Thinking of some modification of your beautiful but idle backyard? Setting up a gazebo can be the most viable solution! In the process, one important thing you may forget other than planning and designing is, getting the approval of the concerned authority. Depending on the intensity of the design, the gazebo’s size, and the features within it- you may need to notify a certain municipal authority. And that would be the Homeowner’s Association or the HOA!
But do you need HOA approval for gazebo? The importance of obtaining such approval may not seem important to you at first glance. But in actuality, they are very important and sometimes have serious consequences if not obtained properly. If you are thinking of setting up a gazebo in your backyard, you may want to read this article for sure. In this article, we will cover the basic definition of HOA and Gazebo, why you need HOA approval for a gazebo, the approval process, the consequences of having a gazebo without HOA approval, and many more. So read the content thoroughly to have a legalized Gazebo.
Key Takeaways
- HOA or Homeowners Association works as a community-based administrational organization.
- For the safety of the gazebo users, it is necessary to review the design plan prior to making it.
- HOA reviews the gazebo plan and gives insights for better safety and appearance.
- Ignoring your local HOA’s instruction to avail approval can lead to fines and other actions.
HOA and Gazebo
Before going into the why and hows, let’s have some basic definitional information on HOA and Gazebo respectively.
- HOA: HOA stands for Homeowner’s Association in short. It is not a central countrywide organization but rather your local homeowner’s unity club. They can come in according to your local area name and their purpose is to watch over every well-being of the local house owners. It includes the structural authenticity and safety of the houses too.
- Gazebo: Gazebo is one of the finest patio structures available out there. It comes with a structural definition of several columns and a solid roof. The floor can be further developed higher than the surrounding surface. It is one of the heavily formed patio structures that use heavy construction material to pull off.
Do I need HOA Approval for A Gazebo?
To answer the question, yes, you may need HOA approval for a gazebo. Although it depends entirely on the local HOA’s rules and regulations. To elaborate, you need to get approval for any heavy modification of your house. It is also applicable if you intend to build any outdoor structure that will be in place permanently and wasn’t mentioned on your house plan initially.
Why it needs to be approved?
As mentioned earlier, a gazebo is a pretty heavy structure. If it was a makeshift tent, then you wouldn’t need any approval because a tent is not a permanent structure and can be shifted or removed without demolishing anything. Whereas, a gazebo needs a decent amount of time to build and its removal also requires a heavy demolishing process. Another important view is the external supply line such as power, and gas attached to it, makes it even more obvious for a formal inspection and approval.
Altogether, the overall build intensity of a gazebo is way too important to ignore its safety and other concerning sides linked to it. So their presence should be as per a formatted guideline. Also, their existence should be reviewed and approved by a proper local authority like HOA.
Reasons for Gazebo’s HOA Approval
HOA as a household supervising organization in any local community, implements a more robust approval requirement reasons. This reason complies with the overall benefit of the household owner, and the community in the greater scenario. Some of the reasons are:
1. Maintaining design consistency
Every Homeowners Association has a primary motive to keep all the house appearance synchronized to bear a similar aesthetic standard. This brings a cohesive and appealing community appearance too. Meaning, that the outer appearance of all the houses in a community must keep a certain standard. But if one gazebo design goes out of the line, it can bring down the overall synchronization to extinction. Prior approval can review the design and other perimeters to ensure that everything is going the right way.
2. To increase property value
Infrastructure like a gazebo adds a great addition to every household. A gazebo that is well-designed and properly maintained can increase property value. Imagine the price difference between one house with a pool and one without that. A well-synced gazebo that implies its design not just with the house but also with the community brings a better property value. HOA’s review and approval ensures that to not just one particular house but to all of the landlords.
3. Meet proper safety & compliance
Ensuring proper safety and compliance implementation is every HOA’s one of the core duties. Every household owner takes prior approval of their house plan. They also take necessary safety certifications from federal authorities. A structure like a gazebo isn’t an integral part of the main house structure. Rather they work as a decorative structure in your backyard with the sole purpose of spending leisure outdoor time. That’s why a HOA has jurisdiction over them to review their safety margins.
By going through the approval process, gazebos can be assessed for structural integrity and adherence to safety standards. It ensures that the installation of gazebos does not pose any hazards or risks.
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How to Get HOA Approval for Gazebo?
If you live in an HOA-socially administrated community, then obtaining the necessary approval from them is a must. To retain such approval, you must be a current resident of that community and, have to file the application with the necessary documentation. The application process includes:
1. Check local HOA rules
Prior to applying for a gazebo setting approval, you must be aware of the HOA rules and regulations regarding gazebo requirements. If the rules require a formal application process, then it should also mention certain criteria to meet, for availing a gazebo. Make a checklist of your own to see if your outstanding plan is aligned with the requirements. These rules can vary in different community HOA. Such as some may require additional visible modification of the gazebo, whereas some HOAs have forbidden doing it. So knowing the rules first is important.
2. File the application
The next process is tricky if not taken seriously. To apply, contact the HOA office to get the application paper. Fill in the required information carefully. Apart from your personal information, you may have to mention some gazebo information such as the type, area, and material that will be used. Some HOAs may have online applications on their website. To attach any paper to the application, just scan or capture a photo of them and upload the file along with the application. The board may also require additional information depending on the specific regulations. Remember that, the possibility of approval heavily relies on the proper application.
3. Meet compliance audit
After you have applied successfully, the review will analyze the information you have submitted to see if it meets their required standard. They will also further cross-check the authenticity of the information. Based on the review procedure, there might be some on-site inspection from the HOA authority to determine the most practical opinion. In some cases, these inspections can lead to some modification of your gazebo work.
4. Get approval
After reviewing your application to determine whether it meets the required structural integrity and design synchronization, you will be green-signaled to go ahead with the project. But if HOA finds it the other way, your application can also get rejected. If that is the case, then you will be notified what were the reasons behind that. You might need to change certain designs and materials. After doing so, you can re-apply again to get the approval.
Gazebo Without a HOA Approval
As it stands out, depending on your local HOA’s requirement, you may have to avail of such approval, prior to setting up your gazebo. This certification is crucial to meet the safety of the gazebo. Many community HOA have the stickier discipline to implement such approval for gazebos. Setting up such a patio structure without HOA approval can lead to fines, legal action, or being asked to remove the structure at your own cost.
You have to understand that this approval is part of the HOA’s effort to keep you and your property safer.
FAQs
Unless you are living outside of a community alone, there is no way to ignore the HOA rules and regulations. Even if there are any, you should still stick by the law to prevent accidents and out of respect for the community.
Gazabos are typically made of wood, steel, aluminum, and vinyl. Some people go more advanced to set up concrete-made gazebos for a permanent stay. The use of these heavy materials makes them permanent.
An HOA forms the very society by converging the household owners together. It acts like a machine to bring people together and help each other by any means.
Final Thoughts
HOA is the common administrative board to ensure a better living environment in every community. Their duty concludes to review the house and any other structure within it as per the safety and appearance standards. Gazebo in your backyard is a heavy infrastructure to ignore reviewing its safety. It is made of concrete and may have electricity, and even a gas line for warming in the winter. That’s why just like reviewing your house design to the municipality is mandatory, for the same reason obtaining approval from your local HOA office to set up a gazebo is also important. It ensures the structural integrity, design, color, theme, and overall safety meet the standard community standard.
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I am Donald M. Beyer and I am backyard enthusiasts. I am a homeowner who has been doing DIY projects in and out of my house for many years. From simple backyard lunches to making an old-school pizza oven in my own backyard, I have a lot of experience in turning my backyard into my and my family’s personal playground.
