Arizona Homeowner Fined Repeatedly for Handing Out Free Water, Plans Legal Fight Against HOA

David Martin, a resident of Goodyear, Arizona, has been fined repeatedly by his homeowners association (HOA) for distributing free bottled water during extreme summer heat, a gesture he started in 2020 to help neighbors and passersby cope with soaring temperatures. While Martin and supporters emphasize the community benefit of his act amid dangerous heat conditions, the Canyon Trails HOA objects to the visible placement of the cooler and the signage advertising the free water, citing community rules against such displays. The situation escalated as Martin refused to pay fines totaling hundreds of dollars, prompting him to raise funds for a legal battle and galvanize neighbors to attempt removing HOA board members in a special vote. The dispute has garnered national attention, with many supporting Martin’s cause, including donations of bottled water and fundraising through T-shirt sales. The HOA maintains it does not oppose the distribution of water itself but insists adherence to community guidelines regarding advertising and placement. This ongoing conflict highlights tensions between individual goodwill and homeowners association regulations in the face of public health concerns related to extreme heat.