HOA Issues - Does Tesla provide any assistance with HOA nonsense?

[pae1andonly]

Mountain Ski Area (PA version anyway) HOA set up in the 1990s obviously did not make provision for EV charging. An odd mix of some areas have some units w/ garages, some do not; other areas have zero garages and un-assigned parking lots ... and it's a mess.

Needless to say the old farts (not often I get to say this anymore and not entirely happy to be qualified to be using it now) running the HOA don't understand the issue and continue to make anti-EV rules and policies.

Does Tesla have any advice/associations/assistance?

Completely open to helpful suggestion here. Thank you.

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[M0unt41nm4n]

Mountain Ski Area (PA version anyway) HOA set up in the 1990s obviously did not make provision for EV charging. An odd mix of some areas have some units w/ garages, some do not; other areas have zero garages and un-assigned parking lots ... and it's a mess.

Needless to say the old farts (not often I get to say this anymore and not entirely happy to be qualified to be using it now) running the HOA don't understand the issue and continue to make anti-EV rules and policies.

Does Tesla have any advice/associations/assistance?

Completely open to helpful suggestion here. Thank you.

Check your State's laws:

https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/state

See if you are in a condo or house and how the laws apply to you.

From what I have garnered, PA is not friendly to your dilemma.

However, there is a bill in process that if it passes, will help you out:

https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1882169

 

[65SoYoLO]

I will never live in an HOA. Good luck to you, hope you win and slaughter them.

 

[Fugue]

If you can manage it, try to get on the HOA board.

If the law that @M0unt41nm4n pointed out passes, getting the HOA to abide by the law may be a challenge.

I will never live in an HOA.

I've passed on buying some very nice properties due to HOAs. I don't care how low the fees are or what amenities they have. It's a non-starter for me.

Best of luck to OP.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

If you can manage it, try to get on the HOA board.

If the law that @M0unt41nm4n pointed out passes, getting the HOA to abide by the law may be a challenge.



I've passed on buying some very nice properties due to HOAs. I don't care how low the fees are or what amenities they have. It's a non-starter for me.

Best of luck to OP.

haha... I agree with this message!

I did both... one of my properties is non-HOA.. that was key as I didn't need the headache. My other property is in a HOA... so I ran for the Board and became president.

The final potential option for the OP is that it is possible that his HOA has a bylaw or CC&Rs that may have a clause which allows his membership to get something on the ballot for a membership vote (or at least I sure hope his bylaws or CC&Rs have that) via signatures of a certain percentage of the membership. If he can campaign with some of his co-members, he may be able to get something on the ballot and get it passed for a change to a CC&R to allow EV chargers which generally requires 67% to pass (or maybe even 51% depending on his CC&Rs/bylaws)... which would override the HOA Board. But this is a bigger fish to fry... but its a possible last resort option... he needs to peruse his docs to see if thats available to him.

 

[Fugue]

haha... I agree with this message!

I did both... one of my properties is non-HOA.. that was key as I didn't need the headache. My other property is in a HOA... so I ran for the Board and became president.

The final potential option for the OP is that it is possible that his HOA has a bylaw or CC&Rs that may have a clause which allows his membership to get something on the ballot for a membership vote (or at least I sure hope his bylaws or CC&Rs have that) via signatures of a certain percentage of the membership. If he can campaign with some of his co-members, he may be able to get something on the ballot and get it passed for a change to a CC&R to allow EV chargers which generally requires 67% to pass (or maybe even 51% depending on his CC&Rs/bylaws)... which would override the HOA Board. But this is a bigger fish to fry... but its a possible last resort option... he needs to peruse his docs to see if thats available to him.

Good advice checking CC&Rs. I lived in an HOA that sent me bogus citations for things that they explicitly couldn't regulate as per the deed restrictions. Then I put the property on the market and they threatened to block the sale. I sent a lawyer to talk to them and they finally backed off.

I care less about my neighbor's yard than I do about not dealing with that kind of hassle.

 

[CyberGus]

I’ve been in a HOA once… and I owned the whole HOA

Like many suburbs, it was former farmland. My house was on the first parcel sold, adjacent to the original home. By the time I bought it, they’d already sold the remainder to a developer, which had become a suburb.

To avoid the new neighborhood’s HOA, these two homes formed their own. When the other house went on the market, I bought it to be a rental, so now the HOA was entirely me lol.

Occasionally a Karen would try to call me out for breaking some HOA rule, and I would gleefully show them the plat map with the legal boundaries.

 

[Sposborn]

I think that the general answer/advice you’ll get is f HOAs and get up to speed with state/muncipal housing laws to keep them within their scope while they make things hard for no reason. We got lucky with our last HOA, but nothing bests living outside of city limits.

 

[That Beast Mode]

I’ve been in a HOA once… and I owned the whole HOA

Like many suburbs, it was former farmland. My house was on the first parcel sold, adjacent to the original home. By the time I bought it, they’d already sold the remainder to a developer, which had become a suburb.

To avoid the new neighborhood’s HOA, these two homes formed their own. When the other house went on the market, I bought it to be a rental, so now the HOA was entirely me lol.

Occasionally a Karen would try to call me out for breaking some HOA rule, and I would gleefully show them the plat map with the legal boundaries.

I don't believe what your referring to is an HOA Gus, I believe it's called a Dictatatorship.

 

[pae1andonly]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Jabman]

An association of one.

 

[jimbobb23]

If you can manage it, try to get on the HOA board.

If the law that @M0unt41nm4n pointed out passes, getting the HOA to abide by the law may be a challenge.



I've passed on buying some very nice properties due to HOAs. I don't care how low the fees are or what amenities they have. It's a non-starter for me.

Best of luck to OP.

My wife got on our HOA board. We hate our HOA and wish we lives remote so we didnt have one but with a little effort you can get on the board. You will then be among the Karens and can work to tone things down. However you will also appreciate the HOA is a lot of work and some people are terrible and you occasionally will understand why there is an HOA. But she has able to slow the fee increases, go easier on small stuff. She has done a lot of good.

 

[LDRHAWKE]

Mountain Ski Area (PA version anyway) HOA set up in the 1990s obviously did not make provision for EV charging. An odd mix of some areas have some units w/ garages, some do not; other areas have zero garages and un-assigned parking lots ... and it's a mess.

Needless to say the old farts (not often I get to say this anymore and not entirely happy to be qualified to be using it now) running the HOA don't understand the issue and continue to make anti-EV rules and policies.

Does Tesla have any advice/associations/assistance?

Completely open to helpful suggestion here. Thank you.

E
Dealing with an outdated HOA that's resistant to EV charging is a common frustration, especially in older setups like yours with mixed parking situations. Tesla does offer some direct resources to help kickstart the process, and there are broader strategies and groups that can assist. Here's a breakdown of options based on what's available:

Tesla provides downloadable letter templates specifically for requesting EV charger installations in HOAs or multi-unit dwellings. You can use their "Request for approval to self-install EV charging in your deeded parking space" template to formally approach your HOA board—it's designed to outline your proposal, address potential concerns like safety and costs, and reference any applicable incentives or laws. They also note that many areas are seeing legal requirements for allowing EV charging in shared spaces, which could strengthen your case. Start by checking Tesla's home charging support page for these tools and more installation guidance.

On the legal side in Pennsylvania, there isn't a statewide "right to charge" law that explicitly forces HOAs to allow personal EV chargers (unlike in states like California or Florida). However, your HOA can't impose "unreasonable" restrictions if you're proposing something safe and compliant with building codes—consult a local attorney specializing in HOA law to review your governing documents and any municipal ordinances that might apply in your area (e.g., around energy efficiency or accessibility). If your unit has a garage or deeded spot, emphasize that the installation would be on your property, with you covering all costs, insurance, and metering for electricity usage to avoid burdening common areas.

For broader assistance, consider reaching out to organizations like the Community Associations Institute (CAI), which provides policy guides and advocacy resources for HOAs on EV charging, including how to update rules fairly. Plug In America is another nonprofit focused on EV adoption; they track right-to-charge policies and offer templates, advocacy tips, and connections to local EV owner groups that have navigated similar HOA battles. They might help you build a case or even lobby for changes at the state level.

Practical suggestions to move forward:
- Gauge interest among other residents (maybe via a survey) to show demand isn't just from you—this could lead to a committee exploring shared chargers in unassigned lots, which spreads costs and benefits.
- Hire an electrician early to assess feasibility (e.g., power capacity in garages or lots) and provide a detailed plan to present to the board—it addresses their likely concerns about infrastructure strain or safety.
- Look into federal or PA incentives like the federal EV charger tax credit (up to 30% of costs) or utility rebates from providers like PPL Electric, which could make the pitch more appealing if the HOA gets involved in common-area installs.
- If the board stays dug in, consider running for a position or rallying votes to amend the rules—many HOAs are updating for EVs as adoption grows.

If none of that pans out, portable Level 2 chargers or nearby public stations could be a temporary workaround, but pushing for policy change seems worthwhile long-term. If you share more details like your exact location or HOA docs, I can dig deeper.

 

[Sjohnson20]

I think the main problem is there just aren't enough EV owners yet to justify them installing chargers. In my condo there's a garage with probably 100 gas cars and 5 EVs.

Newer apartments are starting to install some chargers in the parking lots.

I think if they can figure out how to make money on it they will do it.

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

My wife got on our HOA board. We hate our HOA and wish we lives remote so we didnt have one but with a little effort you can get on the board. You will then be among the Karens and can work to tone things down. However you will also appreciate the HOA is a lot of work and some people are terrible and you occasionally will understand why there is an HOA. But she has able to slow the fee increases, go easier on small stuff. She has done a lot of good.

Yep… this was why I got on. It was so corrupt with old people who skirted the rules themselves. As soon as I got on I started to question the crap they did and we eventually pushed them out. They are now our Karen’s and complain about the smallest crap. I always whip out the CC&Rs and say “Where is the violation”? There almost never is one. Then I always say “ Before you complain, did you ever think about talking to your neighbor first to work things out? Because they know it’s you complaining. You look more like a moron by complaining than actually talking to them.”

My goal getting on was to neuter the bad crap and try to make the HOA a nice place to live. We haven’t fined any one ever. If we have an issue I give the person a call and say “Hey, we may have a problem, can you please fix it so we can all move on?” It almost always works. But I am the exception to the rule. For some reason, some retired old folks have nothing better to do but want to get on the Board and control everything with an iron fist. Troon North in AZ has 1000s of liens they processed. I would hate to live in a gestapo run HOA with their lawyer on speed dial. I really dislike them.

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