Can An HOA Control The Exterior Color Of Your House?

Living in a community with a homeowners association (HOA) can come with a lot of perks, including property value protection and maintenance for common spaces such as recreational facilities. But at times, it can seem like your HOA can be a thorn in your side. This is particularly the case when it comes to making changes to your property. If you want to change the exterior of your home, for example, your HOA may have rules dictating which paint colors you can (and cannot) use. Failing to follow clearly established HOA covenants can create more headaches and even lead to financial and legal consequences.

HOAs have strict covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) that outline the organization's obligations to the community as well as what's expected of its residents. If you live in an HOA community, you likely know by now that you must seek approval from the board before making changes to your home and backyard, including adding a fence, extending a driveway, or planting trees. The same goes for exterior paint projects, which should be outlined in the neighborhood covenants. This can be a disadvantage if you live in an HOA community and want your house to stand out — but it's even worse if you erroneously paint your house and it doesn't comply with any legally binding covenants. Not all HOAs have such strict exterior paint rules, but it's important to know that most of them do.

When you move into an HOA community, you are given a copy of the neighborhood covenants, as well as an associated contract to sign. If your community has exterior paint color rules, these will also be outlined in the architectural guidelines. Rather than creating a free-for-all where board members can choose to like or dislike an exterior paint scheme homeowners desire, the covenants usually outline a general type of color scheme. For example, your neighborhood might have brown earthy tones, while another might have more gray, white, or blue. You might also be asked to repaint your home at certain intervals, or if the property manager sees signs of fading and wear and tear that negatively impact the aesthetics of the neighborhood. If you paint your home a color that's not approved in the official rules, the HOA can impose fines and ask you to change it. Failure to comply may result in legal action.

While such restrictions and consequences can seem intimidating, the solution is relatively straightforward. Any doubts about acceptable color schemes should be run by a member of your HOA board. Many communities also require that homeowners obtain approval for all exterior paint projects ahead of time, even if you're hiring a painter. Going through this approval process takes any guesswork out of the equation while also ensuring you don't use prohibited paint colors. It's always a good idea to have any paint project approved in writing — this protects both you and the HOA from potential legal trouble.