Georgia Family Fined $25 Daily by HOA Over Front Yard Vegetable Garden

Alexandria Duarte and Sean Richardson are facing $25 daily fines from their homeowners association for a front-yard garden in Acworth, Georgia, according to Atlanta News First. The couple built the raised container garden to save on living costs and grow specialized dietary vegetables for their children, accumulating nearly $750 in cumulative fines by late October 2026.

Fines Accumulate Over Front-Yard Produce

The couple has maintained large container planters in their front yard for nearly two years, growing tomatoes, herbs, and peppers. Atlanta News First reported that the homeowners association property management company issued a violation notice in June demanding the removal of the garden.

Duarte removed cucumber vine trellises at the end of the summer, believing those structures triggered the complaint. The homeowners association then targeted the entire garden setup, beginning daily fines of $25 on September 28.

Dispute Over Community Aesthetics and Compromise

The homeowners association governing documents do not explicitly ban vegetable gardens. However, the board holds authority to classify unmanaged or unsightly installations as nuisances.

Duarte offered several compromises to the board, including painting the trellises an approved color or surrounding the planters with stone and brick border work. Recorded homeowner association appeal meetings indicate those proposals were rejected after four separate residents filed complaints regarding the garden’s visual appearance.

Economic Necessity and State Law Limitations

Home-grown produce supports the household budget while fulfilling dietary requirements for specific children in the family. While the Georgia General Assembly enacted a Homeowners’ Association Bill of Rights earlier in the year to establish dispute procedures for penalties, the primary provisions do not take effect until January 2027, leaving the family without immediate recourse under the new statute.