permission for swing sets?

I looked in our HOA book and did not see anything listed about approval for swingsets in our back yards for children. When i was online today looking at the approval process for fences I saw this:

" All homeowners must submit an application to this committee if they wish to do any modifications to the exterior of their home including but not limited to: decks, fences, swing sets, etc. "

We have a daughter and will be installing a fence which we will submit for approval but you can be sure we want to install some play equipment. What are the guidelines for swingsets, playhouse, etc..?

 

I've had it explained to me that as far as play equipment and other items in the yard a good general rule to follow is that if you can easily move it around yourself then it won't need approval. (IE: small plastic kiddie pools, lawn furniture, stand alone plastic little tike slides and other things that might get brought inside when not in use or after summer is over.)

If you want a full sized swing/play set it will need approval.

I'm pretty sure there is a section, independent of the fence section that covers it and cites more specifics. I don't have the HOA "bible" in front of me to tell you the exact page - maybe someone else does...?

 

Two or three months ago, there were some homeowners walking door to door trying to get signatures to petition the HOA to allow fences 6 feet high (currently its 4 feet). I'm hoping they got enough signatures as I'm planning to build a fence. Any word if it got approved?

 

As I understand it, the petition was only for the single family homes in the Longleaf area, and it was denied. According to the folks that presented the petition (we saw them last week while both walking our dogs), the HOA said it would consider requests for such fencing on a case-by-case basis, particularly for those homes on Milford Drive that back up to the new townhomes. But the HOA did not want to grant a neighborhood-wide deviation from the regular fencing covenants.

 

JT -
I actually live in the long leaf area and want to build a 6 foot fence - since we back to a major road and want some privacy. Are all the single family houses in broadlands not allowed to build 6 foot fences or just the ones in longleaf and southern walk (since its neighborhood wide)? Also, do you happen to have the email addresses of the persons that submitted this petition, maybe we can bring it back to life. Another reason why we should all attend HOA meetings. Thanks!

 

I don't have the email addresses for the person that presented the petition ... I just know them from dog walking in the neighborhood. If you look at the HOA documents, I think you'll find an answer to your specific issue already provided for. The general prohibition on privacy fencing (6') for single family homes is for all of Broadlands. But there is something in there about waivers for the back of property when it's along a major roadway.

Feel free to email me directly if you want to discuss this in greater detail (i.e., I don't feel comfortable putting other people's names on here).

 

What about those toddler swing sets made by little tykes that are plastic? It would probably take two people to move because it's ackward but I can't really believe that these would need prior approval to boot? How can we find out?

I thought they were talking about the large wood swingsets/or metal that we traditionally think of when we think of swing sets.