I am a homeowner in North Carolina, forced into a situation where my home improvement choices are dictated by an HOA rather than my personal preferences. The North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 47F, also known as the North Carolina Planned Community Act, has given more power to HOAs than homeowners like me. The act requires any "planned community" with more than 20 homes to be part of an HOA (under 20 homes to have covenants) limiting housing choices for those who do not want to live like this. HOAs may fine property owners, issue liens against the homeowner’s property and foreclose upon homeowners thanks to Chapter 47F of the North Carolina General Statutes.

My HOA's Architectural Guidelines require a subpar wooden fence, which does not meet my quality standards and further require landscaping at my expense for the sole purpose of hiding this fence from view within three years. This is just one example of how HOAs restricts homeowners' financial decisions and personal preferences on a home they purchased and pay a mortgage to live in.

A larger issue is the sunroom I'd like added to the back of my home. This will also require HOA approval via an Architectural Committee which takes 45 days to approve, even though every town requires its own permits for such additions (and town approval takes far less time). Neither my HOA nor my neighbors pay the mortgage on my home and therefore should not have an opinion on how I choose to improve my home. This is HOA overreach and I believe that North Carolinians are fed up with HOAs having all the power.

The current law allows HOAs along with the assistance of Property Management Companies to create/enforce architectural requirements and/or covenants without considering the best interests of homeowners. Homeowners should have the right to make improvements based upon codes set forth by local code enforcement departments rather than these organizations.

This issue isn't just personal; it affects many others across our state too. It's time we revoke this statute and restore homeowner rights in North Carolina. We need legislation that respects our rights as property owners, allowing us freedom for home improvements that increase our homes' resale value while ensuring we live happily in our own homes.

Let's stand together for homeowner rights in North Carolina! Please sign this petition urging lawmakers to remove the restrictive NC General Statute Chapter 47F by making HOAs a choice and not a requirement for all developments, regardless of what year the community was created or how many homes are in the planned community. North Carolinians deserve to live in communities without HOAs.