-12-17T20:09:43Z")
Well, yeah, in the sense that you’re responsible for property taxes, but if you have to get permission to paint your home with a reproduction of _The Garden of Earthly Delights_, I don’t see it that way. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/25 "2025-12-17T20:11:02Z")
You really need to educate yourself. ---
**Author:** ![phs3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phs3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phs3)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/26 "2025-12-17T20:12:17Z")
So do I! I’m 99.44% sure that I looked a long time ago and do NOT own any of that common area. The HOA certainly doesn’t think so–a 12” oak in that common area died a few years ago and I emailed them, they came and took it down. That ain’t cheap, so they at least are sure it’s their property. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/27 "2025-12-17T20:13:39Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > You really need to educate yourself Why? So I can aspire to own property someday? I’m 69 years old, and I don’t expect I’d outlive a mortgage even if I could get one. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/28 "2025-12-17T20:15:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’m 69 years old, and I don’t expect I’d outlive a mortgage even if I could get one. You cannot be denied a mortgage based on your age & life expectancy. That is illegal discrimination. GO FOR IT! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/29 "2025-12-17T20:15:11Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > if you have to get permission to paint your home with a reproduction of _The Garden of Earthly Delights_, I don’t see it that way. It’s 100% a matter of where the line is drawn, because there are frightfully few places around where you can do \_\_\_ to your home without needing permission from someone. The trick with an HOA is that you may find the restrictions quite manageable, and a very acceptable tradeoff given that your next door neighbor can’t open up an abattoir so they can make a few extra bucks. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/30 "2025-12-17T20:17:11Z")
> [@Steven\_Maven](#): > > You cannot be denied a mortgage based on your age & life expectancy. It’s more to do with my credit rating. I _expect_ to retire from the USPS on my hundredth birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/31 "2025-12-17T20:26:44Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Confirm with your deed My deed, that I went to the court house to obtain, says Lot number, in subdivision, recorded in book xx, and plat #x. It is two pages long saying it comes from my ex-wife to just me. I asked if there was a written deed and there are none, it is on the plat/survey that I already have. I told them what I wanted and they said this is it. > [@enipla](#): > > Check to see if some owner has an extra space now. > > If everyone lost a foot of parking, it went somewhere. Hard to really see. I can see that one person on the end lost a bit and maybe someone in between gained some. I think most of the extra space went to the two guest spots at the end. > [@vbob](#): > > “…operty corners found” It says no property corners found. I know on an old house I lived at there were stakes in the ground where the corners were, perhaps they do no exist. My shed does have a corner at the corner and has been there since I’ve moved in. We have an HOA, they contract out with a property management company who I believe is who delt with the pavers. I have contacted both and neither has gotten back to me. Oddly enough there are blue marks on the pavement about where the lines used to be. I will try and contact the management company tomorrow again. I’m really hoping it’s just a “hey, we’ll repaint quickly.” since it shouldn’t be too hard to do. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/32 "2025-12-17T20:29:20Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Hard to really see. I can see that one person on the end lost a bit and maybe someone in between gained some. I think most of the extra space went to the two guest spots at the end. Perhaps creating guest spaces where there were none previously _was_ the purpose of shaving a few feet off everyone’s deeded parking allowance? Not sure that was the right way to do things, though perhaps the plan was discussed in an HOA meeting? ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/33 "2025-12-17T20:35:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Perhaps creating guest spaces where there were none previously _was_ the purpose of shaving a few feet off everyone’s deeded parking allowance? They’ve always been there. My guess is that whoever did the painting said, 22" for each space and measured that off and was done. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/34 "2025-12-17T20:58:05Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > When they repainted they moved my space over by 3+ feet on one side, and 2 or so on the other. In the unlikely event you GAINED 5 feet of spot dimension, I recommend, with respectful insistence, STFU! ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/35 "2025-12-17T22:03:45Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > My deed, that I went to the court house to obtain, says Lot number, in subdivision, recorded in book xx, and plat #x. It is two pages long saying it comes from my ex-wife to just me. There SHOULD be a way to access the prior deeds conveying this property - aka ‘chain of title’ - some time ago, the parent lot was subdivided into the parcel you own and adjacent parcels - THAT deed should refer to a plat map that has all the adjacent parcels, and potentially references to property corners as actual iron stakes, drill holes in stones, ‘old chestnut tree’, etc. That a plat map was generated by a licensed surveyor for just your parcel implies there was some earlier question about boundaries for that one lot - generally the surveyor prepares a plat for the entire subdivision, with individual parcels called out by a number. The HOA agreement MAY contain some language calling for easements for parking, walkways, etc - but the existence of such should be at least referenced in your deed. Bottom line - if you OWN the land that is used for parking in front of your home, the HOA is stepping on your toes. [Surprised?] If by being a member of the HOA, you ‘own’ the right to park 2-3 cars on land that is owned by the HOA, the HOA can likely do this however they decide. If you ‘own’ the ‘privilege’ of using 2-3 parking spots on paved surface that is actually a public street or right-of-way, the HOA is stomping on a lot of toes. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/36 "2025-12-17T22:57:30Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > Hard to really see. I can see that one person on the end lost a bit and maybe someone in between gained some. I think most of the extra space went to the two guest spots at the end. I kinda suspect that the people that stripped it did a “Whatever”. Some of those guys really know their shit. Saw one once on freaking rollerblades so he could get around quicker for measureing/layout and stuff. Was very imperssive, and very cool. Some I suspect that it’s the only job they could get. Those would be the “Whatever” guys. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/37 "2025-12-17T23:16:48Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > The thing is that some homes, like mine, the spots are right out in front, others are not directly in front of their homes so I think it leads to some people owning spots while others have assigned spots. Such things should be spelled out in the HOAs founding documents or bylaws. I’m in the process of selling my house and buying a condo, and the condo docs make it clear that I own the **right** to a parking space, but not the actual space itself. The spaces are assigned, however there is a clause that my assignment cannot be changed without my agreement. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/38 "2025-12-18T00:11:38Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > Such things should be spelled out in the HOAs founding documents or bylaws. More likely in the Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions, commonly abbreviated as CC&Rs. (Sometimes the “Conditions” bit is left off.) That’s the one that’s really the meat of laying out what the individual owners can and can’t do, and what the HOA can and can’t do. Bylaws are more nuts and bolts basics. Rules & Regulations is a possibility, but those are usually just the CC&Rs restated more simply. (I hate that I know so much about HOA legal documents.) It can vary widely, especially based on property type. The HOA we were in was a bunch of four-condo buildings and we only owned the airspace inside the unit (can’t remember if we owned the paint on the walls or not). Even in single-family houses it’s often that common areas are the domain of the association. For the OP, is there an outside manage or management agency in addition to the board itself? If so, they’re more likely to be responsive and less likely to be insane. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/39 "2025-12-18T01:39:50Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > Some of those guys really know their shit. Saw one once on freaking rollerblades so he could get around quicker for measureing/layout and stuff. I saw a guy marking a commercial parking lot with tallish fiberglass flags for (pretty sure) later snow plowing to mark islands and lanes, maybe sidewalks and other parts of the facility. Anyway, he was tooling around turf & pavement on a what was left of a stand&ride behind mower with the grass cutting deck removed. It looked pretty fun, fast and maneuverable, forward & reverse. Sort of like a gas powered, 4 wheeled Segway. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2025, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761/40 "2025-12-18T08:06:14Z")
> [@Edward\_The\_Head](#): > > My deed, that I went to the court house to obtain, says Lot number, in subdivision, recorded in book xx, and plat #x. That’s a perfectly acceptable legal description. Unfortunately, if that is the extent of your legal description and it does not include the parking space within the described boundary of the lot on the map - it doesn’t have to be called out specifically as a parking space - it doesn’t look like you own a parking space. You may just have permission to claim a space as yours to use exclusively, per HOA rules. I think you’re going to have to dig into the HOA minutia to find your answer. You may not like it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-you-deal-with-the-hoa-moving-changing-parking-lines-that-you-own/1025761.md?page=3)