The local busybody next door reports anything on my property that she thinks is in violation. I just received another letter yesterday from the neighborhood nazi's for my dog. Of course the association is long distance and I'm not going to waste my money calling to find out exactly what he was supposed to have done. He's 10 years old and just stays in the back yard. If they are brave enough to tell him the problem they are welcome to, but idiots who aren't brave enough to talk to you in person aren't likely to do that.
I'm just about ready to move. I didn't have any experience with one before now but once is enough.
The city codes are all that you should be required to live by since one can vote for them. The busybodies on these associations make sure they keep themselves in control.
One reason I support these gated communities is that it gets all the busybody-type neighbors clustered together in their own neighborhood and hopefully, they'll stay out of mine.