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HOA, landlord, condo, park

Am I allowed to put up a Starlink dish?

One federal rule sets the ground rules for HOAs, landlords, condo boards and mobile home parks. Whether it helps you depends on one thing: is the spot yours alone?

Will Starlink WorkFacts re-checked on Starlink’s pages: Nov 3, 20265-minute read
Verdict

Usually yes, on space you own or rent and use alone: the FCC’s OTARD rule limits how HOAs, landlords and local rules can block a small dish there. Shared roofs, hallways and lawns are different.

They can still enforce clearly defined safety rules and historic-district rules. The rule doesn’t name Starlink; that it covers a Starlink home dish is our reading of its wording. General information, not legal advice.

Which situation are you in?

Usually yes

I own a house in an HOA

What an HOA can and can’t require, and what to send the board.

ReadUsually yes

I rent a house or a unit with a yard

Your yard and patio, your landlord’s roof, and a no-drill setup.

ReadSky decides

I live in an apartment or condo

Your balcony is covered; the roof isn’t. Check the sky first.

ReadUsually yes

I have a manufactured or mobile home

Pole and wall options, park rules, wind and the skirting.

ReadReference

I want the actual rule

The FCC OTARD rule quoted word for word, and how a petition works.

Read

The one question: is the spot yours alone?

The FCC rule protects a dish on property “within the exclusive use or control of the antenna user where the user has a direct or indirect ownership or leasehold interest in the property”, in the words of 47 CFR 1.4000. Owners and tenants both count. What counts as “yours alone” changes with the kind of home:

You own a house, no HOA

A house on its own lot: the roof and the whole yard are yours to useroofyardlot linestreet

Roof, walls and yard are yours. Town zoning and permit rules count as “restrictions” under the same FCC rule.

You own, with an HOA

A house in an HOA: your lot is yours, the common area next to it is the association’spoolcommonareayour lotroofstreet

Your lot and your roof: covered. The HOA’s common areas (pool, green, entrance): not.

You rent a house

A rented house: the yard and patio are in your lease, the roof and walls depend on the leaseroof & walls:your lease decidespatioyardstreet

Yard and patio: the FCC’s own examples. Roof and outside walls: only what your lease gives you.

Apartment or condo

An apartment building: your balcony is yours, the roof and lawn are sharedroof, hallways:sharedyour balconylawn

Your own balcony or terrace: covered. Roof, hallways and lawn: shared, so the building decides.

Manufactured home in a park

A manufactured home on a leased lot: the lot is yours to use, park roads and the clubhouse are commonpark roadhomeyour lotclubhouse

The lot you lease: covered. Park roads and the clubhouse: not.

Our reading of the FCC rule’s “exclusive use or control” test, drawn as top-down plans. General information, not legal advice: your deed, lease, HOA papers or condo declaration decide the edges.

What does the FCC rule say, in one paragraph?

The rule covers an antenna “used to receive direct broadcast satellite service, including direct-to-home satellite service, or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals via satellite” that is “one meter or less in diameter or is located in Alaska”. On space that is yours alone, it bars restrictions, from HOA rules and lease clauses to zoning, that unreasonably delay or prevent installing a covered dish, unreasonably raise its cost, or block an acceptable signal. It still allows clearly defined safety rules and historic-preservation rules, if they are no more burdensome than necessary. The 1998 order that extended it to renters says it doesn’t apply to common or restricted-access areas. Read the rule, quoted and explained.

Curving suburban street lined with large leafy trees, houses set back behind lawns
Owner or tenant, HOA or not: on space that is yours alone, the same federal rule applies on every street.Image by Kenneth Running (Unsplash License)

Very little. Starlink’s Terms put the job on you: “It is your responsibility to ensure compliance with all applicable building codes, zoning, ordinances, business district or association rules, covenants, conditions, restrictions, lease obligations and landlord/owner approvals and requirements for the installation of the Starlink Kit, to pay any associated fees or other charges, and to obtain any permits and other authorizations necessary for the Services and the installation of the Starlink Kit.” They also say: “You are also responsible for any additional government fees, rights of way charges, license or permit fees, and any other duties, charges or surcharges imposed on the sale or use of the Services or Starlink Kit.” We searched Starlink’s help center and found no article about HOAs, landlords, renters, apartments, condos, mobile homes or the FCC rule.

What should you do first?

  1. Step 1: Work out whose space it is

    Find your situation above. The question that decides almost everything is whether the spot is yours alone (your roof, your yard, your own balcony) or shared.

  2. Step 2: Scan that exact spot in the Starlink app

    Starlink says the app has a built-in tool to preview the install location and guide you to the spot with the fewest obstructions. There’s no point arguing for a spot that doesn’t see the sky. Screenshot the result.

  3. Step 3: Read the papers that apply to you

    HOA covenants, a lease, a condo declaration or park rules. Look for “antenna”, “satellite”, “dish” and “alterations”.

  4. Step 4: Put it in writing

    Tell the HOA, landlord or board what you’ll install, where and how, with the screenshots. Most say yes to a clear, tidy plan.

General information, not legal advice

These pages explain a federal rule in plain words, quoting the eCFR and the Federal Register as read on Nov 3, 2026. We couldn’t read the FCC’s own consumer guide that day, so check fcc.gov for its current wording. State laws and your own papers matter too. For a real dispute, talk to a lawyer licensed in your state.

Questions this page answers

Can an HOA or landlord stop me from getting Starlink?

On space you own or rent and use alone, the FCC’s OTARD rule generally stops them from banning a small dish or blocking a usable signal, and by our reading a Starlink dish is covered. On shared areas, such as an apartment building’s roof, they decide. General information, not legal advice.

Does Starlink say anything about HOAs or landlords?

Only in its Terms, which make you responsible for HOA rules, lease terms, landlord approvals and permits. We found no Starlink help article about HOAs, renters or the FCC rule.

Do I need a permit to install Starlink?

Usually not for a dish on its stand or a small mount, but towns differ, and tall poles are where local rules most often apply. The FCC rule covers zoning and building rules too, with exceptions for clearly defined safety rules. Starlink’s Terms say any permit fees are yours.

Is the FCC rule the same in every state?

Yes, it’s a federal rule. State law, local codes and your own papers still matter at the edges, so check them, and ask a lawyer before any dispute escalates.

What we checked this page against

  1. 47 CFR §1.4000, the OTARD rule text (eCFR) · seen Nov 3, 2026
  2. FCC 98-273: OTARD extended to renters (1998) · seen Nov 3, 2026
  3. US terms of service · seen Nov 3, 2026
  4. Beam switching around obstructions (Starlink update, Jul 30, 2025) · seen Nov 3, 2026

Each number on this page traces back to one of these entries; our fact rules explain how. If a reading has drifted, the corrections log shows how it gets fixed.