Justice
Do No-Kids-Allowed Rules Violate Federal Anti-Discrimination Laws?
A Washington, D.C., co-op’s rule allowing dogs to play in common outdoor areas—but not the children living there—could become a federal case.
On the Fourth of July, a little girl was visiting her friend at the Tiber Island co-op in Washington, D.C. A guard told the girl that she couldn’t play on her scooter in the plaza. Those are the rules.
“The plaza is not to be used for bicycle riding, skateboarding, etc.” That statute is laid out in House Rule #3, which states that children may play in designated areas only. The homeowners’ association’s governing documents explain that the lawns, plaza, pool, exercise room, and other common areas are not designated for playing.