It gets even more specific than that, while home owner&#x27;s associations don&#x27;t generate laws that lead to criminal penalties when broken, the rules HOA&#x27;s create are legally binding and have probably a significant impact on many people&#x27;s quality of life and every day freedom. They are very personal rules and you can get in trouble for stupid things like leaving your garage door open or how you hang your laundry. People living with HOA&#x27;s have opted for trading in freedoms for slightly higher property values.