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Pennsylvania, USA is trying to stop HOAs from banning native plant gardens. (thelemmy.club)
submitted 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) by to c/nolawns@slrpnk.net
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Bill was introduced in Sep/25, but I only got a whiff of it in the last couple of weeks

See House Bill HB1878: https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/pa/2025-2026/bills/PAB00038963/

Are there any other states/countries taking similar initiatives?

Summary:

Pennsylvania homeowners deserve the right to choose native plant species they desire for landscaping around their homes. However, work is needed to remove bottlenecks for homeowners to select native vegetation for their desired landscaping.

This legislation will prevent homeowners associations (HOAs) from unreasonably prohibiting the use of native plants for landscaping on private property. This ensures homeowners residing within an HOA the same ability to choose native landscaping as other homeowners.

Native plants provide many beneficial functions that many homeowners desire. These include being aesthetically pleasing and providing habitat for pollinators while being adapted to the site and typically requiring lower maintenance than non-native plants. [...]

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[–] 14 points 5 months ago (7 children)

I'm a way it seems bizarre that HOAs should be so broadly despised yet also broadly adopted. I suppose it has to do with the corners of the culture I sit in.

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  • [–] 8 points 5 months ago (3 children)

    I think the reason for the mass adoption is the surface selling point (higher resale property value) plus the usual minor fee lull people into a false understanding of just how dangerous they can become once a person on a power trip gets into the board

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  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago (2 children)

    Municipalities are only giving licenses to new developments that have HOA included in, because HOAs transfer the necesario tax burden to the HOA. Americans would do anything for avoid paying taxes, including paying more for worst services paying private intermediates

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  • [–] 3 points 5 months ago

    Americans would do anything for avoid paying taxes, including paying more for worst services paying private intermediates

    Which is very weird. Property owners are still paying a tax for their property. Instead of going to a municipal government it goes to a private organization.

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  • [–] -2 points 5 months ago (1 child)

    actually, they are not broadly despised, as evidenced by the fact that so many people choose to live in HOA-governed neighborhoods. you might think that because all you hear are the horror stories, but that is because you never hear from those who are satisfied with their HOA. as always, ymmv.

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  • [–] 7 points 5 months ago

    The fact that so many people choose to live in a HOA is not on its own evidence that they aren’t despised. There’s a housing crisis in the States and people will live where they can. HOAs are often something you move into a neighborhood in spite of, not for.

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