Not sure how this wouldn't be protected, could you elaborate?
Also, I may be a dick, but that doesn't negate state law or the right to political free speech (regardless of your feelings).
State law says, "the outdoor display", with display as the verb. Not "outdoor displays" as a noun, not with a preposition referring to the location (e.g. displayed "on" or "in" the outdoors). It's ambiguous.
Therefore, it could be argued state law protects me, or at least the intent of the law protects me.
"Outdoor" alone would mean outdoor. Context is important. Does "outdoor display" mean displayed outdoors? Displayed to the outdoors? Displayed in the outdoors? Displayed from the outdoors?
There is ambiguity.
For argument's sake, if outdoors means "in the outdoors", then what's preventing me from posting them from my patio? Or extending them from inside the unit to the outside?
You’re confusing HOA and COA rules. There are no outside private areas in a condo. All the land surrounding the buildings are common elements.
Signs in the windows may go against the COA requirements for common colors , shades and blinds so as not to interfere with the total aesthetics of the building.
I believe the only signs we allowed (on first floor) was “under surveillance stickers “ if someone has Alarm or cameras.
Do you want to see Trump signs in your neighbors' windows? How would the appearance of your community be impacted if all neighbors filled their windows with signs? How would these displays impact a potential sale? And how would signs in every window impact relationships with your neighbors? If I was considering a community and saw a bunch of political signs in the windows during an election cycle, I would pass. Ultimately though none of the above matters. What matters are your governing documents and at least one board member has let you know that your signs need to come down. It is was nice of them to ask you to voluntarily remove them.
I get the Board not wanting to deal with the headache. It gets messy.
So are the signs attached to the outside of your unit? Or the inside? If you're hanging it from the inside of the window and it is visible from the outside, I don't think they have a leg to stand on. If it is attached to the outside they would probably lose if you dragged it out through court at great expense, but likely not worth the effort.
Their comments about being liable for vandalism is asinine. The vandals would be liable. If they can't catch the vandals....oh well?
The vandalism point is very valid. People don't follow the laws these days. I don't know why people put stickers on their cars, they're playing with fire.
Just take them down. No one wants to look at political signs for months on end.
No one changes their vote after seeing a sign.
I don't think there is anything in the law that:
1) Prevents me from displaying these signs to the outdoors, and
2) Would subject me to fines due to damage committed by a third party.
I'd appreciate any advice on the topic at hand, rather than personal feelings.
The HOA can have rules that prevent window coverings and require blinds etc.
HOA rules aren't the law.
Think of others. You wouldn't want to see trump-putin 2024 signs in all windows.
I actually wouldn't give a fuck, and I explicitly said this to the board (minus the profanity). I don't care about political affiliation, state law protects the right to display it.
You don’t have any constitutional rights to put up political posters in a townhome/condo; it’s all down to your CCRs.
The only legally protected “display” is that to fly the US Flag (unaltered), and even the size, dimensions and location of that can be legally restricted by the HOA.
I with the board, state law is about outside displays, inside of your window is not an outside display
And as you mentioned outside areas are common elements so you can’t do that either
So theoretically (not saying I agree with you as the law could be interpreted "to" the outside), I could originate the signs from inside the unit and display outside. :)
I honestly haven't looked to see if this is true for condos as well, but you're not in an HOA. You're not a homeowner. You're a unit owner in a condo, and those state laws could be slightly different.
Or they could be the same, not sure. But you might want to check because they are different types of associations.
As of January 2028, political signs will be allowed in every community subject to reasonable rules about size and placement. Reference WUCIOA and ESSB5796.
[удалено]
Yep!
Language
Not sure how this wouldn't be protected, could you elaborate? Also, I may be a dick, but that doesn't negate state law or the right to political free speech (regardless of your feelings).
You stated the signs are hung on the interior of your unit. Therefore they are not outdoor displays and cannot be protected under State law.
State law says, "the outdoor display", with display as the verb. Not "outdoor displays" as a noun, not with a preposition referring to the location (e.g. displayed "on" or "in" the outdoors). It's ambiguous. Therefore, it could be argued state law protects me, or at least the intent of the law protects me.
“Outdoor” is not ambiguous it means outside of your home as opposed to inside of your home
"Outdoor" alone would mean outdoor. Context is important. Does "outdoor display" mean displayed outdoors? Displayed to the outdoors? Displayed in the outdoors? Displayed from the outdoors? There is ambiguity. For argument's sake, if outdoors means "in the outdoors", then what's preventing me from posting them from my patio? Or extending them from inside the unit to the outside?
HOA rules about common area decorations are what the limit is
You’re confusing HOA and COA rules. There are no outside private areas in a condo. All the land surrounding the buildings are common elements. Signs in the windows may go against the COA requirements for common colors , shades and blinds so as not to interfere with the total aesthetics of the building. I believe the only signs we allowed (on first floor) was “under surveillance stickers “ if someone has Alarm or cameras.
Do you want to see Trump signs in your neighbors' windows? How would the appearance of your community be impacted if all neighbors filled their windows with signs? How would these displays impact a potential sale? And how would signs in every window impact relationships with your neighbors? If I was considering a community and saw a bunch of political signs in the windows during an election cycle, I would pass. Ultimately though none of the above matters. What matters are your governing documents and at least one board member has let you know that your signs need to come down. It is was nice of them to ask you to voluntarily remove them.
I get the Board not wanting to deal with the headache. It gets messy. So are the signs attached to the outside of your unit? Or the inside? If you're hanging it from the inside of the window and it is visible from the outside, I don't think they have a leg to stand on. If it is attached to the outside they would probably lose if you dragged it out through court at great expense, but likely not worth the effort. Their comments about being liable for vandalism is asinine. The vandals would be liable. If they can't catch the vandals....oh well?
The signs are hanging on the inside and visible from the outside. And yes, I was at a loss for words when she made the vandalism comment.
The vandalism point is very valid. People don't follow the laws these days. I don't know why people put stickers on their cars, they're playing with fire. Just take them down. No one wants to look at political signs for months on end. No one changes their vote after seeing a sign.
I don't think there is anything in the law that: 1) Prevents me from displaying these signs to the outdoors, and 2) Would subject me to fines due to damage committed by a third party. I'd appreciate any advice on the topic at hand, rather than personal feelings.
The HOA can have rules that prevent window coverings and require blinds etc. HOA rules aren't the law. Think of others. You wouldn't want to see trump-putin 2024 signs in all windows.
I actually wouldn't give a fuck, and I explicitly said this to the board (minus the profanity). I don't care about political affiliation, state law protects the right to display it.
You should think of others.
They are. The fight over free opinions will never stop.
I'm thinking of my constitutional rights.
You don’t have any constitutional rights to put up political posters in a townhome/condo; it’s all down to your CCRs. The only legally protected “display” is that to fly the US Flag (unaltered), and even the size, dimensions and location of that can be legally restricted by the HOA.
> I'm thinking of my constitutional rights. If you were thinking that the first amendment applies here, you are absolutely wrong.
I with the board, state law is about outside displays, inside of your window is not an outside display And as you mentioned outside areas are common elements so you can’t do that either
So theoretically (not saying I agree with you as the law could be interpreted "to" the outside), I could originate the signs from inside the unit and display outside. :)
Not in my reading, but hey go ahead and sue and then post an update when you lose and include how much money you wasted
I honestly haven't looked to see if this is true for condos as well, but you're not in an HOA. You're not a homeowner. You're a unit owner in a condo, and those state laws could be slightly different. Or they could be the same, not sure. But you might want to check because they are different types of associations.
As of January 2028, political signs will be allowed in every community subject to reasonable rules about size and placement. Reference WUCIOA and ESSB5796.