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Can My HOA Deny My Architectural Request for Any Reason?
Use the free tool — ARC Request Builder
What Florida law actually limits
Under Fla. Stat. 720.3035, a Florida homeowners' association's authority to review the location, size, type or appearance of what you want to build is permitted only to the extent that authority is specifically stated or reasonably inferred in your governing documents. A committee cannot invent a standard that isn't written down somewhere in your declaration, bylaws, or rules.
What this means for your request
If a committee turns you down, ask what specific provision in the governing documents it relied on. If it can't point to language that is "specifically stated or reasonably inferred," that's worth raising — but this is not a promise you will win, and contested cases should go to a Florida community association attorney.
What your own declaration might still prohibit
Fla. Stat. 720.3035 limits what a committee can review — it does not erase what your declaration or bylaws already forbid outright. Your community may prohibit certain colors, materials, fence types, or structures no matter how well you write the request. Nothing here can tell you what your declaration says. Read it yourself before you spend money on plans or materials.
Getting the committee's written standards
Fla. Stat. 720.303 gives you the right to inspect the association's official records. That's how you can request the written architectural standards the committee is supposed to be applying to your project — so you know the actual rule before you submit, not after you're denied.
Is this even your situation?
- This applies to Chapter 720, Florida homeowners' associations. If you live in a condominium, cooperative, timeshare, or mobile home park, Chapter 720 is not your statute — condominiums are governed by Chapter 718 instead. Don't rely on anything above for those.
- If you already received a violation notice or a fine, this is not the right tool. That's a different situation — look for an HOA violation responder tool instead.
What to do next
Describe your project — what it is, where it goes, what it's made of — and the free tool will write an architectural request in the format committees expect, using your own details and the numbers you provide. It also explains what Florida law does and does not let a committee consider. This is not legal advice. For anything contested, confirm with your association's records and talk to a Florida community association attorney.
ARC Request Builder reads what you type and explains Florida Chapter 720 in plain language. It can be wrong, it is not legal advice, and it is not a substitute for reading your community's own declaration and bylaws, and your declaration may prohibit the project outright regardless of how well the request is written. For anything contested, talk to a Florida community association attorney.