Judy32256 do you see the absurdity of your statement "putting a portable flag in a flower pot then became PERMANANT alteration of a common area". Nothing about a flower pot is PERMANANT so how can anything done with/to it be PERMANANT? Further, I looked under Fl. Statue and could not find the one stating personal views are grounds for overriding state or federal laws. So what you personally think of it is ,alas, just not a strong defense for the anti-flag regulation in this HOA.

tlynn: what you fail to realize is that it is against the federal law to say he cannot fly an american flag. HOA rule or not. It is against the law to do it. Depending on the state law, the HOA may be able to restrict how and where he flies it but not the display itself. You need to get a grip on reality. You live in America and the American Symbol is the American Flag

Didn't we see this same article some time back????? Are we rehashing old news???? If you want to live in a condo that has a HOA, then you are aware of the rules ahead of time! Hello!?!? What don't you understand about neighborhood regulations? Move on…Nothing new here!

What a bunch of hogwash, judy32256...The only 'COMMONALITY' that should COUNT in a COMMUNITY of any place in this country is that 'THE AMERICAN FLAG REPRESENTS FREEDOM'. Freedom TO FLY IT is the MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL..if you lose that right EVERY RIGHT YOU HAVE UNDER IT, IS GONE. Its the HOA's that are breaking the FEDERAL laws, they think they can DICTATE ABOVE THE FEDERAL LAWS. Who are you and the HOA's to say putting a flag in a flower pot is being disrespectful? Some people are so uppity full of manure money they don't give a rats behind who died last night for their snobbery stuck up, selfish, better than you attitudes. NO ONE could PAY me to live in those kinds of neighborhoods you described, especially if it means giving up my freedoms that are protected by FEDERAL laws, just to kiss their fat, red, greedy, patoots.

Condo living and HOAs aren't for everyone, but among the "pros" are the security of having neighbors nearby, low maintenance, great amenities in many cases, and -- yes -- rules. But it's those rules that protect unit owners from their neighborhood becoming very different from what they bought into (a kind of "insurance policy" you might say). These aren't "foolish communities" but an example of "different strokes for different folks" -- just as some people prefer owning their home and others would rather rent. Pursuant to community rules, Mr. Murphree may fly his American flag on his limited common elements, but not on property owned in common ("common elements"). Also, Florida Condo Law specifies that residents may fly a "United States flag in a respectful way." In my personal opinion, sticking a flag in a flower pot and not illuminating it at night isn't respectful...and his became a permanent unapproved alteration of a common element.

HOA's (Home Owners Associations) are a social disaster when governed by the WRONG individuals such as social climbing snobs, egomaniacs and anal retentive control freaks. Sooner or later, as long as abuses of the Bill of Rights continue to surface, all HOA's will be regulated and neutered by law.

Here we go again. When you live in a development with HOAs, you give up your rights! I would NEVER live in such a place, although some folks think it's the cat's meow. We are losing our rights enough as it is in this country. Don't support these foolish communities if you want to fly, hang, paint, breathe, etc.