Yes, Virginia! You Can Doorknock in HOA Communities!

In case you haven’t heard of the famous Canvassing Confrontation of 2024, here’s the Reader’s Digest version as background for what I’m going to tell you next. In October of 2024, I was doing my Field Director’s job of launching a canvass at the KOTA Apartments, a sprawling complex in North Scottsdale. I met with my great volunteers in the parking lot on a Sunday morning at a decent hour. As I sent each of them off with a bottle of water and their assigned canvassing lists, I was approached by a MAGA maintenance worker on a golf cart. You might wonder, how did I know he was a MAGA maintenance worker? He started screaming epithets at me (I mean from A to Z) and telling me that we’d better get off the premises because we were “trespassing.” Aggressive and hostile is putting it mildly. I explained to Mr. MAGA that, in fact, our door-to door political activity is legal even if KOTA might say otherwise (though I doubt he had a clue about KOTA’s governing docs). He was having none of it and continued his rant. Then he called the cops. I’m thick-skinned, but I was embarrassed for the jogging and dog-walking crowd gathering quickly around us.

Fast forward to the two Scottsdale police cars arriving within minutes and my own canvassers rushing over to make sure I was alright. The police were very professional, but even they didn’t know that our activity was legal until I showed them the statute. (Conveniently, I never go anywhere without it!) They ushered Mr. MAGA into the leasing office, apparently schooled him, and that was the last I ever saw of him and his golf cart. The crowd dispersed, the canvass continued, I didn’t have to call anyone for bail money, and we got the job done!

I tell you this story because it’s inevitable that it will happen again, somewhere else, to someone else, and our volunteers should be prepared to stand their ground.

Arizona Revised Statute 33-1808(H) prohibits HOAs from prohibiting door-to-door political activity. https://www.azleg.gov/ars/33/01808.htm That double prohibition equals a positive! So, you can door knock in HOA communities!

At most, the HOA may regulate political activity by restricting or prohibiting door-to-door political activity from sunset to sunrise. And, they may require you to prominently wear or show an ID tag, along with identification of the candidate or ballot issue that you’re supporting or opposing. Not too unreasonable.

You may ask, “but what if the community is gated?” You still cannot be prohibited from door-to-door political activity, as long as you’re accompanied by a member or resident of the community. Again, not too unreasonable.

Section 33-1808 is actually chock full of good information about what HOAs can and can’t prohibit when it comes to political speech, expression, and activity, including the display of political signs. I’m always amazed at the number of people I speak to who tell me that their HOA doesn’t allow them to display campaign signs on their property! The HOA can regulate the timing of campaign signs, and the size and number of signs, as long as the regulations are no more restrictive than any local ordinance that might do the same. Check your local ordinance if you suspect your HOA is more restrictive.

So, take a read through the statute, print yourself a copy or save it on your phone, and start knocking!