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BAD HOA™ by LUKE CARLSON

  • WE WROTE THE BOOK ON BAD HOAS...LITERALLY
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We Only Represent Homeowners

Palm Beach County is home to some of Florida's most diverse residential communities—from luxury oceanfront condominiums along the coast to sprawling 55+ communities in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach. With this diversity comes a wide range of HOA and condominium disputes that require attorneys who understand the local landscape.

LS Carlson Law represents West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County homeowners exclusively in disputes with their HOAs and condominium associations. We never represent the association—only the individual homeowner. Our attorneys handle cases under both Chapter 720 (HOAs) and Chapter 718 (condominiums), with particular experience with the issues facing Palm Beach County's large concentration of age-restricted and resort-style communities.

Palm Beach County's premium property values make improper assessments and financial mismanagement especially impactful. When your HOA imposes a five-figure special assessment without proper procedures, or when your condo board misallocates insurance proceeds, the financial stakes are significant. Our attorneys protect your investment by holding associations accountable under Florida law.

With over 17 years of experience and more HOA cases won than any other firm nationwide, LS Carlson Law brings aggressive, results-driven representation to homeowners across Palm Beach County.

We Wrote the Book
on Bad HOAs
We Wrote the Book on Bad HOAs - book cover

Types of HOA Disputes We Handle

Palm Beach County homeowners face unique HOA challenges shaped by the region's diverse community types, premium property values, and concentration of age-restricted developments.

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Palm Beach County HOAs are required to maintain common areas and shared structures under Florida Statute 720. Coastal weather damage, aging infrastructure in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach communities, and neglected plumbing or roofing take a toll on Palm Beach County properties. When your association collects assessments but fails to perform necessary repairs, LS Carlson Law holds your HOA accountable for its maintenance obligations. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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Palm Beach County's high property values make CC&R enforcement disputes especially contentious—from Wellington's equestrian estates imposing strict fencing and structure rules to Boca Raton's gated communities regulating exterior paint colors and landscaping to the letter. Under § 720.305, homeowners must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before an independent fining committee before fines can be imposed. When your HOA in Jupiter's golf course communities or Palm Beach Gardens' master-planned developments enforces architectural standards arbitrarily or imposes fines without proper procedures, LS Carlson Law fights back on your behalf. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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Palm Beach County's large concentration of 55+ communities creates unique fair housing issues. The federal Fair Housing Act, the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA), and Florida Statute 760 protect homeowners from discrimination based on race, religion, familial status, disability, and other protected classes. When HOA boards in communities like Century Village or Kings Point engage in harassment, retaliatory fines, or discriminatory enforcement of age-restriction policies, LS Carlson Law takes aggressive action on your behalf. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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High-rise condos along the Intracoastal Waterway, dense townhome communities in Boca Raton and Boynton Beach, and close-quarter developments in Lake Worth create frequent neighbor conflicts over shared walls, noise, and property boundaries. Waterfront communities in Jupiter and Palm Beach Gardens add disputes over dock access, watercraft storage, and seawall maintenance. Florida's nuisance laws provide remedies when a neighbor's conduct substantially interferes with your use and enjoyment of your home, and your HOA's governing documents may impose additional obligations. LS Carlson Law helps Palm Beach County homeowners navigate these disputes and reach fair resolutions. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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Palm Beach County is home to large-scale communities like BallenIsles, Ibis, and PGA National—each with multiple pools, golf courses, and tennis centers that associations must maintain and fund properly. In 55+ communities such as Century Village and Kings Point, clubhouse and amenity access is a primary benefit that residents pay significant assessments to support. Under § 720.303, associations must maintain proper records and fund reserves for major repairs and replacements. When your HOA blocks access to amenities, neglects maintenance, or improperly reallocates common area funds, LS Carlson Law fights to protect your rights. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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Palm Beach County's large HOAs with entrenched boards are prone to selective enforcement and retaliation—particularly in 55+ communities where vocal homeowners who challenge the board face retaliatory fines, and in master-planned communities where developer-controlled boards transitioning to homeowner control create political friction. Florida courts have consistently held that associations must apply covenants and restrictions uniformly. When your HOA in Royal Palm Beach, Delray Beach, or Wellington targets you while ignoring identical violations by others, LS Carlson Law documents the enforcement patterns and holds your board accountable. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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Palm Beach County HOA boards have a duty to act in the best interests of the community. When negligence leads to property damage, safety hazards, or financial loss, homeowners have the right to take action. Common examples in Palm Beach County include ignored safety risks in aging high-rises, mold from neglected water intrusion, and structural defects in common elements. LS Carlson Law helps West Palm Beach homeowners hold negligent HOAs accountable for breaching their duty of care. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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Florida Statute 720.306 establishes specific procedures for HOA elections, including notice requirements, voting procedures, and candidate eligibility. Palm Beach County has some of the largest HOA communities in Florida—several with 5,000 or more units—making them especially vulnerable to proxy farming and absentee ballot manipulation. Many Palm Beach County residents are seasonal snowbirds, and boards exploit low off-season turnout to consolidate control. LS Carlson Law challenges fraudulent HOA elections and fights to protect homeowners' democratic rights within their communities. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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Florida Statute 163.04 protects homeowners' right to install solar energy systems, and HOAs cannot prohibit solar collectors or other energy devices based on renewable resources. Despite this clear legal protection, architectural review boards in Boca Raton and Wellington communities frequently impose unreasonable conditions on solar panel placement—demanding rear-only placement, specific panel colors, or screening that reduces system efficiency. As solar adoption grows across Palm Beach County, the tension between modern solar rights and older community aesthetic standards continues to generate disputes. LS Carlson Law enforces your solar rights against overreaching associations. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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Palm Beach County's premium property values mean HOAs manage significant budgets, and improper assessments hit homeowners especially hard. Florida law regulates HOA assessments under § 720.308, requiring specific procedures for levying and collecting assessments. When your HOA imposes five-figure special assessments without proper notice, awards contracts without competitive bidding, engages in self-dealing, or fails to provide financial transparency, LS Carlson Law investigates the irregularities and challenges the assessments on your behalf. Contact us to explore your legal options.

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West Palm Beach sits directly in the Atlantic hurricane corridor, and Palm Beach County communities face recurring storm damage. When your HOA fails to maintain hurricane-resistant common elements, neglects required insurance coverage, or mishandles insurance proceeds after a storm, homeowners bear the consequences. LS Carlson Law helps Palm Beach County homeowners navigate post-storm disputes over reconstruction timelines, emergency assessments, and insurance allocation. Contact us to explore your legal options.

Frequently Asked Questions

HOA disputes in the West Palm Beach area are filed in Palm Beach County Circuit Court at 205 North Dixie Highway. Before filing, Florida Statute § 720.311 requires mandatory pre-suit mediation through the DBPR. For condominium disputes under Chapter 718, the process may also involve non-binding arbitration through the DBPR Division of Condominiums.

Palm Beach County has one of the highest concentrations of 55+ and age-restricted communities in Florida, creating unique disputes around age verification, guest policies, and accessibility. Coastal condos face post-Surfside building safety requirements and skyrocketing insurance. The county's premium property values make assessment disputes especially high-stakes.

Yes. The Palm Beach County coastline has a significant condo population governed by Chapter 718, which has different requirements than Chapter 720 (HOAs). We handle both types of disputes, with experience in post-Surfside building safety compliance, mandatory reserve funding, and the DBPR regulatory process that applies to condominiums.

Yes. We represent homeowners across Palm Beach County, including West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Greenacres, and surrounding communities.

Palm Beach County is home to thousands of 55+ and age-restricted communities—from Century Village to Kings Point. These communities face unique disputes including improper age verification procedures, conflicts over guest and family visit policies, accessibility and ADA accommodation issues, amenity management disputes, and restrictions that exceed federal Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA) requirements. Our attorneys understand the intersection of Florida HOA law and federal fair housing requirements governing age-restricted communities.

Palm Beach County's coastal condominiums face skyrocketing insurance premiums, post-Surfside building safety requirements, and aging infrastructure. Many condo owners are receiving unprecedented special assessments. Under Chapter 718, assessments must follow specific procedures—and the new mandatory reserve funding requirements have eliminated the prior ability to waive reserves. Our attorneys challenge improper assessments and help condo owners hold their boards accountable under Florida law.

"I have worked with several attorneys over the 40+ years I have been in business and LS Carlson Law is the only law firm I felt put my problem first and not hell-bent on running up a massive bill."

Patrick Thomas - Google

"We strong-armed the other side into submission and they are now paying dearly for crossing me!"

Albee Flore - Google

400+

FIVE-STAR REVIEWS

Homeowner Empowerment

Homeowner empowerment means equipping you with the knowledge, tools, and unwavering legal muscle to stand up to any overreaching HOA. It’s at the heart of everything we do—turning 15+ years of HOA courtroom victories and over 400 five-star reviews into a movement that shifts the balance of power back to you. Because when homeowners know their rights and have a fiercely dedicated advocate on their side, unfair fines, arbitrary rules, and selective enforcement don’t stand a chance. That’s why empowering you isn’t just part of our practice—it’s our mission.

Bad HOA™ Book

DIY Roadmap

We Wrote the Book on Bad HOAs... Literally. In Bad HOA™, we distill years of legal worker into a clear, no-nonsense guide designed to help homeowners understand their rights, stand their ground, and take legal action when necessary.

Bad HOA™ Podcast

Get Educated

This podcast delves into the myriad ways HOAs can fall short of their duties, providing listeners with a how-to resource to handle disputes and understand different personality types within HOAs. Each episode features in-depth analysis of common homeowner grievances, interviews, and real-life situation assessments. "Bad HOA" equips you with the knowledge to ensure that your HOA serves you.

Latest Episodes

Reform

Make a Difference

Your voice matters. LS Carlson Law is leading the charge to change broken HOA laws. Learn how you can support legislative efforts, speak up in your community, and help dismantle the power imbalance. It’s time to hold HOAs accountable — from the inside out.

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We believe that if you can resolve your HOA issue without needing an attorney, that's a win.

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Articles, News & Resources

Understanding Your Legal Rights Regarding Hurricane Protection in Florida HOAs
ARTICLE

Understanding Your Legal Rights Regarding Hurricane Protection in Florida HOAs

Florida law now requires all HOAs to adopt Hurricane Protection Specifications, giving homeowners the right to install approved storm protection without arbitrary denial. Learn what qualifies as hurricane protection and how to obtain your HOA's official specifications.

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Taking Action: How to Remove a Tyrannical HOA Board Member in Florida
ARTICLE

Taking Action: How to Remove a Tyrannical HOA Board Member in Florida

At LS Carlson Law, we understand the frustration and stress Florida homeowners experience when dealing with overbearing and tyrannical HOA board members. When a board member abuses their power, misinterprets governing documents, or targets specific homeowners with violations, it can significantly im

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Navigating HOA Rule Enforceability in Florida: What Homeowners Need to Know
ARTICLE

Navigating HOA Rule Enforceability in Florida: What Homeowners Need to Know

At LS Carlson Law, we understand the challenges homeowners face when dealing with questionable HOA rules in Florida communities. Many homeowners are unaware of which rules are actually enforceable and which ones cross legal boundaries. Florida has implemented significant protections for homeowners a

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Understanding Your Right to HOA Records in Florida: A Complete Guide to Record Inspection
ARTICLE

Understanding Your Right to HOA Records in Florida: A Complete Guide to Record Inspection

At LS Carlson Law, we understand that transparency in HOA operations is crucial for protecting homeowner rights in Florida. Many homeowners don't realize they have a legal right to inspect their association's records. Whether you're concerned about financial management, board decisions, or contract

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When Requesting Your HOA’s Official Records, Don’t Take “No” for an Answer
ARTICLE

When Requesting Your HOA’s Official Records, Don’t Take “No” for an Answer

At LS Carlson Law, we're seeing a significant shift in Florida HOA law that empowers homeowners to demand transparency from their associations. A recent appellate court decision has reinforced homeowners' rights to access ALL official HOA records under Section 720.303. This landmark case establishes

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Understanding Florida's New HOA Laws Effective July 1, 2024
ARTICLE

Understanding Florida's New HOA Laws Effective July 1, 2024

Homeowners' associations (HOAs) in Florida are experiencing a wave of legislative changes that promise to reshape how these organizations operate. In our recent podcast, we dove into these developments with Jeffrey Kominsky, managing partner of LS Carlson Law's Florida office, who shared valuable in

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Florida HOA and COA Board Members just got “Schooled”: Understanding the New Education Requirements under House Bills 1203 and 1021
ARTICLE

Florida HOA and COA Board Members just got “Schooled”: Understanding the New Education Requirements under House Bills 1203 and 1021

Sir Winston Churchill once proclaimed, “Where there is great power, there is great responsibility.” This timeless adage has not only been echoed by the likes of Stan Lee’s Spiderman but has become the bedrock for modern day fiduciary relationships in America and across the globe. But who do you thin

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Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Florida HOAs
ARTICLE

Enhancing Transparency and Accountability in Florida HOAs

Effective July 1, 2024, Florida's HB 1023 mandates increased transparency and accountability in HOA management, requiring comprehensive information disclosure by property managers and imposing educational requirements on HOA Board Members.

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Navigating the New Landscape: Recent and Upcoming HOA Laws in Florida (2024)
ARTICLE

Navigating the New Landscape: Recent and Upcoming HOA Laws in Florida (2024)

In the intricate world of Homeowners Associations (HOA) in Florida, 2023 has been a landmark year with seven significant laws coming into effect, reshaping the governance and operation of community living. As we look to 2024, two more laws are set to take effect, with three additional proposals on t

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Navigating Condo Association Challenges: Insights from Attorney Jeff Kominsky
ARTICLE

Navigating Condo Association Challenges: Insights from Attorney Jeff Kominsky

Introduction: In a recent CBS 4 Miami feature, Attorney Jeff Kominsky, Florida Partner at LS Carlson Law, shed light on the challenges faced by homeowners dealing with condo association issues. The plight of residents at Carriage Hills highlighted the frustration, confusion, and concern that often a

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An Elite Strike Force in the Legal Industry

LS Carlson Law is proud to be considered an Elite Strike Force in the Legal Industry. We are comprised of battle-tested, highly skilled lawyers who operate with a single objective — to win.

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Tell Us About Your HOA Dispute

When you hire LS Carlson Law, you get aggressive Florida HOA attorneys who understand Palm Beach County communities. Call us now or fill out the form to set an appointment.

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