Objectionable Material Policy
Effective February 2020
Problem
Recently the Board of Trustees has received complaints regarding neighbors leaving their lawn mowers, trashcans, recycle bins and various forms of debris around the exterior of their home. This violates the rules spelled out by our Deed Restrictions.
The section of the VAC HOA Deed Restrictions that apply to this policy are:
Section 2.09
No refuse pile or other unsightly or objectionable material or thing shall be allowed or maintained on any part of the Property.
Section 2.11
All Owners, including the Owners of unoccupied Lots hereunder, shall at all times keep and maintain the part of the Property which they own in orderly manner . . .
Policy
This policy reinforces the Deed Restriction requirements.
The Board of Trustees considers lawn mowers, trashcans; recycle bins, yard waste bags, building material, etc. to be an “unsightly and objectionable material or thing”. Leaving these types of items outside takes away from the clean and inviting look and feel of our community and negatively affects property values. These types of items must be stored out of sight. They need to be inside the garage or on the side or back of the house, out of sight from the street.
Options for storing these items on the side of your house include behind an alcove that is part of the design of your house or planting bushes or building a small privacy fence that juts out from the side of the house to hide these items. Note that building a small privacy fence requires approval of the HOA’s Architectural Review Committee.
The Board understands there will be times when you have items temporarily stored outside. For example, filled yard waste bag during autumn, or construction remnants from a project that will be set out for trash pickup on the subsequent Friday. This policy is referencing objectionable items that remain outside with no intention by the owner of concealing them or putting them out for a subsequent trash pickup.
In addition, we ask that neighbors promptly return emptied trashcans and recycle bins to their respective locations within 24 hours after collection. The Board recognizes there will be times you are away and unable to do this. However, as soon as possible, return these items to the appropriate storage location.
Violations of this policy will result in enforcement per the HOA Enforcement Policy.
Direct any questions regarding this policy, or to submit a request for a temporary situation, to the Board of Trustees via the Contact HOA Trustees option.
Here are examples of the type of fencing that would be permitted to hide trash containers.
