Relating to the authority of a property owners' association to assess a fine for discolored vegetation or turf during a period of residential watering restriction.

Contracts

• Enforcement Policies: Association "Fine and Enforcement Policies" must be amended to explicitly reference the Section 202.008 exemption.
• Management Agreements: Review indemnification clauses. If a Board demands enforcement during a drought against counsel's advice, the management company must have written protection against resulting lawsuits.

Hiring/Training

• Inspector Training: Field staff and third-party inspection vendors must be trained to distinguish between "mandatory" and "voluntary" water restrictions.
• Causation Analysis: Compliance officers must be trained to stop issuing "Cure Notices" for brown turf unless they can prove the condition is unrelated to water access (e.g., physical damage or disease).

Reporting & Record-Keeping

• Utility Restriction Logs: You must create and maintain a centralized log tracking the *Start Date* and *End Date* of mandatory water restrictions for every utility provider servicing your portfolio.
• The "60-Day Tail": Enforcement software must be programmed to respect a statutory grace period. You cannot resume fining until 60 days after the mandatory restriction is lifted.

Fees & Costs

• Budget Impact: Anticipate a reduction in fine revenue for communities in drought-prone areas.
• Litigation Risk: Budget for potential legal defense if an association attempts to foreclose on a lien that includes fines originating from a protected drought period.