Homeowners’ associations (HoAs) are non-profit organizations established to manage, maintain, and support communities. For decades, they have played a crucial role in community management, with a history dating back to the mid-twentieth century. Over the years, HoAs have grown and evolved into the foundational elements of the communities we see today.

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In the late 1940s, U.S. veterans returning from World War II faced challenges in finding affordable housing. Bill Levitt, a veteran himself, recognized this issue and invested in over 4,000 acres of land on Long Island, New York. By using innovative construction techniques, such as specialized teams focused on specific parts of a home and off-site prefabrication, Levitt helped create affordable housing options for veterans, ultimately developing the community known as Levittown in 1947. Although Levittown did not have a formal HOA with a board of directors and governing documents, the community established rules and regulations that set the precedent for those seen in today’s HoAs. Over time, the Levitt family constructed additional communities with similar styles, and planned communities across the country began to emerge following their model. Levittown established the groundwork for contemporary common-living environments, sparking an interest in, and the growth of planned communities. As a result, by 2025, more than 33% of homeowners in the U.S. now will reside in an HOA environment.