A Florida mother is raising serious concerns about the authority of homeowners associations (HOAs) after spending seven days behind bars for what began as a dispute over front yard maintenance violations.
Irena Green, a resident of Hillsborough County, says she was shocked and humiliated after being jailed with no bond due to complaints from her HOA over brown grass patches, dents on her garage door, a dirty mailbox, and a white work van parked in her driveway.
“There was no bond. So I couldn’t even go home to my family. I sat in there for seven days. Seven days in the jailhouse like a criminal,” Green told ABC News.
HOA Complaints Spark Legal Spiral
According to Green, the situation escalated after her neighborhood HOA began issuing multiple warnings for alleged violations. She contends that the complaints were unwarranted and selectively enforced, noting that other nearby properties had similar or worse conditions without apparent repercussions.
The HOA eventually sued Green, and a judge ordered her to correct the violations within 30 days or face consequences.
Green says she took steps to comply, including selling her commercial van, but missed a subsequent court date, claiming she was never made aware of the hearing.
That missed appearance triggered a bench warrant for her arrest. Green was detained while picking up her daughter from school, an experience she described as traumatic and excessive for what she considers minor property maintenance issues.
No Bond, No Warning — Just Jail
Green was held without bond for a week. It wasn’t until one of her relatives filed for an emergency hearing that she was brought before a different judge who ultimately ordered her release.
During the hearing, the HOA’s attorney reportedly argued for her continued detention, a move that legal analysts say raises ethical and civil liberties concerns.
“I think they have way too much power. I’ve never heard of anything like this in my life,” Green said following her release.
Legal Experts Weigh In
Legal advocates say the case raises red flags about the reach of private neighborhood governance and how quickly a civil enforcement issue can become a criminal-level punishment.
While HOAs are allowed to impose fines and even sue for violations, critics argue that incarceration for code issues — especially involving things like mailbox cleanliness or landscaping — may amount to overreach.
“It’s unusual and deeply troubling to see someone jailed over civil HOA disputes,” said a Florida-based housing law attorney not involved in the case. “This touches on due process, proportionality of punishment, and selective enforcement.”
HOA Accountability Under Scrutiny
Green says she is now committed to raising awareness about how HOAs wield power in ways that can devastate ordinary families, especially those unfamiliar with their legal rights or unable to afford immediate legal counsel.
Her story adds to a growing number of national cases where homeowners have alleged that HOAs are operating with unchecked authority, leaving residents vulnerable to excessive fines, foreclosure threats, and now, even jail time.
