Sheds, Gazebos, Playhouses Oh my!

Started by DorothyO • 3 replies • 1767 views

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DorothyO (Washington)
Posts: 293

Posted:

Greetings,
We are batting around the possibility of presenting an amendment proposal to allow, what our covenants define as "additional buildings," but don't currently permit any any at all. We'd like to have some input with what we could reasonably request to keep the slippery slope of Tacky-Trashville from occurring. Here are some specs on the 'hood.

Our average lot size and home size is roughly 10,000-14,000 square-foot lots, and 1,800 to 3,500 sq-ft homes. What might be maximum building size and construction materials, thoughts on gazebos and greenhouses, play structures, (these are the three most oft requested backyard structures) etc. Most HO's have some 6 ft. privacy fences, but not all. Our covenants, elsewhere, already prohibit "living quarters," "garages" etc, which we are not going to change. We want it simple, and uncomplicated - wait, did I just include those two words in talking about HOA covenants? Where is my head this morning?

Thank ye kindly.

Dorothy

JohnB26 (South Carolina)
Posts: 1,569

Posted:

10 x 14 , 10 hi to peak max

exterior appearance/finish to match or 'blend' with existing home

CODE COMPLIANT ... submit copy of permit with application, final approval conditional upon 'sign-off' of permit

CAVEAT EMPTOR

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

Amend the covenants to remove the prohibition of additional buildings or amend it to additional buildings greater than height, width, depth, are prohibited.

Adopt guidelines to define what additional buildings will be approved and what materials will be required in the plan for approval.

JohnC46 (South Carolina)
Posts: 14,265

Posted:

Dorothy

One of the nastiest HOA battle I saw was over sheds not being allowed when tghe docs said they were. TYhe ARC just refused to ever approve any. That said I learned a few lessons along the way.

1. Limit height and width but be careful on height as to designate roof highest point.

2. Limit materials to vinyl and/or wood. No, no, no, no metal sheds. They rust and look like crap

3. You could be uber tough and say the shell, door, and windows must match near idenically as possible match the existing house shell, doors, windows. Along these lines you could call for a cement foundation, not a portable shed.

4. Gazebos not my forte.

5. We could do nothing about childrens playhouse, swing sets, etc.

6. Ask that requests submitted with plans, pictures, drawings, etc. Set up a site visit before approving ans et up visits during construction.

7. Set up requirements such as cannot be seen from the street, no closer than so and so to another homeowners property line, etc.

Take you time and do it right.

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