In the context of community association law, what does 'Estoppel' mean?

The term 'Estoppel' in community association law refers to a legal principle that prevents a party from asserting a claim or right that contradicts what has already been established as true or accepted based on prior conduct. Specifically, when an association does not enforce its covenants or rules consistently, they may be barred from enforcing those rules against a member who relied on that inaction. This legal doctrine is designed to protect members of the community who may have acted in reliance on the association's prior conduct, ensuring fairness and preventing inconsistencies in the enforcement of rules.

This understanding of estoppel underscores the importance of consistent application of rules and covenants within a community. If an association regularly allows certain behaviors without consequence, it might lose the ability to later enforce those behaviors against residents who have relied on that leniency. Thus, estoppel plays a critical role in maintaining trust and predictability within community associations.