[§196-8.5]  Placement ofclotheslines.  (a)  Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no personshall be prevented by any covenant, declaration, bylaws, restriction, deed,lease, term, provision, condition, codicil, contract, or similar bindingagreement, however worded, from installing a clothesline on any single-familyresidential dwelling or townhouse that the person owns.  Any provision in anylease, instrument, or contract contrary to the intent of this section shall bevoid and unenforceable.

(b)  Every private entity may adopt rules thatreasonably restrict the placement and use of clotheslines for the purpose ofdrying clothes on the premises of any single-family residential dwelling ortownhouse; provided that those restrictions do not prohibit the use ofclotheslines altogether.  No private entity shall assess or charge anyhomeowner any fees for the placement of any clothesline.

(c)  For the purposes of this section:

"Clothesline" means a rope, cord,wire, or similar device on which laundry is hung to dry.

"Private entity" means anyassociation of homeowners, community association, condominium association,cooperative, or any other nongovernmental entity with covenants, bylaws, andadministrative provisions with which the homeowner's compliance is required. [L2009, c 192, §2]