A Place for My Stuff Melissa Musser
George Carlin was a comedic genius who once spoke the wise words, “That’s all you need in life, a little place for your stuff.” We may repeatedly say to ourselves, “I need a little MORE place for my stuff.” Over the years, two totes of Christmas decorations have somehow grown to twelve. You’re tired of tripping over lawn tools to get to your gym equipment. You must keep your garbage cans stored out of sight from the street, but there is no way anything good is coming from that smell in your garage. Did you just get a love letter from your association for parking on the street because you can no longer park in your garage full of stuff? You, my friend, have realized that George Carlin was right, “Sometimes you gotta move; gotta get a bigger house. Why? No room for your stuff anymore.”
Maybe moving isn’t an option. Or you just want to keep your gardening tools in one place and your fishing gear in another and consider that the perfect solution might be a shed. You do your research, browse web sites, home improvement stores and even one of those custom shed lots with the buildings that look like mini-barns. You finally find the perfect option for your house, put in your order and start to contemplate all the room you’ll have for more stuff. But if you live in a homeowner’s association, you have some extra steps in this process. Before you have the shed delivered, understand the rules governing them in your association. Become informed on the standards and regulations as they pertain to the shed’s size, color and materials so that it meets the standards placed on the community.
Substantially Similar Materials
I came across a message board where the owner was upset that his HOA manager wouldn’t even forward his application for a corrugated metal shed to the Board because metal buildings were not permitted. Their association’s Declaration stated, “The exterior of the outbuilding must be constructed of substantially similar materials as the exterior of the house.” His argument was that he should be permitted to install a metal shed because it was made of the same material as his two garage doors and he would paint the metal the same color as his house. Ensure you understand the association’s interpretation of the term “similar”. If your home has a brick façade, are you required to have matching brick? Must your shed have matching roof shingles, be painted a certain color or have a concrete foundation?
24 Community Associations Journal | January/February 2018 Set Backs and Easements
Other factors an Architectural Control Committee (ACC) may have to enforce are distance to property lines or fences set forth on the plat map. Some associations may also have regulations around the amount of pervious surface required at each lot so that drainage and ground water issues are not created. Finally, they may have stipulations around placement of sheds so that they aren’t visible over fences or impact drainage and surface water elements.
Allowed Uses
What is the purpose of your shed? I have one association who has solved the age-old problem of no place to store stinky garbage cans by establishing a pre-approved storage shed perfect for holding three containers. But I have also had to deny applications for large outbuildings that were going to be used to store boats or trailers as their size and scale were not appropriate for the association. Does your association already have a published standard for pre- approved products and their placement, or does your HOA have a deed restriction against sheds of any type? Sometimes, your association isn’t trying to be difficult, but the Declaration prohibits any type of out-building.
City Permits
In certain situations, a city may require you to have a permit. If the structure is over a certain number of square feet, has a permanent floor or will have electrical work installed, you may need to obtain approval from your city before you even submit your ACC Application.
Many associations are concerned that sheds can have a negative impact on property values. However, sheds are not necessarily the problem. It’s usually the type of shed that negatively impacts the community. Cheaply made, poorly maintained outdoor buildings that are too large, don’t fit with the overall architectural aesthetic of the association and are built in a location on the lot that impacts the neighbor’s enjoyment of their backyard are contributing factors to the opinions against outbuildings. The right shed can help to keep yards clutter free, enable owners to use their garages for parking and keep garbage cans out of sight, the trick is working with your association on that place for your stuff.
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