Maryland overrides HOA covenants on several fronts: Real Prop. § 2-119 bars unreasonable limits on solar collectors, § 14-128 protects the U.S. flag, § 11B-111.2 protects candidate/proposition signs, and § 14-130 protects clotheslines on single-family lots. Covenants conflicting with these are unenforceable.
Real Prop. § 2-119 provides a land-use restriction "may not impose... unreasonable limitations on the installation of a solar collector system" — unreasonable meaning a 5%+ cost increase or 10%+ output reduction (historic properties exempt). Real Prop. § 14-128 bars any covenant or rule from prohibiting display of "one portable, removable flag of the United States in a respectful manner." Real Prop. § 11B-111.2 bars covenants from restricting candidate or proposition signs, though the HOA may set reasonable time/place rules (e.g., 30 days before to 7 days after an election). Real Prop. § 14-130 says a "homeowner or tenant may not be prohibited from installing or using clotheslines on single-family property," subject only to reasonable dimension, placement, and safety limits.
Covenants that flatly ban solar collectors, the U.S. flag, candidate/proposition signs, or clotheslines on single-family lots are void to that extent. Reasonable, narrowly tailored time/place/manner restrictions remain valid.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Takoma Park, MD
Takoma Park sets residential decibel limits at 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime under Ordinance 2002-35. If ambient noise already exceeds these thresholds...
Takoma Park, MD
Takoma Park adopts Montgomery County construction noise standards (MoCo Code 31B-6) by reference. Weekday construction is allowed 7 AM to 5 PM at up to 75 dB...
Takoma Park, MD
Outdoor music in Takoma Park must comply with 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime limits. Events with amplified outdoor music require a temporary waiver requ...
Takoma Park, MD
Under Chapter 14.12 Section 9, no person may allow a dog or other animal to persistently, habitually, or continuously bark, howl, or yelp causing a noise dis...
Takoma Park, MD
Industrial and commercial noise in Takoma Park must meet the same residential decibel limits as all other sources: 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at the...
Takoma Park, MD
Takoma Park has among the strictest leaf blower rules in the DC metro. The city noise ordinance (Ch. 14.12, Sec. 8) caps all leaf blowers at 70 dBA at 50 fee...
See how Takoma Park's hoa vs. city rules rules stack up against other locations.
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