Colorado Homeowners Association Law Blog

"Going green" seems all the rage these days. From the cover of Newsweek, to hybrid vehicles, to Al Gore and the bevy of eco-friendly products at the local retail store, the push for consumer products and practices that minimize the impact on Earth and its resources has found its place in mainstream America.

Community associations, too, play a role in the green movement. New or old, common interest communities impact the Earth at both the association level and the individual homeowner level. Individuals and associations alike can implement many practices aimed at reducing energy consumption and the overall carbon footprint of their daily activities.

For the past three decades Colorado statutes concerning solar energy devices have guided community associations’ architectural policies. More recent legislation establishes mandates regarding community associations’ landscaping policies and seeks to allow homeowners to use more energy saving devices such as wind generators, retractable window awnings, and clotheslines.

As part of the changes to Colorado’s foreclosure law that become effective January 1, 2008, C.R.S. §38-38-103(1)(c) will read:

If a recorded instrument does not specify the address of the party purporting to have an interest in the property under such recorded instrument, the party shall not be entitled to notice and any interest in the property under such instrument shall be extinguished upon the execution and delivery of a deed pursuant to section 38-38-501.

Meaning, if your association’s current contact information is not listed in your Declaration, a lender foreclosure could extinguish your association’s super priority lien.

For better or worse, community associations are in the news once again.   As you may have heard, a homeowner in Wheat Ridge, Colorado has been flying her U.S. flag upside down to protest the country's role in the war in Iraq. Recently the Association in which the owner lives has demanded that she fly the flag properly or not at all. The Association contends that her flying of the flag “union down” violates Association's patriotic and political expression policy. The owner has responded that this policy violates her 1^st Amendment right of free speech. Below are a few questions that we have received in response to this controversy: 

1. Can an association adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the display of the American flag?

Answer: Yes. In Colorado a community association may adopt reasonable rules regarding the placement and manner of display of the American flag. However, Colorado law states that an association may not prohibit the display of the American flag as long as it is displayed in a manner consistent with the federal flag code.

2. Does the federal flag code allow flying of the flag “union down”?

Answer: Yes, in limited circumstances. The “U.S. Flag Code” states that the flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property (for those interested in researching this, see 4 U.S.C. § 8). The homeowner described above states that she is flying the flag upside down because the war in Iraq has put the country in a very distressful situation. It is unclear as to whether this novel argument would succeed in Court.   

3. Is a restriction on the display of the American flag a violation of the 1^st Amendment or state constitutional rights of free speech?

Answer: The answer to this question is currently unclear. It has been generally held that the 1^st Amendment does not apply to speech and assembly on private property or within a private organization. In other words, a private community generally has the right, through its covenants, to restrict the speech within its borders. This is basically a contract that an owner agrees to when it purchases property in a covenant controlled community. However, a recent case in New Jersey has questioned this notion, holding that the proliferation of common interest communities have made them “constitutional actors” that must respect their members’ fundamental constitutional rights. This case is currently under review by New Jersey Supreme Court. The Colorado Supreme Court has not yet addressed this issue.

The first day of Spring and the recent sunshine and warm temperatures may have prompted you to start thinking about your Association’s Summer event calendar. If your Association’s list of events includes outdoor movie nights, concerts, or other performances, the Association may need to pay licensing fees. United States copyright laws protect composers, lyricists, music publishers, and movie producers and distributors, among others. Community associations that play music in recreational facilities, at festivals or at other events likely need to obtain the appropriate licenses to use the music. With few exceptions, showing movies also requires licensing. 

Colorado community associations are making headlines.  A few weeks ago, a Pagosa Springs peace wreath made national news.  Our own Mark Payne weighed in on the topic on Denver's Channel 7.  You can watch the newscast here.  The homeowner association later allowed the homeowner to keep the wreath on display for the holidays. 

Just this week, the family of an autistic child filed a lawsuit in federal district court against their homeowners association in Littleton, Colorado.  According to news reports, the homeowners seek approval of a six-foot privacy fence that they installed to help protect their eight-year-old son.  The lawsuit's claims fall under the Fair Housing Act.

The Jefferson County District Court ruled last week that a condominium association can prohibit smoking in their four-unit building.   The Heritage Hills #1 Condominium Owners Association amended its bylaws to ban smoking after an owner complained about smoke seeping into her unit.  The District Court upheld the bylaw change stating that second hand smoke "constitutes a nuisance" similar to "extremely loud noise."  Click here to read an article on this ruling recently published in the Denver Post. 

National Night Out was created by the National Association of Town Watch to bring individuals and communities into the fold when it comes to taking a stand against local crime. The program began in 1984 and last year had over 34 million people participate. Communities and individuals make a show of community by doing anything from congregating on front porches to organizing a block party.

What does your community association intend to do for National Night Out?  Let us know by posting a comment.