Florida homeowner association sues disabled veteran for installing flagpole in yard

A disabled veteran residing in Volusia County, Florida, finds himself embroiled in a contentious dispute with his homeowners association (HOA) concerning a flagpole he placed in his yard. 

Per reports from Fox News affiliate WOFL-TV, the Countryside Villas PUD3 HOA has initiated legal action against the veteran (who remains unnamed in the coverage), alleging that he neglected to secure the necessary authorization before installing the permanent fixture. 

Despite the legal wrangling, the veteran has garnered substantial backing from the local community, with neighbors vocally denouncing what they perceive as unwarranted persecution and excessive legal action.

“Leave the veteran alone. He hasn’t done anything wrong,” Frank Johnson, a veteran himself, told the outlet. “He’s called me crying that they’re harassing him and bullying him. He’s served this country. He’s paid his dues. They wanted to get him on a flagpole and some weeds in the lawn. It’s pathetic. It’s really pathetic.”

Concerned neighbors and a caregiver have come forward to condemn the HOA’s tactics, describing them as bullying and deeply disrespectful to someone who served the country. 

Margaret Murphy, a resident who attended HOA meetings, took the issue to State Sen. Tom Wright, expressing in a letter that her own father’s legacy as a Pearl Harbor survivor compelled her to act. 

“My father was a survivor in Pearl Harbor. He would be rolling over in his grave if I didn’t say something,” she told the outlet.

“The resident was told via multiple correspondences that he absolutely can have them. The situation boils down to that he failed to submit an ARC application which is required for flagpoles by the HOA. That rule has been in place since 1990,” the HOA board said. (WOFL-TV)

In a statement to WOFL-TV, The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors said that they never told the veteran homeowner that the “flagpole/flag was prohibited.”

“Factually, this has never been about a flag or a flagpole. The resident was told via multiple correspondences that he absolutely can have them. The situation boils down to that he failed to submit an ARC application, which is required for flagpoles by the HOA. That rule has been in place since 1990,” they said.

“The resident was given multiple opportunities to remedy the situation including assistance from the American Legion and the Elks. He also was given an opportunity at a hearing that he never showed up for. Florida Statute makes it clear that an HOA resident also needs to follow the governing documents which he has failed to do. This situation is no different than any other architectural guidelines in our docs. As a result, a fine was imposed, and he failed to pay the fine.”

A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for September.

Fox News Digital has reached out to The Countryside PUD Unit III-B HOA, Inc. Board of Directors for comment.