Animals: May a Community Ban or Restrict Them?

February 8th, 2018
Posted By
Valerie Farris Oman
An Association may ban or restrict animals, if the restriction is: A) reasonable; B) enforced uniformly; and C) included in the governing documents. However, there are some exceptions: Service animals An Association may not ban service animals. A ser… Read More
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Categories: Disability, Fair Housing Act
Tags: disability, emotional support animal, fha, reasonable accommodation, service animal, WLAD

Accommodation of Service Dogs Under Fair Housing Act

May 14th, 2014
Posted By
Valerie Farris Oman
A recent case from Florida highlights the need for Associations to carefully familiarize themselves with the laws regarding service dogs and other types of trained animals that might be needed by persons with disabilities. In Sabal Palm Condos. of Pi… Read More
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Categories: Condominium Laws, Disability, Fair Housing Act
Tags: disability, fair housing act, fha, reasonable accommodation, service animal, service dog

Reasonable Accommodations Under Disability Law

May 17th, 2013
Posted By
Valerie Farris Oman
A recent case out of Florida highlights the tension between federal disability laws and their practical application for community associations. The case, Bhogaita v. Altamonte Heights Condominium Association, Inc., arose out of a military veteranR… Read More
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Categories: Condominium Laws
Tags: community association, condo, condominium, disability, discrimination, fair housing, HOA, homeowners association, reasonable accommodation, washington state

Reasonable Accommodation – Interpreters

October 11th, 2010
Posted By
Valerie Farris Oman
Many clients ask us whether they are obligated to pay for a sign language interpreter to be present at meetings at the request of a deaf homeowner. The short answer to this questions is yes. A community association must provide interpreters to enable… Read More
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Categories: Condominium Laws
Tags: accommodation, disability, fair housing act, fha, reasonable accommodation

Service Animals: General Information

September 7th, 2010
Posted By
Valerie Farris Oman
Our clients contact us frequently to ask what accommodation, if any, must be made for owners (or even tenants) who have service animals. Based on extensive research and multiple experiences with clients responding to discrimination complaints, the in… Read More
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Categories: Condominium Laws
Tags: companion animal, disability, emotional support animal, pet, reasonable accommodation, request for accommodation, service animals

Accommodating Owners with Disabilities

September 1st, 2010
Posted By
Valerie Farris Oman
We receive many questions from our clients related to owner requests for disability accommodations, such as permission to install a wheelchair ramp on association property. Our research on this issue has led us to share the following information with… Read More
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Categories: Condominium Laws
Tags: accommodation, disability, equal access, fair housing act, fha, hud, reasonable accommodation, wheelchair