“That’s a misconception,” Erickson said. “There are things that are prohibited by law, but for the vast majority, the owners decide on the rules upon which they want to be governed, and I think a lot of owners are unaware that, if there’s something that they don’t like, as long as it’s not prohibited by law, it can be changed.”
Other laws that have been passed in previous sessions touch on a variety of issues, including access to meetings, homeowners’ voting rights, solar panels, rain-harvesting systems, religious displays, flags and resale certificates. Other laws that give broader protection for homeowners include that board members cannot also be a part of the Architectural Review Authority, the group that determines whether somebody can build something or, for example, paint their fence a certain color, Erickson said.