ARC Committee

Homeowners associations place significance on uniformity, particularly when it comes to the exterior appearance of properties in the community. Associations have certain deed restrictions dictating what you can and can’t do with your property, including how it should look. This is why many houses in planned communities look similar.

Living in an HOA community does not give you much room to express yourself creatively through exterior design. But, this type of uniformity does benefit homeowners in the end. The consistent look of properties contributes to the general curb appeal of the neighborhood. This, in turn, improves property values.

If you wish to make architectural changes, you will usually need to go through the ACC. One of the most important HOA architectural review committee responsibilities is managing the application and approval process for such modifications.

Other HOA architectural committee responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Checking the community for violations of the architectural guidelines HOA has imposed;

• Enforcing the standards written in the governing documents in a consistent and fair manner;

• Evaluating the existing guidelines and proposing changes to the board;

• Making recommendations to the HOA board; and,

• Educating homeowners on the architectural guidelines and the application/approval process.

Architecture Committee Scope of Authority

The scope of authority can vary from association to association, with the type of common interest development also playing a role. For planned unit developments, ACCs usually handle the following:

• Placement, design, and height specifications for structures

• Requirements for lot setback

• Landscaping modifications or improvements

• Exterior paint colors and finishes

• Materials used for roofing

• Fences

• Satellite dishes

• Solar panels

• Electric vehicle charging stations