A few homeowners of Holly Park Homeowners Association in Indian Trail, North Carolina are seeking answers after receiving HOA flag violations. According to the HOA, only the U.S. flag and certain other flags are permitted. However, the homeowners allege that other neighbors are allowed to fly non-American flags without issues.
Flag Rules in Holly Park HOA
Homeowners associations often impose certain rules and regulations that govern how homeowner properties may look. For example, homeowners may only be allowed to paint their homes a certain color or install a fence of a certain height. In some HOAs, homeowners may only be allowed to fly certain flags.
The Holly Park HOA states that homeowners may only fly or mount the American flag in their homes. In a violation given on February 2024, the HOA added seasonal flags, military flags, the North Carolina state flag, and other national flags on their respective national holidays to the “permitted flags” list.
HOA Flag Violations
For the past two decades, Nickey Crowley, a resident of the Holly Park HOA, says he has flown a gay pride flag on his property without issues. However, he received a violation notice in September last year saying that the flag was against the HOA’s rules.
According to Crowley, several other non-American flags are being flown in the neighborhood without violations. The HOA closed the violation report he received in September after a WBTV report. It was re-opened and closed a second time after a report in January 2024.
After one month, the homeowners association sent a violation report to another neighbor. The HOA sent it to Wayne Willoughby and Diane Cramer who lived behind Crowley. They have been flying a Breast Cancer Awareness flag for the past eight months.
Cramer overcame breast cancer in January. The flag is a reminder of her victory and fight against the dangerous illness. According to Cramer, the violation made her sick to her stomach.
Homeowner Response to HOA Flag Violations
Cramer, Willoughby, and Crowley think the association is unfairly targeting them with the HOA flag violations. They state that other homes have flown other non-American flags without issues with the homeowners association. As such, they want the HOA to answer for the arbitrary enforcement.
According to Willoughby, the HOA is still “just picking and choosing.” Meanwhile, Crowley has set up a hearing with the HOA board the following month regarding his flag violation. He has also retained an attorney to pursue legal recourse.
The violation notice given to Cramer and Willoughby gave them 10 days to take down their flag. Afterward, the HOA will take other measures. However, the homeowners have no intention of taking down the Breast Cancer Awareness flag.
