Utah HOA Sparks Outrage After Banning Sidewalk Chalk and Joking About Collecting “Tears From Children”: “They’re Literally at War With Fun”
SALT LAKE CITY, UT — A Utah neighborhood’s homeowners association is under fire after enforcing what residents are calling “anti-child” rules, banning kids from leaving sidewalk chalk drawings overnight — and even joking about collecting “freshly shed tears” from children in an appeal form.
HOA Declares War on Sidewalk Chalk
The controversy began when Reddit user u/ponyloverr shared an HOA email sent to residents warning that chalk drawings must be cleaned up the same day — or risk a total ban on sidewalk art in the future.
The HOA reportedly wrote that failure to comply could result in chalk art being “prohibited in the future,” implying that even simple messages like “Have a great day!” or “Welcome home!” would no longer be allowed.
“This HOA in Utah prefers to set new rules that would turn the neighborhood into a child-free zone,” the Reddit post read. “They’re banning fun.”
“It’s Literally Just Chalk, Not Graffiti”
Many residents and social media users slammed the HOA for what they saw as a petty crackdown on children’s creativity.
One user reminisced about the early pandemic days, when local kids used chalk to decorate driveways with cheerful drawings and positive messages.
“During COVID, some kids in our area drew ‘Be Safe’ and ‘Love’ on their driveways — it brought joy to everyone. Now the HOA wants to erase even that?” one commenter wrote.
Internet Mocks HOA’s “Child-Free Neighborhood” Rules
In response to the ban, commenters flooded Reddit with sarcastic “mock policy updates,” pretending to be the HOA.
One viral reply read:
“Please be advised that perpetuating the Santa myth will not be tolerated. Also, we’ve decided to ban ice cream, bicycles, and dolls from all homes. To appeal, collect six ounces of freshly shed tears from your children in the provided vial.”
Others joked that the HOA must secretly be running a “fun-free social experiment” to see how boring a neighborhood can possibly get.
“They’re literally at war with fun,” one person said. “Next they’ll outlaw laughter after 5 p.m.”
A Pattern of HOA Absurdity
This Utah HOA isn’t the first to spark national backlash. Similar stories have gone viral across the U.S. — from a Texas HOA fining homeowners for brown grass to an Arizona HOA that falsely reported a grandmother to Adult Protective Services over lawn decorations.
“HOAs were supposed to protect property value,” one Utah resident said. “Now they’re just policing happiness.”
Residents Push Back
While the HOA hasn’t responded publicly, locals are reportedly planning to challenge the new rules, arguing that banning chalk art violates free expression and community spirit.
Many have begun encouraging neighbors to cover sidewalks with colorful chalk drawings in protest.
“If they want clean sidewalks, they can grab a sponge themselves,” one resident joked.
Would you support banning sidewalk chalk in your neighborhood, or do you think HOAs have gone too far? Share your thoughts in the comments on FatCityFeed.com.
