Residents Challenge HOA Over American Flags Ahead of Nation’s 250th Birthday

In Southern California, residents are facing potential fines for displaying American flags outside their homes, just days before the country celebrates its 250th anniversary.

Amy and Chris Cooke received a notice from the Ambiance Owners’ Association stating that their flag was in violation of the rules and needed to be removed. They have a hearing set for June 30, along with a possible $100 fine, as reported by ABC10 News. The association claims that the flag was displayed in a common area, which goes against its regulations, though Amy clarified that it’s actually on their garage door frame.

The Cookes have flown the flag for over twenty years to honor Chris’s grandfather, Alexander Christie, who was a Navy sailor and died aboard the USS Princeton during the World War II Battle of Leyte Gulf. Christie received the Navy Cross and the Purple Heart posthumously for his efforts to save his fellow sailors, according to the Daily Wire.

According to the association, a flag policy imposed in 2024 prohibits residential displays. A memo from the HOA’s management cited an attorney’s opinion that allowing one resident to display a flag could encourage others, potentially degrading the common area, as noted by inewsource. This document predates the 2024 election of President Donald Trump, as mentioned by the Daily Wire.

Records show that a notice from May 2023 informed another resident that only the American flag was permitted on common property. However, in May 2026, the HOA issued a notice claiming the Cookes violated this policy and instructed them to remove their flag within 15 days, according to Fox News Digital.

Michael Kushner, an attorney for an Aliso Viejo HOA, commented that the association might be misinterpreting the law, referencing the Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005, which generally prevents flag bans while allowing restrictions on size and placement.

The situation isn’t limited to the Cookes. Neighbor Terri Collins has also received a similar notice regarding a flag she has displayed for 35 years. She firmly stated, “I’m not taking my flag down,” adding that she wouldn’t pay any fines imposed by the association.

The Cookes have been researching California law for two years and are looking to raise money to support their legal battle should it escalate, as reported by Fox News Digital.