Willow and Hearth

Homeowners associations are known for rules about paint colors, trash cans and lawn height. One homeowner says his just went after something far more basic. TikTok creator @thelawnglowup says his HOA emailed residents to announce that walking in the evening is now prohibited, and his reaction has drawn more than 14,000 likes and 1,500 comments.

An Email No One Saw Coming

According to him, the email told residents plainly that “walking in the evening time is now prohibited.” For his family, the timing could not be worse. His wife has been walking only at night because daytime temperatures have been too hot to be outside comfortably.

He did not hide his frustration. “Just when you think it can’t get no dumber, they go and pull something like this out,” he said in the video, posted September 18.

He filmed while sitting outside as his wife headed out on a walk with their son, explaining that he was “just sitting outside right now to see how many people go walking in the neighborhood.” He also predicted that some of his neighbors are petty enough to enjoy breaking the new rule on purpose. As for his own family, he says they plan to fight it, and he expects plenty of others will too.

@thelawnglowup

The Internet Had Ideas

Commenters wasted no time suggesting ways to push back. “Time to create a neighborhood walking group that meets after dinner,” one wrote. Another went bigger and suggested a “Marching band after dark.”

Others got practical. One commenter said an HOA cannot simply add rules that were never in the original covenants and claimed to know that from personal experience. That point gets to the heart of whether a rule like this can actually stick.

Can an HOA Actually Ban Walking?

The answer depends on the community’s governing documents and state law, but a blanket ban on evening walks would be an unusual and shaky rule. HOA boards get their power from the declaration, often called the CC&Rs, along with the bylaws and state statutes. Boards can usually adopt rules for common areas, such as pool hours or clubhouse use, but those rules generally have to fall within the authority the documents grant.

Sidewalks and streets add another wrinkle. In many neighborhoods, the streets and sidewalks are public and maintained by the city or county, which means the HOA has no say over who walks on them or when. Even in communities with private roads, a rule that restricts residents’ basic movement can be difficult to justify or enforce, and HOAs typically cannot set curfews the way a city can. Quiet hours and noise rules are common. Telling residents they cannot take a walk is another matter entirely.

What to Do When Your HOA Adds a Strange Rule

• Get it in writing. Save the email or notice so you know exactly what the rule says and when it took effect.
• Read your governing documents. Look at the CC&Rs and bylaws to see what powers the board has and how new rules must be adopted.
• Check who owns the sidewalks and streets. Your city or county can tell you whether they are public, which often settles the question.
• Ask the board for its reasoning. Sometimes a rule is badly worded or meant to address a narrower problem like noise or a specific common area.
• Attend the next meeting with neighbors. Boards respond to organized, polite pushback, and many rules can be repealed by a vote.
• Know your state’s resources. Some states have HOA ombudsman offices or homeowner associations laws that limit what boards can do.
• Talk to a real estate attorney if fines start. A short consultation can tell you whether a rule is enforceable before penalties add up.

For now, this family is not planning to stop walking. And based on the comment section, they may soon have a lot of company on those evening strolls.

Credit for the original video goes to @thelawnglowup on TikTok.