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LS Carlson Law
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Bad HOA™ by Luke Carlson — book cover
#1 Amazon Best Seller BAD HOATM We wrote the book on Bad HOAs—Literally.
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Proudly Serving North, Central & South Florida

America's Largest Law Firm Fighting BAD HOAs

#1 By Cases Won

Florida HOA Attorneys for Homeowners

IMA Law Firm of the Year
Who We Fight For

We Make Sure Your HOA/COA Works For You

One side of the fence — always. From Miami to Tampa, Orlando to Jacksonville, and everywhere in between. Never the boards. Never the developers. Never the management companies. You.

We Represent
Homeowners
We Never Represent
HOAs Boards Developers Management Cos.

A well-run homeowners’ or condominium association can enhance your Florida community and preserve property values. But when an HOA crosses the line — imposing unlawful fines, ignoring maintenance responsibilities, or enforcing rules selectively — it can wreak havoc on your home, finances, and peace of mind.

A good association protects your community.
A bad one wreaks havoc.

Florida homeowners are governed by two key statutes: Florida Statute 720 (Homeowners’ Associations) and Florida Statute 718 (Condominiums/COAs). These laws establish critical rights for homeowners, including the right to attend and speak at board meetings, procedures for assessments and membership approval, fining committee requirements that ensure due process, and access to official association records. Understanding the distinction between HOAs and COAs is essential—condominium associations operate under a different statutory framework with distinct obligations for maintenance, insurance, and reserve funding.

Florida law also provides for pre-suit mediation under Section 720.311, which requires certain disputes to go through mediation before a lawsuit can be filed. Our attorneys are experienced in navigating this mandatory process and using it strategically to achieve favorable outcomes for homeowners. When mediation fails, we are fully prepared to litigate aggressively on your behalf.

Our Florida HOA attorneys understand the complex and often hostile landscape homeowners face in communities across the state. Whether you’re dealing with unlawful assessments in Boca Raton, harassment in The Villages, or architectural disputes in Naples, we have the experience and firepower to fight back—and win. From hurricane damage disputes where your HOA has failed to maintain common elements or properly insure the property, to selective enforcement of architectural guidelines, we have seen it all and have a strong track record of success.

Two Decades.
One Focus.

For over 20 years, LS Carlson Law has been the leading HOA attorney in Florida — pioneering the very strategies other firms now try to replicate.

20
Years of Experience
Established in 2006
511
Five-Star Reviews
#1
By HOA Cases Won
In the country
The Authority On Bad HOAs

We Wrote The Book
On Bad HOAs

…literally.

We didn’t just learn how to beat bad HOAs — we wrote the definitive guide to it. After winning more of these fights than any firm in the country, we put the entire playbook in print. When you hire us, you get the team that wrote it.

By Luke Carlson, Esq. 20 Years Fighting HOAs
The firm bad HOAs across the country hope you never call.
Bad HOA™ — The Homeowner’s Guide to Going to War and Reclaiming Your Power, by Luke Carlson, Esq.
★★★★★ #1 Best Seller on Amazon
Why LS Carlson Law

Why Homeowners Choose Us for Their Florida HOA Dispute

Most Florida homeowners don’t come to us over a simple disagreement. They come because something has gone wrong — unlawful fines, assessments levied without proper notice, common elements left unrepaired after a storm. We work under both Chapter 720 (HOAs) and Chapter 718 (condominiums), and we represent homeowners exclusively — never associations. We are America’s Largest Law Firm Fighting Bad HOAs.

Chapter 720 & 718

Deep command of Florida’s HOA statute (Chapter 720) and Condominium Act (Chapter 718), refined through thousands of association disputes.

America's Largest

Having handled more HOA disputes than any firm in the country, we recognize the recurring tactics boards use — from selective enforcement to procedural manipulation — and exactly how to counter them.

Deliberate Pressure

We identify the leverage points in your Florida HOA or COA dispute, apply pressure deliberately, and position each matter for resolution or escalation based on your goals.

Pre-Suit Mediation

Fluent in Florida’s mandatory pre-suit mediation (§ 720.311) and every forum beyond it — negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and the courts.

Florida Courts

Fully prepared to take your case to Florida circuit court when the board won’t back down, with strong representation at every stage of the fight.

Never Associations

We do not represent associations. Ever. Our experience, insight, and strategy are directed entirely toward protecting homeowners.

Held Accountable

A strong history of resolving disputes in favor of Florida homeowners — holding associations accountable when they cross the line.

Chapter 720 & 718

Command of Florida HOA & COA Law

Deep command of Florida’s HOA statute (Chapter 720) and Condominium Act (Chapter 718), refined through thousands of association disputes.

What We Fight

Types of HOA & COA Disputes We Handle

Florida’s HOA and condominium statutes create specific obligations for associations. When yours crosses the line, you have legal remedies — and we enforce them.

Florida HOAs are required to maintain common areas and shared structures under Florida Statute 720. When your association collects assessments but fails to perform necessary repairs—whether it’s hurricane damage to roofing, water intrusion from neglected plumbing, or deteriorating walkways and parking structures—you have legal remedies. In hurricane-prone communities across South Florida and the Gulf Coast, failure to maintain common elements can result in catastrophic property damage. LS Carlson Law holds Florida HOAs accountable for their maintenance obligations. Contact us to explore your legal options.

Covenants and restrictions help maintain property values and community standards, but they must be enforced lawfully and consistently. Under Florida Statute 720.305, homeowners must receive notice and an opportunity to be heard before a fining committee—not the board itself—before fines can be imposed. When your HOA enforces architectural standards arbitrarily, imposes fines without following proper procedures, or restricts your property rights beyond what the governing documents allow, you have legal recourse. Contact us to explore your legal options.

The federal Fair Housing Act and Florida’s Fair Housing Act (Statute 760) protect homeowners from discrimination by HOAs based on race, religion, familial status, disability, and other protected classes. When HOA boards or management companies engage in harassment, retaliation, or discriminatory enforcement, our attorneys take aggressive action. We’ve represented Florida homeowners facing targeted fines, accommodation denials, and retaliatory enforcement from The Villages to Miami-Dade—ensuring that every homeowner can enjoy their home free from unlawful treatment. Contact us to explore your legal options.

Living in a Florida HOA community can lead to conflicts between neighbors over property boundaries, shared structures, noise, and community amenities. Florida’s nuisance laws provide remedies when a neighbor’s conduct substantially interferes with your use and enjoyment of your home, and your HOA’s governing documents may impose additional obligations on residents. Whether you’re dealing with encroachment issues in a Tampa subdivision or noise disputes in a Jacksonville condo, LS Carlson Law helps homeowners navigate these challenges and reach fair resolutions. Contact us to explore your legal options.

Florida HOAs and COAs are obligated to maintain, repair, and replace common area components as outlined in the governing documents and statutory requirements. Under Florida Statute 720.303, associations must maintain proper records and fund reserves for major repairs and replacements. Disputes frequently arise over access restrictions, unauthorized changes to shared spaces, and failure to fund reserves adequately. Whether your HOA is blocking access to amenities, neglecting pool or clubhouse maintenance, or improperly reallocating common area funds, LS Carlson Law fights to protect your rights. Contact us to explore your legal options.

When a Florida HOA enforces rules against some homeowners but ignores identical violations by others, it constitutes selective enforcement—a powerful legal defense. Florida courts have consistently held that associations must apply covenants and restrictions uniformly. Whether the board is targeting you personally, retaliating for complaints, or simply playing favorites, LS Carlson Law builds cases using detailed documentation of inconsistent enforcement patterns. We’ve successfully challenged selective enforcement in communities across Florida, from gated communities in Naples to master-planned developments in Orlando. Contact us to explore your legal options.

Florida HOA boards have a duty to act in the best interests of the community, and when negligence leads to property damage, safety hazards, or financial loss, homeowners have the right to take action. Common examples include ignored safety risks in stairwells and parking structures, inadequate security measures, and failure to address known hazards like mold or structural defects. When an HOA breaches its duty of care, homeowners may have grounds for legal action against the association to recover damages. LS Carlson Law helps Florida homeowners hold negligent HOAs accountable. Contact us to explore your legal options.

Florida Statute 720.306 establishes specific procedures for HOA elections, including notice requirements, voting procedures, and candidate eligibility. When boards manipulate elections through improper proxy handling, failure to follow bylaws, or denial of eligible candidates, homeowners lose their voice in community governance. LS Carlson Law has challenged fraudulent HOA elections across Florida, fighting for compliance with statutory requirements and protecting homeowners’ democratic rights within their communities. Contact us to explore your legal options.

Florida Statute 163.04 protects homeowners’ right to install solar energy systems. HOAs cannot prohibit solar collectors or other energy devices based on renewable resources. Despite this clear legal protection, many Florida HOAs continue to obstruct solar installations through excessive aesthetic requirements, unreasonable approval delays, or outright denials. With Florida’s abundant sunshine making solar an increasingly popular investment, LS Carlson Law has experience enforcing solar rights across the Sunshine State. Contact us to explore your legal options.

Florida law regulates HOA assessments under Statute 720.308, requiring associations to follow specific procedures for levying and collecting assessments. Special assessments typically require proper notice and, in many cases, membership approval depending on the governing documents. When your HOA imposes assessments that violate these requirements, fails to provide required financial disclosures, or misallocates funds, you can challenge the assessments legally. Our attorneys have successfully contested improper assessments across Florida, recovering funds for homeowners and promoting future compliance.

Florida’s hurricane risk creates unique HOA disputes. When associations fail to maintain hurricane-resistant common elements, neglect required insurance coverage, or mishandle insurance proceeds after storm damage, homeowners bear the consequences. Post-hurricane disputes over reconstruction timelines, emergency assessment increases for rebuilding, and insurance allocation are all too common in Florida communities. LS Carlson Law helps Florida homeowners navigate these complex disputes, holding HOAs accountable for storm preparedness and fighting for fair treatment during the rebuilding process.

How We Win

Our Proven Approach to Your Florida HOA Dispute

A Bad HOATM won’t back down on its own. From your first call to final resolution, every case runs the same disciplined playbook — built to win.

A Bad HOATM won’t back down on its own. Here’s exactly how we take your case — and win it.

Schedule a Consultation
The Path
Consultation. Retention. Resolution.

During your initial consultation, we review the facts of your dispute, your governing documents, and any correspondence or violation notices you’ve received. Our Florida HOA attorneys assess your situation under Chapter 720 (homeowners’ associations) or Chapter 718 (condominiums), since the two operate under distinct statutory frameworks.

From there, we outline your strongest legal strategies—whether that points toward negotiation, mediation, or litigation—so you leave the consultation understanding exactly where you stand and what your options are.

Once you retain us, we send a formal Notice of Representation to your association, directing all communication through our office. You are no longer facing the board alone.

We then conduct a thorough analysis of your association’s compliance with Florida law—including assessment procedures (§ 720.308), election requirements (§ 720.306), and records and reserve obligations (§ 720.303). This due diligence often reveals additional violations that strengthen your position.

Florida requires the parties to attempt pre-suit mediation before filing most HOA disputes in court (§ 720.311). We prepare comprehensive mediation positions that clearly articulate the legal basis for your claims and use the process strategically to your advantage.

If mediation fails, we are fully prepared to litigate aggressively in Florida circuit court. As the prevailing party, you may recover your attorney’s fees under § 720.305.

Homeowners Ask. We Answer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers to the questions homeowners ask us most — from the only firm of its size that never represents associations, boards, or management companies.

LS Carlson Law represents homeowners in a variety of HOA disputes, including governance violations, improper fee assessments, selective enforcement of rules, harassment by HOA boards, and financial mismanagement. Our focus is exclusively on assisting individuals who wish to sue HOA in Florida.

Yes, LS Carlson Law provides dedicated legal representation for homeowners dealing with harassment, overreach, or unfair treatment by their HOA. Our HOA dispute lawyer team in Florida takes swift and decisive action to protect your rights and hold the HOA accountable.

No, LS Carlson Law focuses solely on representing homeowners. We do not defend or represent HOAs, ensuring our commitment is entirely to individuals seeking justice and resolution against HOA misconduct in Florida.

Our attorneys provide comprehensive legal support for homeowners filing lawsuits against their HOAs. This includes evaluating the case, building a strong legal strategy, representing clients in negotiations or court, and pursuing favorable outcomes.

Didn’t find your answer? Schedule a Consultation › or call (949) 421-3030
Areas We Serve

All of Florida.
Only Homeowners.

LS Carlson Law represents homeowners in HOA and condominium disputes across every major region of Florida — and we only take one side of the table. Yours.

Our Pledge
We never represent HOAs.

Not boards. Not management companies. Not developers. We fight for homeowners exclusively — so there is never a question of whose side we’re on.

Florida
Available by appointment
1200 N. Federal Highway, Suite 300, Boca Raton
Central Florida
Tampa
Sarasota
Orlando
The Villages
North Florida
Jacksonville
Panhandle

Don’t see your community listed? If you own a home anywhere in Florida, we can help.

Talk to an HOA Attorney
Results that speak for themselves

Recent Client Wins

1,000+
HOA Cases Won
and counting
Our Mission

Homeowner Empowerment

Empowerment is at the heart of everything we do — equipping you with the knowledge, the tools, and the legal muscle to stand up to any overreaching HOA. When homeowners know their rights and have a fiercely dedicated advocate at their side, unfair fines, arbitrary rules, and selective enforcement don’t stand a chance.

Three Ways to Get Empowered — Tap One
DIY Roadmap

Bad HOATM Book

We wrote the book on Bad HOAs… literally. In Bad HOATM, we distill years of legal warfare into a clear, no-nonsense guide designed to help homeowners understand their rights, stand their ground, and take legal action when necessary.

#1 Amazon Best Seller
Get Educated

Bad HOATM Podcast

Each episode delivers in-depth analysis of common homeowner grievances, interviews, and real-life situation assessments — a how-to resource for handling disputes and understanding the personalities inside your HOA. Bad HOATM equips you with the knowledge to ensure your HOA serves you.

Award-Winning Podcast
Join the Movement

Bad HOATM Subreddit

You’re not alone in the fight. Our Bad HOATM subreddit is a growing community of homeowners swapping hard-won advice, war stories, and wins against overreaching boards. Join the conversation, ask questions, and download our free Homeowner Empowerment Kit to walk into your next dispute prepared.

We believe that if you can resolve your HOA issue without needing an attorney, that’s a win.

Get Empowered Now

Articles, News & Resources

When Your Association Sends the Bill: How Florida Courts Evaluate Special Assessment Disputes
ARTICLE

When Your Association Sends the Bill: How Florida Courts Evaluate Special Assessment Disputes

The moment a special assessment arrives in your mailbox, the balance of power in your community can feel as though it has shifted. Understanding how Florida courts analyze these disputes — and what governance failures become central in litigation — is an essential first step.

Read More
Investigating Florida Special Assessments Before Filing Suit: A Pre-Litigation Guide for Homeowners
ARTICLE

Investigating Florida Special Assessments Before Filing Suit: A Pre-Litigation Guide for Homeowners

For many Florida homeowners, few events are as financially disruptive as receiving notice that their homeowners association or condominium board has levied a substantial special assessment. The period before a lawsuit is filed is often when the most consequential work occurs.

Read More
When the Board Comes for You: Retaliatory Enforcement in Florida Condominium Communities
ARTICLE

When the Board Comes for You: Retaliatory Enforcement in Florida Condominium Communities

There is a particular kind of condominium dispute that does not begin with a leaking roof or a delinquent assessment. It begins the moment a unit owner does something the board did not expect: asks to inspect the records, challenges an election result, or refuses to remain quiet at a board meeting.

Read More
When the Board Says No: Florida HOA Architectural Review Committee Abuse
ARTICLE

When the Board Says No: Florida HOA Architectural Review Committee Abuse

You spent months planning it. You measured the dimensions, researched the materials, and carefully drafted the application to your association's architectural review committee. You believed you were following the rules. Then the letter arrived: denied.

Read More
The Fine That Could Cost You Everything: Challenging Florida HOA Fines
ARTICLE

The Fine That Could Cost You Everything: Challenging Florida HOA Fines

It starts with a letter. Sometimes it arrives by certified mail. Other times it appears in your mailbox like a parking ticket. The notice informs you that the association has identified a violation, that a fine is being assessed, and that if you do not act, additional fines may follow.

Read More
The Rules They Chose Not to Enforce: How Selective Enforcement Claims Expose Florida HOAs in Court
ARTICLE

The Rules They Chose Not to Enforce: How Selective Enforcement Claims Expose Florida HOAs in Court

For many homeowners, selective enforcement is difficult to identify until a clear pattern emerges. Your neighbor parks the same boat trailer that earned you a violation notice. Two streets over, an aluminum fence that would never have passed your architectural review committee has stood undisturbed for three years.

Read More
Hurricane Damage and Your Florida Condo Association: Know Your Rights
ARTICLE

Hurricane Damage and Your Florida Condo Association: Know Your Rights

After a hurricane, Florida condo owners often face a second storm: the governance crisis inside the condominium association. Disputes over insurance, special assessments, reconstruction delays, and records access can determine whether owners absorb thousands in costs they never agreed to.

Read More
When the Bill Doesn't Add Up: How Florida Condo Owners Can Challenge Special Assessments
ARTICLE

When the Bill Doesn't Add Up: How Florida Condo Owners Can Challenge Special Assessments

The moment a special assessment notice arrives, many Florida condominium owners feel a familiar tightening in the chest. The number is large. The explanation is vague. The deadline is close. Buried somewhere in the fine print is the threat of a lien against the property if payment is not made on time.

Read More
When the Rules Become Weapons: Inside Florida HOA and Condominium Litigation
ARTICLE

When the Rules Become Weapons: Inside Florida HOA and Condominium Litigation

There is a moment in almost every serious HOA dispute when the homeowner realizes the conflict has changed. What started as a disagreement over a fence, a paint color, an unpaid fine, or a building repair has transformed into something more formal, more expensive, and consequential.

Read More
The Bill You Didn't Vote For: How Florida HOAs Use Special Assessments and How Homeowners Fight Back
ARTICLE

The Bill You Didn't Vote For: How Florida HOAs Use Special Assessments and How Homeowners Fight Back

There are few moments in homeownership more disorienting than opening a letter from your HOA and discovering that you owe thousands of dollars. The charge is not part of your regular dues and not a fee you anticipated. Instead, it is a special assessment imposed by a board you may not have elected

Read More

An Elite Strike Force in the Legal Industry

LS Carlson Law is proud to be considered an Elite Strike Force in the Legal Industry. We are comprised of battle-tested, highly skilled lawyers who operate with a single objective — to win.

Meet the Full Team
LS Carlson Law team
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Tell Us About Your HOA Dispute

When you hire LS Carlson Law, you can be assured you'll be getting an aggressive Florida HOA attorney fully dedicated to achieving your legal objectives. Don't take our word for it, we encourage you to take a look at the numerous five-star client reviews. If you are ready to end the nightmare with your homeowner association, call us now or fill out the form to set an appointment.

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