An Arizona homeowner is facing off with his HOA after being repeatedly fined for doing something most would consider neighborly: giving away free cold water bottles during the summer heat.
David Martin, a resident of the Canyon Trails community in Goodyear, has handed out water for five years — until the HOA started issuing $100 fines over the visibility of his cooler.
Fined for Kindness
Martin and his wife came up with the idea in 2020 during the COVID lockdowns, hoping to bring a sense of community by offering cold water to kids, dog walkers, delivery drivers, and neighbors.
But the HOA claimed the setup violated rules prohibiting visible “advertisements” — even though the cooler was just sitting beside his garage.
Martin received multiple fines last year, starting with $50, then racking up three months of $100 fines for non-compliance.
“They’re adding violations to a total that’s not going to get paid,” Martin said. “I’m giving out free water — and I’m not stopping.”
HOA Claims It’s About ‘Advertising’
The HOA insists it’s not punishing the act of giving water, just