This post will be the last in our series regarding how to establish an effective ACC process. We hope that the information provided has been useful and relevant to your Association!
By this point in the process you should have your Committee formed, hopefully have some basic design standards/guidelines in place, and a format/process by which your Association owners can submit requests. Now…the fun begins!
In recent posts we have discussed the foundations for establishing your HOA’s Architectural Control Committee (ACC) and the “nuts and bolts” of how the Committee operates. When we last left off there was direction given regarding establish ACC Standards/Guidelines, which will be the “bible” for how your ACC functions and makes decisions.
Most recent posts have focused on the basis for forming an Architectural Control Committee (ACC) and the “nuts and bolts” of how they are formed. We will now move forward and discuss some of the tools that an ACC will likely need in order to effectively function.
Our most recent posts have focused on the concept of an Architectural Control Committee (ACC). We explored the basis for forming an ACC, and the typical size/structure of the Committee. Now let’s forge ahead and discuss the actual scope of responsibilities that the ACC will be tasked with undertaking, and how it will function.
Our last article provided a basic overview of the concepts behind the authority and structure by which an HOA’s Architectural Control Committee (ACC) is established. As a brief recap, the ACC is defined by and created by the authority granted within the Association’s governing documents. The CC&R’s will specify the structure of the Committee, and lay out the guidelines for general responsibilities that the Committee is charged with.
This post is part one of three that will discuss the authority, structure and “best practices” for facilitating an Architectural Control Committee (ACC). A smoothly functioning ACC serves an integral role in assuring that exterior improvements and modifications executed by owners are harmonious with the standards and aesthetic expectations of the HOA.
Do you have what it takes to be a good board member? Chances are you do.
If you have a mix of some of the following traits and skills, consider running for a seat on the board.
One of the most important jobs a homeowners association Board has to do is to enforce the rules of the Association. As a Board member it is part of your duty to make sure all the regulations are followed by homeowners and the Board itself. Failure to do so can lead to chaos and confusion in your community and is a breach of your fiduciary responsibilities.
Deciding between self-managing your community or hiring a professional property management company can sometimes be tough. On the surface it may seem beneficial to forgo a property management company because of the cost savings, but don’t let that be your only focus.
CC&Rs are rules that property owners and residents must follow. Since rules are useless without a way to make sure people follow them, CC&Rs also contain provisions for enforcement. Just like the rules and restrictions, the enforcement provisions must also comply with existing laws. The enforcement process cannot violate residents’ personal rights or confiscate personal property. CC&Rs that have been around a long time may have become outdated and some of their provisions unenforceable.
Your homeowners association has three types of governing documents: Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (called “CC&Rs”), Rules & Regulations, and Bylaws. Frequently, the function of these documents or the role the Board and property management company plays in implementing them can be confusing.
When choosing to live in an HOA, property owners agree to covenants and conditions that restrict the use of their own property for two main reasons:
A community association can differ from a traditional non-association neighborhood in many different ways: There’s a quasi-government that makes sure the trash is picked up and the snow is plowed. There are mandatory member dues. There might be a more centralized, coherent sense of community. And there are rules. When homeowners buy into a community association, they’re agreeing to abide by certain restrictions and regulations.
This doesn’t always go over well.
