Community associations create stable, well-managed neighborhoods where families invest, connect, and thrive. A Florida legislator’s recent call to ban homeowners associations is, respectfully, a solution in search of a problem and would cause needless disruption for millions of Floridians. Florida thrives because neighbors choose to work together.
This week, I’ve given a half–dozen interviews with media across the Sunshine State to keep the conversation grounded in facts. I’ve shared findings from the Foundation for Community Association Research’s Homeowner Satisfaction Survey, which consistently shows the overwhelming majority of residents living in association-governed communities are satisfied with their experience. The data reflects what we see every day in well-run communities that protect property values, maintain critical infrastructure, and foster a sense of harmony.
Florida law empowers homeowners with choices. If a community determines an association no longer fits its needs, Chapter 720 of the Florida statutes provides a legal pathway to dissolution through a community vote and due process. Homeowners decide the community’s future.
Today, associations fund neighborhood operations through assessments. If the state outlaws associations, city and county budgets would be forced to absorb additional costs.
Local governments would face pressure to raise millage rates, create special taxing districts, or cut other services to absorb roads, stormwater systems, lighting, security, and amenities now paid privately. With property taxes poised to dominate the upcoming legislative session, banning associations would move Florida in the wrong fiscal direction.
An outright ban would shift billions of dollars in private responsibilities for roads, stormwater systems, lighting, landscaping, and amenities to local governments and taxpayers. It would destabilize housing markets, jeopardize maintenance and safety, and create complex legal and financial challenges for cities and counties.
Florida homeowners associations build harmony and community. With clubhouses, pools, fitness centers, pickleball courts, walking trails, art studios, and dozens of resident-led clubs and events, these neighborhoods create daily touchpoints that spark connections and purpose. Decades of public health research links strong social connection to better mental health, reduced loneliness, and improved physical outcomes — from higher activity levels to lower cardiovascular risk. By design, association-governed communities make those healthy connections easier and more frequent. When we support community associations, we’re also supporting the social infrastructure that keeps Floridians healthier, happier, and more resilient.
CAI stands ready to work with lawmakers, local leaders, and homeowners on constructive, evidence-based improvements that keep neighborhoods strong.
>> Review the latest homeowner satisfaction survey results.
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这篇文章说得对，社区协会对维护邻里和谐和提供便利设施至关重要。禁止协会会把额外负担转嫁给纳税人，还可能损害社区健康。支持协会就是支持我们更美好的社区生活。
You mean that infrastructure in what are now HOA communities would be paid for by tax money and maintained through local governments by professionals, like civil engineers, who are actually qualified to handle this work? That the ‘double-taxation’ of HOA residents, who are already paying taxes to support infrastructure in non-HOA neighborhoods, would come to an end?
Instead of dumping complicated infrastructure problems on laypeople who volunteer to serve on HOA and condo boards and don’t understand their responsibilities? Laypeople who have no clue how to maintain civil infrastructure like SWM systems, road maintenance and large buildings, and don’t even know how or who to hire for this? Laypeople who think they have to ‘do something,’ so they start writing up their neighbors for having the wrong-shade-of-white house trim and the wrong model light fixtures – while increasing dues to pay for POA lawyers to send out violation notices and take neighbors to court for made-up rules?
The only real losers in Florida’s proposal to eliminate HOAs are the lawyers and property managers who profit from this market. The homeowners will not have to pay HOA dues, not have to deal with theft/embezzlement threats from board members and property managers, not have to maintain liability insurance, not have to pay for property management and lawyers, and not have to spend time on HOA boards. The increase in taxes will still be less than the HOA dues were and homeowners will have better, professional infrastructure support and maintenance and a local government to enforce ordinances. HOAs waste money, breed resentment and tear neighborhoods and neighbors apart. As for your Satisfaction Survey, I’m willling to guess a lot of people who don’t like HOAs didn’t bother to respond at all. Lies, damn lies and statistics.
I gotta say, it’s kinda refreshing to hear such a balanced perspective! It’s easy to throw the baby out with the bathwater when things get complicated, but community associations really do help keep neighborhoods nice and connected. Plus, with all the benefits like pools and clubhouses, who wouldn’t want that, you know?