If you need guidance on what responsibilities you have maintaining your property as a Douglas Downs homeowner, our Community-Wide Standards are a great resource.
The Community-Wide Standards lay out a guide to fairly enforce standards determined by the Board based on the covenants, as well as suggestions from the Douglas Downs community. Their goal is to inform homeowners of the role they play in protecting home values and neighborhood beauty for everyone. Each section lays out responsibilities for different aspects of your property.
Sections 1-3 discuss landscaping and lawn care all around your house. There are requirements for keeping gardens in designated beds with approved mulch and maintenance of weeds and shrub height. These standards apply to all beds that are visible from the street. In terms of lawn care, it’s important to keep up with cutting and watering the grass as well as raking any leaves in the fall.
Next, Sections 4-6 address various outdoor fixtures including fences, lighting, and satellite dishes/ radio antennas. New fences must be approved by the Board, and all fences must meet material/ height specifications and be kept in good repair. Lighting should be installed by a professional electrician and be positioned in a way that doesn’t cause unnecessary disturbance to your neighbors. Finally, satellite dishes and radio antennas should be installed on the roof or in the backyard in a way that is appealing from the street and doesn’t interfere with your neighbors' view.
Pools (only in-ground are allowed), decks, and patios are covered in Section 7. Similar to fences, all of these amenities must be approved by the Board and kept in good repair.
Section 8 covers retaining walls, which also must be approved by the Board. Retaining walls must also meet local guidelines, and their design should focus on effective water drainage as well as curb appeal.
Lastly, Sections 9-11 lay out the guidelines for what alterations to your property require Board approval, other un-categorized Community-Wide Standards, as well as enforcement mechanisms for the standards. Any major changes, installation of fixtures/ amenities, or new projects require approval– when in doubt, ask or just apply to avoid any misunderstanding! The un-categorized additional standards cover the aesthetic responsibilities of other outdoor features of homes to maintain neighborhood beauty, such as putting away trash cans and children's toys when not in use for collection/ play.
Enforcement of all community-wide standards begins with a series of notices or a stop work order for unapproved construction. If no action is taken after the notices and communication between the Board and the homeowner, the Board has the right to determine a fine for the violation(s).
At the end of the day, the goal of the Douglas Downs Homeowner’s Association is not to fine our residents. The hope is that by providing these standards along with an open line of communication, we can all work together to keep our neighborhood safe and beautiful.
You can visit the following link to view the HOA Community-Wide Standards:
