Florida § 720.3075 - Prohibited clauses in association documents.

§ 720.3075. Prohibited clauses in association documents.

(1) It is declared that the public policy of this state prohibits the inclusion or enforcement of certain types of clauses in homeowners’ association documents, including declaration of covenants, articles of incorporation, bylaws, or any other document of the association which binds members of the association, which either have the effect of or provide that: (a) A developer has the unilateral ability and right to make changes to the homeowners’ association documents after the transition of homeowners’ association control in a community from the developer to the nondeveloper members, as set forth in s. 720.307, has occurred. (b) A homeowners’ association is prohibited or restricted from filing a lawsuit against the developer, or the homeowners’ association is otherwise effectively prohibited or restricted from bringing a lawsuit against the developer. (c) After the transition of homeowners’ association control in a community from the developer to the nondeveloper members, as set forth in s. 720.307, has occurred, a developer is entitled to cast votes in an amount that exceeds one vote per residential lot. Such clauses are declared null and void as against the public policy of this state. (2) The public policy described in subsection (1) prohibits the inclusion or enforcement of such clauses created on or after the effective date of s. 3, chapter 98-261, Laws of Florida. (3) Homeowners’ association documents, including declarations of covenants, articles of incorporation, or bylaws, may not preclude: (a) The display of up to two portable, removable flags as described in s. 720.304(2)(a) by property owners. However, all flags must be displayed in a respectful manner consistent with the requirements for the United States flag under 36 U.S.C. chapter 10. (b) Types or fuel sources of energy production which may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied by the following entities to serve customers within the association that such entities are authorized to serve: 1. A public utility or an electric utility as defined in s. 366.02; 2. An entity formed under s. 163.01 that generates, sells, or transmits electrical energy; 3. A natural gas utility as defined in s. 366.04(3)(c); 4. A natural gas transmission company as defined in s. 368.103; or 5. A Category I liquefied petroleum gas dealer, a Category II liquefied petroleum gas dispenser, or a Category III liquefied petroleum gas cylinder exchange operator as defined in s. 527.01. (c) The use of an appliance, including a stove or grill, which uses the types or fuel sources of energy production which may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied by the entities listed in paragraph (b). As used in this paragraph, the term “appliance” means a device or apparatus manufactured and designed to use energy and for which the Florida Building Code or the Florida Fire Prevention Code provides specific requirements. (d) A property owner or a tenant, a guest, or an invitee of the property owner from parking his or her personal vehicle, including a pickup truck, in the property owner’s driveway, or in any other area in which the property owner or the property owner’s tenant, guest, or invitee has a right to park as governed by state, county, and municipal regulations. The homeowners’ association documents, including declarations of covenants, articles of incorporation, or bylaws, may not prohibit, regardless of any official insignia or visible designation, a property owner or a tenant, a guest, or an invitee of the property owner from parking his or her work vehicle, which is not a commercial motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01(25), in the property owner’s driveway. (e) A property owner from inviting, hiring, or allowing entry to a contractor or worker on the owner’s parcel solely because the contractor or worker is not on a preferred vendor list of the association. Additionally, homeowners’ association documents may not preclude a property owner from inviting, hiring, or allowing entry to a contractor or worker on his or her parcel solely because the contractor or worker does not have a professional or an occupational license. The association may not require a contractor or worker to present or prove possession of a professional or an occupational license to be allowed entry onto a property owner’s parcel. (f) Operating a vehicle that is not a commercial motor vehicle as defined in s. 320.01(25) in conformance with state traffic laws on public roads or rights-of-way or the property owner’s parcel. (4)(a) The Legislature finds that the use of Florida-friendly landscaping and other water use and pollution prevention measures to conserve or protect the state’s water resources serves a compelling public interest and that the participation of homeowners’ associations and local governments is essential to the state’s efforts in water conservation and water quality protection and restoration. (b) Homeowners’ association documents, including declarations of covenants, articles of incorporation, or bylaws, may not prohibit or be enforced so as to prohibit any property owner from implementing Florida-friendly landscaping, as defined in s. 373.185, on his or her land or create any requirement or limitation in conflict with any provision of part II of chapter 373 or a water shortage order, other order, consumptive use permit, or rule adopted or issued pursuant to part II of chapter 373. (5) It is declared the public policy of the state that prior to transition of control of a homeowners’ association in a community from the developer to the nondeveloper members, as set forth in s. 720.307, the right of the developer to amend the association’s governing documents is subject to a test of reasonableness, which prohibits the developer from unilaterally making amendments to the governing documents that are arbitrary, capricious, or in bad faith; destroy the general plan of development; prejudice the rights of existing nondeveloper members to use and enjoy the benefits of common property; or materially shift economic burdens from the developer to the existing nondeveloper members. (6) An association may extinguish a discriminatory restriction as provided in s. 712.065.