In an effort to maintain consistency throughout your community, most homeowners associations maintain a list of fencing rules specific to your neighborhood. These HOA fence rules are in place to maintain uniformity of the privacy fences inside of a community and to encourage fence maintenance. If you live in an HOA it is important to get obtain the current and exact specification documents from the management company/board and to make your fence company aware of these restrictions.
1. Material Restrictions
When it comes to the type of fencing material, HOAs often have strict guidelines to maintain a cohesive appearance within the neighborhood. The most common fence materials that we see allowed in homeowners associations are wood, vinyl, wrought iron, or aluminum. We rarely see chain-link or other less conventional materials allowed. It is important to obtain from the homeowners association the most current governing documents regarding what materials you can use for your upcoming fence project.
2. Style Preferences
After an homeowners association picks a material for for their fencing, the next big decision is to lock down on a specific style for uniformity within the community. Certain styles may be favored to complement the architectural theme of the community or to uphold a specific visual standard. We most commonly see HOA guidelines that call out a very specific style and painted color for all of their community or street facing fences at a minimum. Ask for a copy of the HOA requirements so that we can help you confirm that your desired style matches the guidelines so you avoid issues that might burden you with serious fines or worse!
3. Height Regulations
Fence height is a commonly standardized factor because uniformity is important in maintaining community aesthetics and safety. HOAs typically specify maximum heights to ensure visibility and uniformity throughout the neighborhood. This is particularly important for corner lots, where taller fences could obstruct drivers’ views, potentially leading to safety hazards. While all property owners must abide by the local zoning regulations of the city or county, the regulations of the HOA may be MORE restrictive. Please note the HOA rules can be equality or more restrictive as your local city/county ordinances, but they cannot be LESS restrictive. As a general rule most Sacramento, CA fence ordinances allow for shorter fences approximately 3 or 4 foot tall front yard fences to not cause any visibility issues. Additionally depending on your city ordinances, most backyard fences are allowed to be 6 or 7 foot tall.
4. Color and Finishing
In addition to style, your HOA community may regulate the color and finishing of your new front yard or backyard fence to maintain consistency. Homeowners might be restricted to a palette of approved colors or required to use specific finishes such as paint or stain. This ensures that fences blend harmoniously with surrounding properties and landscape features. If you are planning a fence modification, you will need to start the HOA approval process as soon as possible because sometimes it takes a bit of time to get the approval back.
5. Setback Requirements
The placement of fences within the property lines, known as setbacks, are governed by both your HOA regulation and city/county ordinance. These guidelines ensure uniformity and prevent encroachments onto neighboring properties. Additionally, these setback regulations ensure that fences blend in with the property and don’t become an eyesore built in locations that seem overwhelming or obstruct a driver’s view. Additionally, the setback requirements will denote what height and style of fences are allowed in areas like the “front yard setback”, “backyard setback”, and “street side setback”. Setbacks may vary depending on factors such as lot size, street location, and community design standards.
6. Integration with Landscape
HOAs may encourage or mandate integration of boundary fences with existing natural features or landscaping elements within the community. This could involve preserving mature trees, incorporating greenery along the fence line, or utilizing fencing materials that harmonize with the surrounding environment. Such measures enhance the overall aesthetic appeal and ecological balance of the neighborhood.
7. Maintenance Obligations
Once a fence is installed and approved by the HOA, homeowners and are typically responsible for its ongoing maintenance. Both neighbors are responsible for repairing damaged sections, maintaining hardware and gate mechanisms, post replacements, and ensuring compliance with aesthetic guidelines of the outlined HOA regulations. Your HOA might have board members that will routinely walk the entire community and look for fences that have issues and are in need off repair or replacement. Regular maintenance not only preserves the visual integrity of the neighborhood but it also elongates the lifespan of your new fence!
Contact Us
With expert guidance from Fantastic Fence, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing we will build your fence the right way! Contact Fantastic Fence today to get your fence replacement quickly checked off your to-do list! Call us at (916) 790-7100 or send us a message.