Homeowners associations exist to preserve property values by providing maintenance and enhancing curb appeal. How does an HOA achieve this? One of the main ways to keep the community’s frontage presentable is through an HOA architectural review committee.
What is an HOA Architectural Review Committee (ARC)?
Most homeowners associations will have architectural guidelines within the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs). These guidelines dictate what the homeowners can and cannot do with their property. For example, the architectural guidelines might limit fence heights or regulate exterior paint colors.
The architectural review committee HOA communities have is in charge of reviewing architectural applications. Afterward, the board usually reviews the final proposal and revisions and decides whether to reject or accept the request.
The HOA ARC also interprets and enforces the guidelines when someone violates them. In some communities, the ARC exists within the board of directors. Meanwhile, other HOAs recruit volunteers from the community.
HOA Architectural Review Committee Responsibilities
The HOA architectural committee charter typically includes the following responsibilities:
- Application Review. The ARC is responsible for reviewing architectural change requests made by homeowners to ensure that all the modifications comply with the CC&Rs. They may deny, approve, or suggest changes to the proposal.
- Violation Monitoring. The ARC must inspect the community periodically for architectural violations or inconsistencies with the CC&Rs.
- Architectural Guideline Enforcement. The ARC must enforce the architectural review committee guidelines and ensure every property within the neighborhood follows the rules.
- Board Action Recommendation. After reviewing a proposal, the ARC may recommend certain actions to the board. Afterward, the board often has the final say as to whether or not to approve or reject an application.
- Policy Review. The ARC must periodically review existing policies and suggest necessary changes to the board.
- Homeowner Education. In some communities, the ARC is responsible for educating the homeowners about the community’s architectural review guidelines.
Why is the Architectural Committee Important?
The architectural review board HOA communities have might seem annoying for many homeowners. After all, people usually want to be able to do whatever they desire with their homes and properties. However, the HOA architectural review committee is essential for several reasons.
1. Curb Appeal
The architectural review committee is at the forefront of the community’s efforts to preserve curb appeal. What they do will significantly impact how the community looks from the outside. Therefore, their decisions can make or break a potential buyer’s first impression.
In addition, some communities have stunning mountain or seaside views. The ARC may also be in charge of preventing modifications from blocking those views for the residents. One homeowner may want an extension that allows them to see the ocean better. However, doing so may block the view for another homeowner.
2. Rule Enforcement
Almost every CC&R will include architectural guidelines. The ARC plays an important role in monitoring the community for potential violations and enforcing those rules. Neglecting to enforce the guidelines may lead to unenforceable rules. Moreover, the board may be held accountable for not fulfilling its duties to the community.
3. Property Values
HOAs exist to preserve property values. While HOAs can do this by maintaining the common areas, preserving curb appeal is as essential to maintaining property values as proper upkeep. After all, aesthetic appeal significantly impacts how others perceive a planned neighborhood. Uniform exterior aesthetics can enhance the community’s reputation and ensure that property values remain high.
4. Board Assistance
The HOA board has many responsibilities. It can be difficult to balance community operations with architectural application reviews. A dedicated committee can reduce the board’s workload while allowing it to enforce the rules consistently.
HOA Architectural Review Process
How should your community review architectural changes and proposals? Here are the typical steps involved in the review process.
1. Application Submission
HOAs should provide a transparent process for architectural applications. Consider creating a physical or electronic form everyone can use to submit their requests. Moreover, it’s important to establish how they should submit their requests and the timeline for the approval process.
Regardless, the application should include essential information such as the property address, start and end dates for the project, the contractor’s name, and the proposed changes. The procedure should be distributed to the homeowners either digitally or physically. You can also include it on your HOA website.
2. Application Review
Once the homeowners have submitted their proposal, the ARC should examine the request and compare it with the CC&Rs. If there are questions or missing details, the ARC can ask the homeowner for clarification.
3. Deliberation and Decision
The ARC should deliberate and decide whether to propose modifications or approve or reject the request. The ARC needs to be consistent and not show favoritism when making their decision. Otherwise, they could be held liable for selective enforcement.
That said, the ARC should approve requests that do not violate the CC&Rs. They should also have reasonable grounds for their denials. If a proposal could be adjusted, they should also recommend changes to the homeowners so they can submit a revised application.
4. Written Notification
The ARC must send the homeowner a written notification of their decision, either in physical or electronic form. Often, the homeowners should expect a waiting period of 30-60 days.
5. Appeal
If their request is denied, homeowners may appeal the ARC’s decision. Sometimes, they may only need to apply the ARC’s suggested changes to approve their project. However, they should resubmit the application and not assume that making changes leads to automatic approval.
On the other hand, homeowners should also review state law and the governing documents. Depending on their provisions, the homeowners may not need to submit a reapplication to appeal the decision. When in doubt, talk to the board of directors.
An Indispensable Committee
The HOA architectural review committee (ARC) is essential for planned communities. It oversees applications and ensures that homeowners don’t violate the architectural guidelines. With an efficient ARC, the HOA can better preserve curb appeal and enhance property values.
Freedom Community Management offers industry-leading HOA management services to communities around Florida. Contact us online or call us today at 904-490-8191 for more details!
