Category Archives: Deed Restrictions

Michigan Court rules that Homeowners Association did not violate Fair Housing Act in refusing fence for emotional support and service dogs

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In Fox Bay Civic Assn, Inc v Creswell, unpublished opinion of the Court of Appeals, issued May 30, 2019 (Docket No. 343384), the Michigan Court of Appeals held that a homeowners association could enforce its deed restrictions banning fences and that a disabled owner could not erect a fence in order to keep her emotional support and service dogs in

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Amendment to the Marketable Record Title Act puts Michigan restrictive covenants at risk

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On December 31, 2018, SB 671 was enacted into law, via 2018 PA 572, in order to amend the Michigan Marketable Record Title Act. SB 671 was a lame duck bill that may have drastic consequences for Michigan condominiums and homeowners’ associations in the future.  Based on the amendment to the Michigan Marketable Record Title Act, in certain circumstances, Michigan

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HB 6304: HOA’s could not ban or require approval for solar panels, clothes lines or wind turbines

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On September 5, 2018, Rep. Sheldon Neeley introduced HB 6304 in order to invalidate provisions in the governing documents of homeowners’ association that ban “energy-saving improvements” or require approval from a homeowner’s association to install an “energy-saving improvement.” The proposed bill would be extremely problematic for Michigan community association’s for several reasons. First, HB 6304 is problematic as there may

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Wi-Fi issues in your condominium association or HOA

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Wi-Fi has become a necessity for almost anyone who lives in a condominium association.  However, the law is often slow to evolve to new technologies and many master deeds or declarations were drafted before Wi-Fi even existed.  As a result, potential legal issues related to Wi-Fi use are rarely addressed in the governing documents of community associations. Accordingly, condominium and

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Mailboxes in Michigan Condominiums and HOAs

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In many Michigan condominiums and HOAs, the governing documents contain a provision creating an Architectural Control Committee (“ACC”) tasked with maintaining the overall aesthetics of structures within the community.  Normally, when an owner wishes to modify a structure, the owner may petition the association’s ACC for approval.  If the owner is denied the requested modification, this can lead to claims

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HB 5440: Michigan HOA’s could not prohibit the display of the American or State Flag

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Michigan House Bill 5440 was introduced on January 24, 2018. HB 5540 would prohibit a Michigan homeowner’s association or neighborhood association from prohibiting the display of the United States flag or the state flag of Michigan. HB 5540 provides as follows: Sec. 1. A local unit of government shall not adopt or enforce an ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulation that

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WXYZ Detroit interviews Kevin Hirzel on emotional support animals and Senate Bill 663

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WXYZ Detroit (Channel 7) recently interviewed Kevin Hirzel regarding the increase in requests for emotional support animals and how Senate Bill 663 would help to curb requests for fake emotional support animals.   The interview discusses how requests for emotional support animals can be made under the Fair Housing Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, as emotional support animals are

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