A homeowner’s unauthorized installation of a new entry door was slammed by a Maryland appeals court.   The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled, in Spoon v. Deering Woods Condominium, that a Howard County condominium acted properly in requiring a unit owner to remove her six-panel entry door which did not match the flat entry doors of other condo units.

The court rejected the owner’s contention that the architectural covenant could not be enforced because other owners had a variety of storm-door styles and door knockers.  The variation in these features did not constitute an abandonment of the requirement for prior approval of changes in the appearance of the entry door.

Because the condominium consistently required all entry doors to have a matching flat style and had taken enforcement action against other owners who installed six-panel doors, the appeals court concluded that it was appropriate for the condominium board to require the owner to replace the unapproved door and install a flat door.  Additionally, the court ruled that board had properly imposed a fine of $5 for each day the owner had an unauthorized door, which totaled more than $5700 by the trial date.

Posted by Thomas Schild Law Group, LLC, attorneys for condominiums, homeowner associations and housing cooperatives in Maryland–including Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Howard County, Frederick County, and Baltimore County; and in Baltimore City and  Washington, D.C.