Why are HOAs banning electric cars?
Biden proposes stricter automobile pollution limits, encourages two-thirds of new vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2032
No matter the topic or the rule, there will more than likely be at least one homeowner in a homeowners (HOA) association or condo owner in a condominium owners association (COA) who will disagree with it. Environmentally friendly homeowners are having an especially rough go at it with today’s HOAs.
Some Rules and Regulations or bylaws feel unnecessarily petty, such as mandatory in-ground sprinklers and banning xeriscaped/rock gardens to keep traditional grass lawns. Other rules make slightly more sense, such as not feeding birds who leave feces all over the property and increase rodent risks. Then there are upgrades that HOAs would rather avoid (ex. solar panels) than acknowledge.
But one anti-green HOA may really leave people scratching their heads, especially considering President Joe Biden and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are in full support of electric vehicles (EVs). They’re so enthused about them that the EPA projects that at least 60% of new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. would be electric by 2030 and up to 67% by 2032.
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So why is one HOA so adamant about banning a homeowner from buying an electric vehicle? What are the risks of charging an EV on one’s own property? How much does it cost to install a charging station? And is it really illegal to have an EV, or did that HOA board watch “Leave the World Behind” one too many times?
In which states are EVs illegal?
Each state does have its own rules when it comes to EVs. The U.S. Department of Energy has an “Electric Vehicle Laws and Incentives by State” map that’ll help homeowners understand statewide laws and incentives. For example, in my home state (Illinois) there are 27 laws and incentives.
For condominiums specifically:
Beginning January 1, 2024, condominium or common interest associations may not prohibit or restrict the installation or use of EV charging stations in a unit owner’s designated parking space. Associations may put reasonable restrictions on EV charging stations, but the policies may not increase the cost of the EV charging station or decrease its performance.
Meanwhile, landlords can require reimbursement from their tenants for EV charging stations, along with charging a fee and security deposit for access.
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Although it’s unclear which state the Reddit user is located in (it seems like Georgia, judging from a few responses), the U.S. Department of Energy's map may help him fight this car battle.
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So what are the risks that could potentially make HOAs (and COAs) upset about EVs?