What's the Purpose of Restrictive Covenants?
These restrictions give a development a more standard appearance, and control some of the activities that take place within its boundaries. When enforced, restrictive covenants protect property values.
What You'll Always See in Covenants
Restrictive covenants nearly always stipulate the minimum size residence allowed, how many homes may be built on one lot, and what type of construction the homes must (or must not) be.
More Topics You'll See in Restrictive Covenants
- Set backs (how far homes must be from streets and interior lot lines)
- Easements (such as a pathway for power lines or roads)
- Fees for road maintenance or amenities
- Rules regarding changing or voiding the covenants
- Rules about pets and other animals (for instance: no breeding for profit, no livestock, no unchained pets, or restrictions on breeds)
- Regulations dealing with in-home businesses and home rentals
- Rules that limit tree-cutting
- Clauses that dictate what type of fencing can be used, or that forbid all types of fencing
- Clauses to reduce clutter on lots, such as prohibiting owners from storing a vehicle that doesn't run within view of others, or parking a recreational vehicle on the property
- Some restrictions limit the paint colors that can be used on a home's exterior. Some might require that all homes have a certain type of siding. In areas where wildfires are a problem, covenants might require you to use only fire retardant building materials
Covenant Disclosure
Your real estate agent should give you a copy of a development's restrictive covenants before you make an offer on the property. If restrictions are not offered, ask for them. If no one has a copy, go to the county courthouse and ask staff to find them for you--they should be included in public records.
Don't be surprised after the sale, get the facts about a property early on so that you can eliminate it from your possible choices if the covenants incllude more restrictions than you can live with.
More Deed Restrictions
Don't assume that a property is restriction-free just because it isn't in a development. There may be deed restrictions, rules and prior agreements to use that are recorded on an individual deed. Go to your local courthouse and read the current deed before you make an offer.
Watch for wording that limits property use, such as "no mobile homes," or "no commercial use.". Look for any statements that give others the right to use the property, such as easement rights. If statements reference a prior deed, look it up and read it.