Warning: our HOA fined us 200 bucks over a rain barrel

Last month I installed a rain barrel to save on watering my garden during the summer. I thought I was being smart since we get those monsoon storms. Then the HOA sent me a letter saying it violated the neighborhood rules about visible storage. They hit me with a 200 dollar fine and now I gotta appeal it at the next board meeting. Has anyone else here dealt with HOA rules on water conservation stuff?

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iris39442m ago

I actually just read an article about this exact thing. It said some HOAs are starting to ease up because states are passing laws that protect water conservation efforts like rain barrels. But not all of them have caught up yet. Your HOA sounds like they're stuck in the old ways, thinking a rain barrel is some kind of eyesore. Maybe you could argue that it's not "visible storage" if you paint it to match your house or hide it behind some bushes. I'd also look up if your state has any laws that override HOA rules on this, because that would be your strongest argument at the appeal. Have you checked your state's laws yet?