General Home Exterior Standards

 

Recitals:

A. The Board wishes to adopt this policy to clarify the rules governing the general exteriors of properties within the Association.

B.      While this policy is intended to be consistent with federal law and the Washington County Development Code and Development Standards, the Association’s policy may be more restrictive.

C.     The Association intends these standards to enforce the following restrictions:

  1. Article III (e) – apply the same standards to both the Property and the county right-of-way in front of the property

  2. Article III (g) (1) – house colors shall be harmonious with the Property or neighboring properties in the immediate vicinity, in the judgment of the Association

  3. Article V (a) (1) – alterations which would materially alter the exterior appearance of any such structure require an Association permit

  4. Article V (a) (2) – plans must be harmonious with the Property or neighboring properties, in the judgment of the Association

Policy:

  1. Association Permit Required: Association permits are required for new and replacement construction along with upgrades that materially change the exterior appearance of the house. Routine maintenance such as power-washing, touch-up paint of the same color, and minor repairs do not require Association permits. If you are unsure whether an Association Permit is required, you are encouraged to check with the HACH Office ahead of time.

    THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS RELATE TO ALL STRUCTURES.

    General Condition:

    1.  Any addition or remodel should be built to match the existing house and to appear, when complete, to be part of the original, single family home construction and existing structure. When construction is complete, both the existing and new construction should blend together seamlessly

    Jurisdictional Permits

    1. A County Building Permit may be required for the work proposed.  It is the property owners’ responsibility to contact the appropriate government authority for their requirements. A copy of the County Building permit should be provided to the Association for your file if applicable to the proposed changes.

    Setbacks

    1.  Any construction/remodel must comply with the Association’s setbacks and easement requirements. As HACH tends to be more restrictive than Washington County, it is recommended that the owner file for an Association permit before you file for the jurisdictional permit. The Owner is responsible for locating all the property lines prior to construction and maintaining the required minimum setbacks for both HACH and Washington County. Note: HACH and Washington County setbacks may be different based on the original Recording when the home was built. The owner is responsible for locating all property lines prior to construction to ensure compliance with the Association all setbacks. (See Declaration of Restrictions, Exhibit A, in our Governing Documents at www.cedarhillshoa.org/governing-documents.)

    Easements

    1.         A 5-foot-wide utility easement exists on all side and rear property lines.  Any construction within this easement is at the homeowner’s risk. Structures, plantings, or other items within the easement may be subject to removal at the owner’s expense, without objection or recourse against the Association,  if requested in writing by the Association for good cause.

    Siding

    1. The siding on a remodel/addition shall match the siding on the existing house.  Siding must be woven into existing siding to provide a seamless transition from old to new siding. There should be no vertical line at addition. Any variations require Association approval.

    Corner Treatments

    1.  Siding corner treatments are to match and be consistent throughout the house.

    Paint

    1. Paint colors (body, trim, accent) should be harmonious with the property or neighboring properties in the immediate vicinity.

    2. Body paint is typically applied to siding, corner boards, garage doors, etc.

    3. Trim paint is typically applied to gutters, fascia and barge boards, garage door and door trim. etc.

    4. Accent paint is typically applied to front doors, garage doors, etc.

    5. Any sheds or accessory structures on the property should be painted to match or complement the color scheme on the main house (body, trim, etc.) and are subject to approval of the Association by permit.

    Windows 

    1. The appearance of windows should be consistent throughout the house. The windows on each elevation should match or be complementary in operation, color, style, and material throughout the house. Any variations require approval by the Association.

    2. The window trim is to match throughout the house on all elevations.

    3. Broken windows or panels must be repaired/replaced in a timely manner to maintain a neat and attractive appearance.

Garage Doors

  1. Any change to garage doors requires a permit and approval by the board.

  2. Standard/acceptable garage doors have the following attributes for permitting purposes: single or double width; flush or embossed panel style (including number of embossed sections; windowed panels (if any) placed high for light, not visibility.

  3. Garage doors must complement the architectural style of the home.

  4. Glass garage doors are only allowed with tinted or frosted glass. Mirrored or clear glass garage doors are not allowed. The glass panels should be of the same style and color (tinted or frosted) for the entire door. Checker boarding of styles is not allowed.

  5. The Garage Door trim must be consistent with the other exterior door trim in style and color.

  6. Broken glass panels must be repaired/replaced in a timely manner to maintain a neat and attractive appearance.

ROOF

  1. The roofing material must match in color and pattern across the entire home. Any remodel or addition must match in color, pattern and material to the existing roof for a consistent appearance. Any changes or additions to the roof require an Association permit.

  2. The roof pitch and design should match or be complementary to the existing structure for a consistent appearance across the entire home.

  3. Overhangs and Soffits should match in material and design of the existing structure for a consistent appearance. 

  4. The gutters need to match the existing gutters and fascia board on the house, replacing the existing gutters as needed if a match cannot be found. The rain downspouts should be connected to an approved storm water disposal system as approved by the County if applicable to existing structure. If the home does not have an existing ground water system, gutters must not divert channeled storm water runoff directly onto adjacent properties.  

  5. For the best appearance roof projections should be painted to match the roof color. For the best appearance, locate roof vents, plumbing vents and furnace flues on a non-street facing roof plane when practical.

  6. The Association encourages you to determine the best location for the utility meter with your utility provider where it is not visible from the street and to use a recessed meter base. Paint any shiny metal surfaces (meter base, conduit, etc.) to match with the siding color and/or roof color if above the roofing.

  7. The Association does not review plans for building and zoning code compliance, structural adequacy, or engineering soundness of the proposed improvement. If the County requires changes to your Building Permit that will alter the appearance of the home, as presented in your application, a copy of the revised plans is to the provided to the Association to update your permit application/file prior to construction.

    Utilities

    1. Upgrading electrical panels in the same location does not require a permit unless there is a location change.

    2. Adding equipment such as exterior electrical storage batteries or permanently mounted generators or other infrastructure, requires an Association Permit and written HACH approval (see Ground Mounted Infrastructure policy).

    3. Vehicle charging stations do not require an Association Permit or written HACH approval if located inside a garage or on an approved parking area. Freestanding Vehicle Charging Stations (not attached to the house) require an Association Permit.

    Approvals/Exceptions

    1. Permits meeting these general standards may be approved by a single director. That director may expand the approval process to a second director for questions of style or conformity (e.g. paint color, garage door style).

    2. Exceptions to any of these standards must be reviewed and approved by a quorum of the board at an upcoming monthly meeting.

     Date: 4/2025
    Adopted by Board of Directors

    Naomi Inman, President
    Homes Association of Cedar Hills,