Federal officials say a homeowners association is going to pay after refusing to allow a family to park a special vehicle in their driveway that they purchased to accommodate their son’s disability.

The Las Vegas family — which is not being named in legal documents made public this week — bought an ambulance to bring their son to and from medical appointments. Because of his disability, the son must be lying down while he’s transported, officials said.

Despite providing their local homeowners association with documentation of their son’s need for the ambulance, the family said that the Harbor Cove Homeowners Association and its management company barred them from keeping the vehicle in their driveway. The HOA allegedly cited rules prohibiting residents from parking commercial vehicles at their homes.

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Now, the HOA and its management company have agreed to pay the family $65,000 and alter their policies after reaching an agreement brokered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development which stepped in after the family filed a complaint.

Under the Fair Housing Act, housing providers — including HOAs — are prohibited from discriminating against people with disabilities, the agency said.

“Homeowners associations must grant reasonable accommodations that enable residents to meet the needs of family members with disabilities,” said Bryan Greene, acting assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity at the federal housing agency. “Homeowners associations have the same responsibility as housing providers to follow fair housing laws.”

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