Don’t Forget Your HOA When Buying Siding

Is it time to replace your siding? If so, you may be considering what kind style and color of siding to get—but before you make any purchases, it is important for you to consider your HOA’s codes and regulations—in fact, doing this could end up saving you a lot of time and money. Why exactly should you check with your HOA before you begin a new siding project?

If you’re a property owner in a planned community or condominium complex with a homeowner’s association (HOA), you very likely have to get permission from your HOA’s architectural committee before making any changes to your home’s exterior—and this includes replacing your siding. Actually, you may even need permission to replace your siding with the exact same kind of siding, just in case the siding of your house is slightly different than others in the community.

Your HOA may call it the architectural review committee, the art jury, the design review committee, or the environmental control committee—but the architectural committee’s range of authority is the same, no matter what it’s called. The architectural committee is responsible for enforcing aesthetic standards on all homeowners according to the HOA’s Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, also known as the CC&R. To ask for permission to get new siding for your home, you would need to go before your HOA’s architectural committee.

Before you check with your HOA, you may want to see what your siding options are by looking over your HOA’s CC&R, as some HOAs offer siding colors and styles that you can choose from. However, even if you choose a suggested siding from the list of approved options, you may still need authorization before proceeding.

The process of obtaining authorization to replace the siding on your house differs from place to place, and if you’re lucky, the process isn’t too time-consuming or tricky. Your HOA may even have a request form, sometimes known as an ARC—or architectural review committee—form, on their website that you can simply fill out and submit online. Some architectural committees provide siding samples that you may choose from as well. If you’re unsure of how to proceed, check with your HOA.