Las Vegas Veteran Fights HOA Over Front Yard Hydrant Display

Brent Saba says his HOA ordered him to remove vintage fire hydrants, including one he brought back from Iraq, despite neighbor support.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A bold, graphic silkscreen illustration featuring a repeated pattern of a vintage fire hydrant in bright neon colors, conceptually representing the personal significance and community support behind this veteran's front yard display.A veteran's display of vintage fire hydrants, some with personal military connections, sparks a dispute with his homeowners' association over neighborhood aesthetics.Las Vegas Today

A Las Vegas military veteran, Brent Saba, is pushing back against his homeowners' association (HOA) after being cited for displaying vintage fire hydrants in his front yard, including one he brought back from his deployment in Iraq. The HOA claimed the hydrants violate neighborhood rules, but Saba says many of his neighbors support the display and it is connected to his decades-long firefighting career.

Why it matters

This dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between HOAs and homeowners over property regulations, especially when those regulations conflict with personal experiences and community support. It also raises questions about how far HOAs can go in dictating what homeowners can display on their own property.

The details

Saba, a fire inspector and firefighter, has had the three non-operational fire hydrants on display in his front yard since moving into the neighborhood over a year ago without prior issue. However, the HOA recently ordered him to remove the hydrants, claiming they violate rules about front and side yard landscaping. Saba says the hydrants, including one he brought back from Iraq, have sentimental value and many of his neighbors support the display. After initially denying Saba's request to keep the hydrants, the HOA has since informed him he may keep them.

  • Saba has had the fire hydrants on display for over a year since moving into the neighborhood.
  • The HOA recently ordered Saba to remove the hydrants, citing a violation of landscaping rules.
  • Saba submitted a request to keep the hydrants, which was initially denied by the HOA.
  • The HOA has since informed Saba he may keep the hydrants.

The players

Brent Saba

A Las Vegas military veteran, fire inspector, and firefighter who has displayed vintage fire hydrants, including one he brought back from Iraq, in his front yard.

Antelope HOA

The homeowners' association that cited Saba for the fire hydrant display and initially denied his request to keep them, before later informing him he may keep them.

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What they’re saying

“This hydrant right here, I brought this fire hydrant home from Iraq. I served over in Iraq for about a year, year and a half or so. So that one there was a special piece.”

— Brent Saba, Veteran

“How are they going to tell the guy with over 30 years in the fire service, you got to get rid of your fire hydrants? I mean, it's not like it's clutter. It's not like it's defacing anything. … My neighbors all even think it looks good.”

— Brent Saba, Veteran

“I'm a fire inspector and when I write up a violation on a building, imagine if I wrote up something that didn't even apply to what the write up was. I would look like a fool.”

— Brent Saba, Veteran

“I mean this HOA in this neighborhood is out of control. … The HOA thought that they could bully me and manipulate me.”

— Brent Saba, Veteran

“HOA boards misapply their own governing documents all the time, and this case is a textbook example. The board cited a rule about 'storage items' to regulate what are decorative display pieces. That distinction matters.”

— Chad Cummings, Attorney

What’s next

Saba says he is reconsidering his future in the neighborhood after this dispute, and is hoping the situation will improve for the community.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between HOAs and homeowners over property regulations, especially when those regulations conflict with personal experiences and community support. It raises questions about how far HOAs can go in dictating what homeowners can display on their own property, and the importance of clear, fair, and reasonable rules.