A lot of towns and cities around the world have similar requirements and will start fining you if you let your property. And the majority of HOAs aren't overbearing, just a way to share costs for common infrastructure and make sure houses aren't just abandoned or allowed to fall apart by collecting fines.

But petty power attracts petty tyrants and it's easier to make it onto an HOA board than a town council. So sometimes your worst neighbor has the ability to hand out fines and wields that power with spite and glee.