Fines for Children Playing in Condo Parking Lot

K.M. from Hartford County writes:

Dear Mister Condo,

Can the condo association restrict the use and give a fine to a condo owner for children playing in the condo parking lot?

Mister Condo replies:

K.M., as long as the association has the rule against playing in the parking lot, they can certainly enforce that rule. Of course, the rule can’t discriminate against children. The rule must ban playing by anyone and should likely define “playing” as well. There are many reasons that association don’t allow playing, skateboarding, bike riding, etc. in their parking lots and that is safety and liability issues if someone gets hurt. Parking lots can be very dangerous places in high density housing areas as residents move in and out of usually tight parking spaces. The rules are generally enforced by the Board issuing a warning and request for the unit owner to appear before the Board, followed by a fine if it is determined that the unit owner did violate the rule. The rule cannot single out children or any single unit owner and it must be uniformly applied so that no discrimination takes place. That being said, there are safer and better choices for play areas than condo parking lots. Stay safe and all the best!