A lot of “rules” are really aesthetics: paint swatches approved in 2004, a maximum planter height, a ban on visible solar panels. Boards say it preserves property values; homeowners say it freezes a neighborhood’s taste in time. I read submissions where families get punished for color, texture, or a seasonal decoration — and praised when they copy the board’s style. That’s not safety or maintenance. That’s taste enforcement with financial penalties attached. Whose taste gets to win, and why does losing cost money? #House #HOA