Victoria Place Owners Association Architectural Review Board: Guidelines for Approval of Projects (As revised October 21, 2004)

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1 Victoria Place Owners Association Architectural Review Board: Guidelines for Approval of Projects (As revised October 21, 2004) The purpose of this document is to provide a uniform set of guidelines for approval of architectural changes in the Victoria Place community. Requiring approval for architectural changes has been demonstrated to be an effective way of maintaining value, appearance, and peace in a community. By publishing these standards and making them available to all homeowners (and renters) we hope there will be less confusion as to what is acceptable. All exterior changes to property must be approved by the Architectural Review Board ( ARB ). All construction is subject to county rules and regulations. You must obtain all necessary permits. However, keep in mind that county approval does not negate the need to receive ARB approval. In some situations the neighborhood may have restrictions or specifications that are greater than those imposed by the county (examples: fencing, storage buildings). It is important understand that failure to secure ARB approval (where required) or violation of Use Restrictions may result in action by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has the authority to demand restoration of unapproved modifications. Owners making changes or alterations without ARB prior approval subject themselves to possible rejection of the improvement and subsequent restoration and legal costs. Please plan improvements in advance to assure time for review by the ARB prior to beginning work. Remember, these guidelines were established to benefit all homeowners by maintaining property values in our community. ARB Procedures: Applications for ARB Approval may be obtained from the Management Company: Laura Caprio Community Association Manager 4700 Millenia Blvd. Suite 515 Orlando, FL lcaprio@community-mgmt.com. Completed applications are to be delivered to the Management Company. Requests must be submitted by the 28th of each month. Requests received by the 28th will be reviewed and approved / or not approved by the ARB by the date of the next Board of Directors meeting. Written notification of the ARB decision will be mailed to the homeowner within seven days of the Board meeting. The ARB is made up of up of three to seven individuals who vote in writing. For an application to receive approval, a majority of the voting Architectural Review Board members must favor the application. In the event of a tie vote, then the final decision will be made the Board of Directors. Any party aggrieved by a decision of the ARB shall have the right to make written request to the Board of Directors within thirty days of such decision, for a review thereof. The determination of the Board of Directors upon reviewing any such decision shall in all events be dispositive. Time to Commence: After approval by the ARB all work must commence within six months. If work does not start within that time then approval shall be deemed withdrawn and it will be necessary for the applicant to resubmit the plans to the ARB for reconsideration. 2/16/ :04 PM Page #! 1 of 6!

2 Time to Complete: Once construction is commenced, it shall be diligently pursued to completion. Completion of all modifications shall take place within six months after commencement unless otherwise stated on the approved plans. The applicant may request an extension of such maximum time period not less than one month prior to expiration of the maximum time period, which the ARB may approve or disapprove at its sole discretion. If construction is not completed on a project within the specified time period, then approval shall be deemed withdrawn and the incomplete construction shall be deemed to be in violation of the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions. Changes After Approval: All proposed changes to plans made after the approval of plans must be submitted to and approved in writing by the ARB prior to implementation. If Orange County or any other authority having jurisdiction requires that changes be made to final construction plans previously approved by the ARB, the applicant must notify the ARB of such changes and receive approval by the ARB prior to implementing such changes. Air Conditioning Equipment: Window or wall units are not permitted. Outside heat pump and AC equipment must be screened from public view by either fencing or shrubs. (Fencing must be approved by the ARB.) Awnings: Not permitted on front or sides of home. Awnings on the rear of house require ARB approval. Basketball backboards: see Play Structures/Games, later in this document Clothes Drying: Clothesline and clothes hanging devices shall not be visible from the street or from neighboring lots. When drying clothes in a garage, the door must remain closed. Compost Containers: ARB approval is required for the installation of a compost container. Containers shall not be immediately visible to adjacent properties and owner must control odors. Dog Houses/Pens/Runs: Must be in a fenced yard and require ARB approval if visible from the street. Placement cannot cause disturbance to neighbors. Doors including screen and storm doors: Doors that match or blend with the house are generally permitted, but require ARB approval. Screens on garage door openings are not permitted. Driveways: see Slabs, Sidewalks Energy Conservation: Solar panels and other energy conservation devices need ARB approval and cannot be located on the front part of house or lot unless owner can substantiate that this is the only location where the device(s) will work and the device(s) are reasonably shielded from view. Fences: All new fences and replacement of fences must be approved by the ARB. Wood fences must be made of 1/2 (or thicker) boards that are pressure treated. (The ARB understands that 1/2 lumber is slightly thinner when finished.) Fences must extend to the ground (may use landscaping timbers to fill bottom gap). Fence braces must face towards the owner s house. Maximum height permitted is six feet. Painting/staining is encouraged, but requires approval of color. No fence may extend past the front of the owner s house or adjacent houses. Corner lots may be granted exemptions in special circumstances. Block construction is allowed, but must be stuccoed and painted. Paint and construction require ARB approval. PVC (vinyl) fencing is allowed, but requires approval. No chain link fences permitted. 2/16/ :04 PM Page #! 2 of 6!

3 Fences that extend into the Victoria Place Owners Association s landscape buffer cannot exceed the height of the association s wall as it meets the wall and must gradually taper down to wall height over a distance of least eight feet up to the wall. Flagpoles and Flags: Display of the US Flag in a tasteful manner is encouraged. Brackets for a flagpole may be erected on any house without ARB approval. No more than 2 flags, on separate poles, may be attached to a house. Owners may attach flags of reasonable size (3 ft x 5 ft) with mountings not to exceed eight foot, attached to the house or garage. Flags shall be in good condition and shall not be torn or faded. Flagpoles do require ARB approval. However, ARB approval will generally be granted provided the pole is of a reasonable height, is of good quality, is of a type usually designed to serve as a flagpole and is positioned in a reasonable location in the yard. Garage Doors: Owners must maintain a garage door consistent with the styles in neighborhood and changes require ARB Approval. Garage doors should be painted a single color to match either the house base color or trim color. Colors and garage door type require ARB approval. Garbage and Trash Containers: Must be screened from public view by either using fencing or by planting shrubs. (Fencing used as a screen requires ARB approval.) Gazebos and Greenhouses: ARB approval is required prior to the construction of any gazebo, greenhouse or solarium. Any gazebo, greenhouse or solarium must be an integral part of the landscape plan, be located in the rear yard and must not obstruct any adjacent property owner s view. Hedges: Hedges or continual row of shrubs greater than 18 in height shall not be permitted in the front yard if adjacent to the sidewalk. Holiday Lighting and Decorations: Holiday decorations, tastefully displayed during a reasonable period surrounding the holiday do not require ARB Approval. Outdoor holiday lighting and decorations must be removed shortly after the holiday season. This would be January 31st for Christmas decorations and within one week after all other holidays. Outdoor Christmas decorations and lighting may be installed up to 6 weeks prior to the holiday. Outdoor decorations for other holidays may be installed up to four weeks prior to the holiday. No outdoor holiday lights or decorations shall be installed that may be or become an annoyance or a nuisance to the residents of adjacent property. Hot Tubs and Saunas: ARB approval is required prior to the construction of any hot tub, outdoor Jacuzzi or spa and such items shall be an integral part of the deck or patio area and/or the rear yard landscaping. Landscaping, Trees and Lawns: When a reconfiguration of the front bedding area indicates that more than 50% of the front yard will remain lawn and the remaining landscaping conforms to minimum landscaping standards as listed below, Applicant need not seek approval of the plan. If however, a plan indicates that 50% or more of the front yard is to be landscaped, or the landscaping varies from the typical approved plan, Applicant must submit the plan for ARB review. Plans including water improvements, such as ponds and waterfalls, require ARB approval. Minimum Landscape: Dead plants and trees should be replaced at the minimum quality and quantity as original plantings installed by the builder: i.e. 3-4 trees, 3 gallon foundation plants on the front facade of house. Maximum height for hedges is six feet. Hedges on the front facade of house should not hide more than 25% of the windows. When replacing lawns, owners are encouraged to use St. Augustine grass. Trees and shrubs in the front yard, with trunks exceeding six inches in diameter, as measured three feet from the ground, shall not be cut down or destroyed without ARB approval. Approval will generally be granted when at least one other tree of six inches in diameter is in the front yard. 2/16/ :04 PM Page #! 3 of 6!

4 Vegetable gardens shall be allowed in rear yards only, unless otherwise approved on a case-by-case basis by the ARB. Latticework and Trellises: Latticework or a garden trellis which is a part of the landscaping and compatible with the exterior of a structure requires ARB approval but is generally acceptable. Lawn Decorations/Pots/Outdoor Furniture/Statues: As a general rule small numbers (five or less) of decorative planting pots, lawn decorations and outdoor furniture are allowable in the front yard (and visible side yard) of property without ARB approval. These would include such things as reasonably small (less than 2 ft in either height, width or depth) decorative pots, planters, animal figurines, statues, topiaries, and lawn balls. These may not be offensive in nature to the general population (examples: no nude statues or items with profane writing). These may not be permanent in nature (they must be easily moved to another location.) More than five (in total) of these types of items will require ARB approval of the overall decorating scheme. Display of larger items requires ARB approval. Generally, such items as old wagons, sea memorabilia, museum pieces, art sculptures, and large topiaries will not be approved for display in the front or side yard. Small amounts of furniture, such as one decorative bench or up to three decorative chairs tastefully displayed as part of a landscape plan requires ARB approval. (note this sentence was moved to its own section: Holiday Lights and Decorations) Lights: ARB approval is required for addition of outside fixtures, or replacement of such with any style other than the original. This includes lamp posts, security floodlights and walkway and driveway lighting. All exterior lighting, excluding holiday lighting, must be white, clear or yellow bug bulbs. No outdoor lighting shall be installed that may be or become an annoyance or a nuisance to the residents of adjacent property. (also see Holiday Lighting and Decorations) Paint: ARB approval is required before any exterior surface is painted or repainted including repainting to the original colors. Considerations to be used in determining whether a color is approved are: Color is commonly used on houses in this neighborhood or other subdivisions in this area with similar (or higher) property values. Color is compatible with neighboring houses. A color may be rejected because it has been used too predominately in adjacent homes (example: several houses in a row painted the same color scheme). A color may also be rejected because it is too bright/dark when viewed adjacent to a neighboring bright/dark house. Base color must be flat or satin finish. Trim colors must be flat, satin or semi-gloss. Glossy paint is not allowed. All house repainting (and new addition painting) requires advance approval from the ARB, even when repainting the existing colors. In some instances current colors may not be re-approved. Owners are encouraged (but not required) to paint 2 ft by 2 ft swatches of proposed house paint colors on less visible portions of their house so that both the owner and the ARB can more accurately assess the impact of the color during the approval process. These swatches must be repainted to an approved color if they are rejected by the ARB. Applications for ARB approval of house colors must include color samples of both the house and trim colors along with a description of where each color is to be applied. This description should include colors for garage door, front door, trim along roofline, stucco on house, stucco on columns, decorative trim on columns and shutters (if applicable). In order that a color sample be available to each member of the ARB for review, please use the following guidelines for providing samples. Samples may be either the proposed paint color applied 2/16/ :04 PM Page #! 4 of 6!

5 on 8 1/2 x 11 (or larger) white card stock (one sheet for each color), or a minimum of 7 (each) color samples from manufacturer. Another option is to paint a 2 ft x 2 ft swatch of house color on the house (and 2 ft long swatch on the trim by roof) in an area where ARB members may view the color, and then provide one sample of each color with the application. Owners wishing to repaint colors exactly the same as are currently existing on the house need only provide one set of color samples, along with a color photo of the house Play structures/games: Must be located at the rear of the house (except basketball backboards). Basketball backboards, if located in front of the house, require ARB Approval and must be installed at the halfway point of driveway on the side nearest the end of lot. Also, basketball backboards are permitted to be installed on the front of home, above the garage door if approved by the ARB. Play houses, other than temporary, portable structures, need ARB approval. Pools: All pool construction and accompanying screen and deck construction must be approved by the A.R.B. No above ground pools shall be permitted (except kiddy pools not exceeding eighteen inches in depth). Pool Equipment and Propane Tanks: Must be screened from public view by either using fencing or planting shrubs, which must be approved. Rain Gutters and Downspouts: Gutters and downspouts that match the trim color do not require approval; others do. Roofing: Roofing shingles, when replaced, must be equivalent to or better than those originally installed by builder (color, texture, mildew resistance). Owners may reroof without prior ARB Approval if the reroofing is done with the same color and type of shingles, or same color and upgraded to architectural shingles. Changes to color require prior approval by the ARB, as would roofs of any type other than the asphalt shingles currently used in the neighborhood. Room Additions: All room additions, and screen enclosures require ARB approval. Satellite dishes/outside Antennas: Satellite dishes less than one meter in size and TV antennas are allowed, but require ARB approval on location. Larger satellite dishes and outside radio antennas will not be approved. ARB recommendations for placement of small satellite dishes are: South and West facing homes: Not visible from front or the side. On a pole erected within 2 feet of rear wall with pole height not higher than eve Anywhere along lower 2 feet of backside of roof North and East facing homes: Not visible from front or the side. On a pole erected within 2 feet of rear wall with pole height not higher than eve Rear wall Any other mounting requests will be dealt with individually Screen & Storm Doors: (see Doors, earlier in this document) Signs One standard and reasonable sign indicating a home is for sale or rent may be posted at a location reasonably near the front of the home on the lot that is for sale or rent. The sign may not be greater than three square feet in size. Signs shall not be located between the sidewalk and the curb. Permanent business, trade, or commercial signs are prohibited. No billboards shall be erected or maintained or displayed. 2/16/ :04 PM Page #! 5 of 6!

6 One security sign is permitted in the front yard located either adjacent to the driveway or in close proximity to the front entrance of the main dwelling. Security company signs are also permitted in the windows. Security and identification signs shall not exceed 8" by 10" and the ARB may impose shape and color restrictions on security signs. Up to two political signs may be placed on individual lots during the 30 day period immediately preceding the applicable political election. Such signs should be removed within one week of the applicable election. One sign on a fence or gate for " Beware of Dog " is permitted up to 8 " by 10. Identification signs (numbers) for Lots are required. Numbers should be at least 3 " high, visible and legible from the street on which the house fronts. The color must contrast with the immediate background material. Slabs/Walkways: Need ARB approval. All driveways, sidewalks and slabs must be concrete unless a different material is approved by the ARB. Painting, paving and refinishing of driveways, sidewalks and slabs requires ARB approval. Storage Buildings: In certain situations, owners may be given approval to construct storage buildings in their fenced back yard. Please note the following guidelines. Building must be of a type that will not rust or rot (no steel or aluminum buildings allowed) Must be located in the rear yard. Must be within a yard that is fenced with a 6 ft. high fence Must meet all county guidelines for placement and construction and have a county permit for construction if permanent and required by the county. No building in easements. Height cannot exceed 8 ft. generally. In some circumstances 9 ft. height may be allowed. Width and length cannot exceed 10 ft by 12 Must blend well with the existing house colors and landscaping. No air conditioning units allowed Limited electrical wiring allowed (primarily for lights and receptacles) Landscaping must be installed around the building to help shield it from neighbors and the street view and be placed in such a location to help shield it from the neighbors and street. Water conditioners: Water conditioners or softeners may be installed without approval provided that such are totally screened from view with shrubbery. Windows/Shutters: Windows should be clear glass or a tinted glass of bronze, gray, or smoke colors. Window film must get ARB approval. Homeowners must submit sample of film with specifications. Window film must be 20% visible light reflected or less and non-reflective. No burglar bars, steel or wrought iron bars, or similar fixtures shall be installed on the exterior of any windows. ARB approval is required for exterior window shutters. Shutters should be of a material similar to and of a color and design generally accepted as complementary to the exterior of the house. No hurricane or storm shutters shall be installed without ARB approval. Approved hurricane shutters and/or temporary protective covering shall be allowed only after a storm warning has been issued by the U.S. Weather Service. Approved permanent hurricane shutters must be opened and temporary protective coverings removed within 48 hours after the all clear is announced. 2/16/ :04 PM Page #! 6 of 6!