You don’t need a lawyer or a special form to ask your HOA for a reasonable accommodation or modification. You need a clear written request that says what you need and that it’s connected to a disability. Putting it in writing does two things: it triggers the association’s duty to respond in good faith, and it creates the paper trail you’ll rely on if they refuse.
General fair-housing education, not legal advice. Based on the federal Fair Housing Act and the Arizona Fair Housing Act (A.R.S. § 41-1491 et seq.). See our how to request resource page; for a specific matter, consult a qualified attorney, HUD, or the Arizona Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division.
What to include in the request
- Who you are — your name and unit/address.
- What you’re asking for — the specific accommodation (a rule change) or modification (a physical change), described plainly.
- That it’s disability-related — you have a disability and you need this because of it. You do not have to name your diagnosis or share medical records.
- A request to engage — ask the board to respond and to work with you on a solution (the “interactive process”).
- A reasonable deadline — ask for a written response within a set time (for example, 14 days).
What the HOA can — and can’t — ask back
If your disability or your need isn’t obvious, the association may ask for limited verification that (1) you have a disability and (2) you need the accommodation because of it. It generally cannot:
- Demand your specific diagnosis or full medical records;
- Require a particular form, a notarized letter, or a statement under penalty of perjury;
- Charge a fee or deposit for the accommodation; or
- Stall — treating your request like an ordinary architectural application and slow-walking it can itself be a denial.
Protect yourself
- Send it in writing and keep a dated copy — email is fine; certified mail is stronger for anything important.
- Log every response (and every non-response). Dates matter.
- Watch for retaliation — fines, threats, or harassment after you assert your rights are themselves unlawful.
Sample request letter (adapt to your situation)
[Date]
To: [Board of Directors / Community Manager]
Re: Request for a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act
Dear Board of Directors,
I am a resident and owner at [address / unit number]. I am writing to request a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act and the Arizona Fair Housing Act.
I have a disability. Because of my disability, I need the following accommodation in order to have equal use and enjoyment of my home: [describe the specific accommodation or modification — e.g., “an exception to the community’s no-pets rule to keep an assistance animal,” or “a reserved accessible parking space near my unit”].
I am happy to discuss this with the Board and to work together on a workable solution. If you need confirmation of my disability-related need, I can provide a letter from my health-care provider verifying that I have a disability and require this accommodation. I am not able to share, and am not required to share, my specific diagnosis or medical records.
Please respond in writing within 14 days. Thank you for your prompt attention.
Sincerely,
[Name] · [Contact information]
To: [Board of Directors / Community Manager]
Re: Request for a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act
Dear Board of Directors,
I am a resident and owner at [address / unit number]. I am writing to request a reasonable accommodation under the federal Fair Housing Act and the Arizona Fair Housing Act.
I have a disability. Because of my disability, I need the following accommodation in order to have equal use and enjoyment of my home: [describe the specific accommodation or modification — e.g., “an exception to the community’s no-pets rule to keep an assistance animal,” or “a reserved accessible parking space near my unit”].
I am happy to discuss this with the Board and to work together on a workable solution. If you need confirmation of my disability-related need, I can provide a letter from my health-care provider verifying that I have a disability and require this accommodation. I am not able to share, and am not required to share, my specific diagnosis or medical records.
Please respond in writing within 14 days. Thank you for your prompt attention.
Sincerely,
[Name] · [Contact information]
If they refuse or ignore you
A denial, an improper fee, a demand for your diagnosis, or an unreasonable delay may be disability discrimination. You can file a complaint — free, no lawyer required — with HUD or the Arizona Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division, within one year of the discriminatory act.