As a Homeowner’s Association, you are responsible for helping your community stay safe. With technology changing and improving every day, there may be a new concern you need to address: drones.
While drones may not be in every household, they are becoming increasingly common in recreational and business use. While the devices do have some positives, they also bring new concerns to housing communities:
- Noise – Drones can produce humming noises, which could become a nuisance when they fly near houses.
- Privacy – Many drones have cameras attached to them, which can quickly become a privacy issue near homes and private property.
- Safety – Licenses are not needed for most recreational drone flying, and many pilots are amateurs. This inexperienced flying and potential malfunctions mean that a drone that crashes or falls could be a safety hazard for those around.
If you have not already, now is the time to discuss regulations surrounding drones with your HOA. Here are some options that you can consider:
- Ban drones in your development
- Require authorization for drone owners and reserve the right to ban certain drone pilots who violate the privacy of others
- Use a size limit to keep drones recreational
- Add time and location limits for drone flying
- Add enforceable penalties for violations
- Waive HOA liability
- Appoint a landing area for commercial drone package delivery
As you decide how your HOA will address drone issues, it’s always wise to discuss your regulations with an attorney. This will help ensure that your HOA is protected and that your regulations are enforceable.
