Articles published by:

Kevin Hirzel

Technology & Security August 13, 2024

The Homeowners’ Energy Policy Statement Act: 5 Things Every Illinois HOA Needs to Know to Avoid Liability related to Solar Panel Installations

The Illinois Homeowners’ Energy Policy Statement Act, 765 ILCS 165/1, et seq., governs the installation of solar panels in Illinois homeowners associations, common interest community associations, and condominium associations.  This article will provide critical guidance to community association board members on how to comply with the Homeowners Energy Policy Statement Act and adopt a solar energy policy to avoid potential…
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Condo & HOA Legislation August 7, 2024

The Homeowners’ Native Landscaping Act: What Illinois Community Associations Need to Do to Comply with the New Landscaping Law

The Illinois Homeowners’ Native Landscaping Act, 765 ILCS 167/1, et seq., which became effective on July 19, 2024, regulates the ability of Illinois community associations to prohibit certain types of landscaping.  The declaration and rules and regulations of most Illinois community associations will typically require some form of approval for an owner to install landscaping, but they are typically silent…
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Technology & Security June 20, 2024

765 ILCS 1085: What Community Associations need to know about the Illinois Electric Vehicle Charging Act

Requests to install electric vehicle charging stations have become commonplace in Illinois community associations.  By 2040, experts project at least 35% of all new vehicles will be hybrids or fully electric vehicles.  The increasing number of requests to install electric vehicle charging stations by those who live in condominiums or homeowners associations has resulted in the Illinois legislature enacting the…
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Rules and Regulations April 3, 2024

765 ILCS 605/18.6 & 765 ILCS 160/1-70: A guide to displaying an American or Military flag in an Illinois Community Association

Can your HOA’s restrictive covenants or condominium documents ban flags? The ability to ban flags in community associations has become controversial in recent years.  In many states, there have been news articles, and even lawsuits, involving owners who have encountered issues displaying political flags, thin-blue line flags, or flags from other countries.  Generally, a community association has broad authority to…
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Condo & HOA Legislation March 5, 2024

Federal Court rules that the Corporate Transparency Act is Unconstitutional: What does it mean for Community Associations?

On January 1, 2024, the Federal Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) opened its online portal for corporate entities in the United States to begin compliance with the new reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”). As discussed in our previous article, Navigating the CTA:  A Guide for Condos and HOAs to comply with the Corporate Transparency Act, the CTA would…
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Bylaw & Covenant Enforcement February 8, 2024

Court Rules that Restrictive Covenant Banning Sex Offenders is Enforceable

Can your HOA’s restrictive covenants or condominium documents ban sex offenders? The ability to ban sex offenders from homeowners associations has become a controversial issue in recent years.  Until recently, many attorneys across the country believed that some type of ban on sex offenders was permissible.  This was largely based on a New Jersy case, Mulligan v. Panther Valley Property…
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