Home and Front Yard Maintenance

Posted on: June 5th, 2023

There are shared responsibilities for living in a homeowners association. The HOA maintains the common areas and infrastructure. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining the exterior of their homes and yards. As the community matures homeowners need to be mindful of doing their part with these shared responsibilities. Recently a number of homes were found during the semi-annual inspection by the Architectural Committee to be in need of improving the exterior paint on their homes or their front yard landscaping.

Below are the relevant article in our Architectural Standards.

Please do your part in maintaining your home and yards. It not only benefits the homeowner but also the entire community.

 

3.15 Home Maintenance

Each Owner shall maintain the exterior of the Owner’s dwelling and/or other improvements on the Owner’s Lot in good condition and repair and in accordance with the CC&Rs and these Architectural Standards. Surfaces shall be kept clean. Painted and stained surfaces shall be well maintained. Trash containers shall be exposed only when set out for collection (not to exceed twelve (12) hours) before and after scheduled trash collection hours. Unsightly items are prohibited under CC&Rs Article 6.1.11. Refer to CC&Rs Article 9.2 Repair and Maintenance by Owner and CC&Rs Article 9.3 Standards for Maintenance and Repair for more information on maintenance requirements.

4.19 Landscape Maintenance

Owners are responsible for properly maintaining their residential exterior landscaping to maintain a healthy and attractive appearance at all times. Refer to Prohibited Plant List (Appendix D) for certain restrictions, Commonly Used Plant List (Appendix C) for certain recommendations CC&Rs Article 6.1.14 Brush Management Areas, CC&Rs Article 9.2 Repair and Maintenance by Owner and CC&Rs Article 9.3 Standards for Maintenance and Repair for more information. Landscape maintenance does not require submission to the AC so long as there is no material change in appearance of the Owner’s Lot.

  •  Front and backyard landscaping, including lawn areas, must be neatly trimmed and kept free of weeds, dead and diseased plants, trees or grass, trash or debris, and other unsightly materials.
  • Ground covers, especially organic mulch, must be refreshed as needed and kept free of weeds. • Edging must be kept neat and in good condition.
  • Proper drainage must be maintained.
  • Ground cover, shrubs, and grass shall not encroach into community sidewalks or driveways.
  • Replacement of existing grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers with new grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers in approximately the same location and quantity is considered maintenance.
  • Installation of additional trees in the front yard over 20 feet in height at maturity must be submitted to the AC for review as a Minor Exterior Improvement Application.
  • The root system of trees, shrubs, and hedges installed on an Owner’s Lot must not disturb foundations, walls, fences or sidewalks of either an adjacent property or Common Area.
  • Irrespective of any approval granted, the Community Association reserves the right to require an Owner to trim and/or remove any tree(s), branch(s), shrub(s), plant(s) or root(s) of any kind on the Owner’s Lot that is determined by the AC and/or the Community Board to materially encroach in any way on an adjacent property, community sidewalk, Community Common Areas, or any other pedestrian way.
  • Street trees in the Community Common Area are maintained by the Community Association and may only be removed and replaced by the Community Association.
  • Removal of an existing tree on an Owner’s Lot that is causing damage or has the potential to cause damage to an Owner’s Lot or adjacent property is considered maintenance. Replacement of that tree is not required. Tree stumps must be ground down to below sod level and covered.
  • Synthetic turf in any location of the Lot shall be kept clean, sanitary, and in good repair. Periodic infill may be required to maintain proper drainage. Synthetic turf shall not be allowed to exceed its useful life or become faded or discolored.