Bedford Eagles Landing Homeowners Association

What are the Rules? Who Enforces?

Feb 24, 2002

One of the most common functions of a mandatory homeowners?’ association is to enforce covenants regarding the appearance of homes within the association. Most association officers find that they are often asked to help residents with questions and enforcement issues about City Codes and Restrictions (CC&R).

By encouraging neighbors to talk to each other before involving code enforcement, the police or the courts, associations can go a long way toward diffusing potential problems within their community. If neighbors will talk to each other before they build new buildings, have big parties, call the police regarding concerns, etc., they can avoid most of the cases that end up at City Hall. Why do people complain? Since a home is commonly the single largest investment that people own, many residents protect their home vigorously. Most complaints result from residents being concerned that their neighbors conduct is adversely affecting their property value or is impacting their ability to use and enjoy their home/yard. It is because the city wants to protect the beauty of our residential neighborhoods and help residents maintain the value of their home the codes are enacted and enforced. The best way to avoid problems with City Code is through education because most complaints, when investigated, turn out to be the result of a lack of understanding about what the law requires.

The most misunderstood city codes include:

Black Bag Blight:restrictions on rash re in place for both health and hygiene reasons as well as to maintain the beauty of your neighborhood for you and your neighbors. Many people bag their yard clippings and put them out on their curb when they mow on Saturday mornings. The law says that trash bags must be secured and cannot be put out until 7:00PM the night before scheduled pickup. Trash bags are not to be placed in the street. Our pick up days are on Mondays and Thursday mornings.

Parking:private homes have garages and most people utilize their garages for parking their vehicles. However, for those people who don?’t garage park, most of them park in their driveways. Some people choose not to park in their garage or drive and rather opt to park in the street. City Code generally allows street parking. However, for residents with frequent guests who park on both sides of the street, drivers are encouraged to be aware that many residential streets are too narrow for cards to pass comfortably if their vehicles park down both sides of the street. The law also states that the vehicle must be moved within 3 days.

Residents with multiple vehicles that are not used daily a (i.e. travel trailer, dirt bikes/motorcycles, boats, etc.) are reminded that our CC&Rs do not allow for these types of vehicles to be parked within our association boundaries. You must park your recreational vehicles at one of the city?’s many storage facilities, rather than give neighbors reason to complain about them ?“cluttering the neighborhood?”.

Garage Sales:many people feel invaded when their day to sleep in (Saturday) is disturbed by the noise of cars and people happily shopping at their neighbors garage sale. Some people feel that garage sales lead to increased crime by bringing in a large number of strangers to a neighborhood. However, many people find garage sales an opportunity to make some money, get rid of junk and have fun. Regardless of where you stand on garage sales the rules are: (i) residents must get a permit from City Hall 48 hours before, (ii) residents can have garage sales no more than twice a year, (iii) cannot sell new items (i.e. home made crafts), (iv) can not exceed 72 hours and (v) can only have 3 city issued signs.

Yard Maintenance:grass length, weeds, junk in the yard, etc. are a common cause of complaints due to aesthetic concerns as well as health issues. Also, often times neighbors complain when a neighbor lets their yard die. The rules regarding yard maintenance are that foreign objects (such as dead organic matter, vehicle parts, combustible materials, etc.) cannot be accumulated on residential premises if they constitute a fire, health or safety hazard; grass and weeds cannot exceed 12?” in depth. Often the failure to maintain one yard is related to advancing years or illness. One role a neighborhood association can play is to help find out if their residents need help due to age or illness and help the needy resident find help through volunteers. This is truly a way to be part of the solution rather than the problem.

Our CC&Rs are very clear. The yards must be maintained in a manner according to city codes. If the individual is negligent the association may after a 30 day notice hire the service to be completed and then bill the homeowner.

Next issue will look at roofs, satellite dishes, home improvements, noise, pets and much much more.