Architectural Review
Before engaging in many major repairs, additions, or other structural change to their home or property, homeowners in Hope Valley Farms North may need HOA approval. To ensure a “harmony of external design and location and relation to surrounding structures and topography,” the HOA created an architectural review committee made up of HOA Board members to advise homeowners, review approve potential changes, and either approve or deny the request.
Failure to obtain proper approval can lead to your home and property becoming out of compliance with HOA rules and restrictions. This could subject you to fines of up to $100 per day, as well as the added cost of bringing your home into compliance.
When Do I Need Approval?
The following are many of the most common situations homeowners encounter when approval is required, but this is by no means a comprehensive list. It is best reach out to the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) at arc@hvfnorth.com if you aren’t sure if your project requires approval or not.
- Painting your home a different color
- Adding a pool, shed, chicken coop, or other structure
- Adding a porch, deck, pergola, three-season room, or addition
- Changing your roof style or color
- Adding solar panels
- Adding or altering a property fence
- Removing large, healthy trees (Bradford Pears and diseased or damaged trees may be removed without approval)
- Major landscaping changes
How Do I Get Approval?
First, review the Architectural Guidelines, to learn about the specific neighborhood rules that may apply to your project. If you’d like to request prior feedback from the ARC, you can reach them at arc@hvfnorth.com.
Next, make sure you have all the needed documents for your project. Depending on the project, these may include:
- A photo of your home in its current state, showing the entire front of the home and the yard, to establish a baseline for approval.
- Foundation survey or similar site plan, completed by a professional surveyor, including dimensions, the location of the proposed alteration or addition, existing buildings and improvements and property lines with the required minimum set back lines. (Download sample survey).
- Detailed construction drawings to scale, including a full view of
the addition, with elevations, as it will look attached to the existing structure. - Profile view, pictures, or other similar information to indicate the
final appearance of the improvement. - Description of color (include color samples), construction material, or other relevant information.
- A landscape plan and plant schedule, if applicable or required.
- Perspective drawings for complex projects.
Submit Your Application
Once you have ensured your project follows neighborhood guidelines, and you have obtained all the required signatures and documents, you may submit your application in one of two ways:
- Completing the HVFN Online Application Form (preferred)
- Downloading and completing the printed application form, and sending it and all other documents via mail to HVFN, P.O. Box 99149, Raleigh, NC 27624
Once your application is submitted, the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) will review proposed architectural changes. The ARC will meet to review the request and will respond within a maximum of 30 days, indicating that the request is approved, approved with modifications, additional information is required, or denied.
If you are not satisfied with the decision reached by the ARC, you may appeal the decision to the Board of Directors by requesting an appeal in writing to the Chair of the ARC, arc@hvfnorth.com.