What it looks like
- An application was denied without a reason tied to the guidelines
- The committee never responded
- You were cited for a change made years ago, or by a prior owner
- Solar, artificial turf, or a flag was refused
- A neighbor was approved for the same thing
What Nevada law says
An owner generally may not change the exterior appearance of a unit without the association's permission (NRS 116.2111). The standards and the deadline for a decision usually come from the CC&Rs and design guidelines, so those documents are the starting point. Nevada statutes do not set a general deadline for an architectural committee to respond.
State law does protect certain improvements. An association may not prohibit, or may not unreasonably restrict:
- the United States flag and the Nevada flag, subject to reasonable placement rules (NRS 116.320);
- drought tolerant landscaping, including artificial turf and decorative rock, although plans still go through review (NRS 116.330);
- solar energy systems. A restriction that reduces efficiency by more than 10 percent is unreasonable (NRS 111.239), and newer provisions set short deadlines for an association to decide a solar request;
- shutters for security or energy savings, additional locks, and improvements for disability access (NRS 116.2111);
- political signs within size limits, and religious or cultural displays on an entry door (NRS 116.325, 116.323).
Federal rules separately protect most satellite dishes and antennas.
The facts that matter
These are the questions that decide whether there is a practical path forward.
- What you asked for, when, and exactly how the committee responded
- The guideline or CC&R section the denial relies on
- Any deadline in the documents for the committee to act
- Whether the improvement is one that state law protects
- Comparable approvals for other homes
Documents to gather
- Your application and everything submitted with it
- The denial letter, or proof of no response
- The design guidelines in effect at the time
- Photographs of similar approved improvements, with addresses
- For older changes, evidence of when the work was done and by whom
See our guide to getting your governing documents.
Options that usually fit
Demand, state filing, and mediation
Our core fixed-fee service: file review, a demand to the association, the state filing, and mediation.
State mediation and the referee program
The step Nevada requires before most HOA lawsuits. What it is, what it costs, and what follows.
Violation hearings
Your rights at the hearing before a fine, and how to prepare.
Common questions
Can my HOA stop me from installing solar panels?
An association cannot prohibit or unreasonably restrict a solar energy system in Nevada. It may have reasonable rules on placement, and you should still submit the request in writing. Nevada added short deadlines in 2025 for associations to decide solar requests.
The committee never answered my request. Is it approved?
Check your CC&Rs and guidelines. Some say a request is deemed approved if the committee does not act within a set number of days. Nevada statutes do not provide a general deemed-approval rule, apart from the specific rules for solar requests.
This page is general information about Nevada law, not legal advice. Every dispute turns on its own facts and documents.