Getting around the HOA

[DFW-LSX]

I have an HOA that doesnt allow shops. The lot behind my house is forsale but they only allow houses to be built. I wonder if I could have a shell of a house built but when you drive through the garage door its wide open! Just kicking around possibilities....damn HOA.

 

[tncumminsguy]

build a shop/ apartment to match the house, might have to throw up some landscaping etc. But it might work since you are building some living quarters

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I have an HOA that doesnt allow shops. The lot behind my house is forsale but they only allow houses to be built. I wonder if I could have a shell of a house built but when you drive through the garage door its wide open! Just kicking around possibilities....damn HOA.

Probably would run into local building code issues. If its zoned residential, they probably won't allow anything but a residence on the property, at least it would have to be built first. This is the case in many areas. Also probably run into a minimum required square footage of living space restriction. They do think these things out pretty well to prevent what you are considering.

I realize you are stuck with the HOA, but folks would do well to look carefully at the rules and ask questions, BEFORE they sign on the dotted line. Generally, the HOA rules are set up by the developer/builder when they first plat out and establish a subdivision.

Charles

 

[browntown]

I've seen shops that look like that with false windows and shutters.

I get to present our color choices in a couple weeks to our HOA before we paint. Odd thing is that I still have to go through the motions if we paint it the exact same color.

 

[NAPPY]

i feel your pain. when i was look for a house to buy, i found one in a hoa with a garage built in the back. it was on a inside corner so the lot was shaped funny. it was a 1/3 acre. concrete from the sidewalk to the back wall of the yard. 2 car attached and 2 1/2 in the back with 220 ran. pull down attic storage and it matched the house. i was in love. they took my offer, but it only appraised for 100K. they wouldn't drop the price. 8 months later they sold it for 103k. damn banks.

 

[SeattleKent]

Move.

 

[moto367]

Move.

+1!!!

 

[admranger]

Have you talked to the HOA board and asked if you can get a variance? If you have some plans that would show what it would look like (i.e., it'll look as good or better than anything else in the neighborhood), how you'll manage noise from inside and out (i.e., no late night grinding that keeps light sleeping neighbors up), etc.?

The risk is that you give away your secret. The reward is that they could say: "sure, sounds good."

I do know that they will break your balls if you sneak around them and they figure it out. It's a power thing and when people feel wronged they will do everything in their power to make your life miserable, including making you tear it down. Crazier stuff has happened with HOAs around here.

 

[Falcon67]

You'd have to have it inspected and you'd get busted right off. I had to get a variance from the city to build an accessory building on a separate lot. That is a standard deal in just about every city code - no accessory building without a primary structure in a residential neighborhood. I managed to do that here in Small Town but in Abilene for sure and likely Fort Worth - betting no way in hell they'd sign off on it. Look for existing accessory structures in the neighborhood and maybe use that to work on a variance. Otherwise, you are pretty much stuck.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Texas has HOAs...........what is this country coming to?

 

[Falcon67]

Texas has HOAs...........what is this country coming to?

Houston/Harris County is full of 'em. Only way to keep things in order when there is no zoning and your neighborhood is outside the city limits. So they do some good if managed by reasonable persons. When we lived in Spring, the neighborhood to the west of our HOA controlled blocks had a shopping center, Walmart, couple of rows of single family homes, two horse/cattle farm areas, couple of auto repair shops and a biker bar. Quite a mix. If you had a house in the middle of the housing, no problem. Live on the western edge - is that smell a dead cow or those people sleeping it off on the lawn of the bar...

 

[JMURiz]

Do they ban personal shops, or just a for-profit business shop?

 

[KPSquared]

The way to get around an HOA is to not live where there is one. You knew the rules when you signed up, or at least you should have. If you didn't read everything you were signing, then the only one to blame is yourself.

You should get the best plans, drawings, pictures, 3d renderings, or whatever you can to show the best picture of what it could look like. Then apply for a variance. That's gonna be the only solution to getting a shop other than moving. . .

 

[Bustedwheel]

Problem solved

 

[DekeT]

You moved into an area with a HOA and agreed to the rules. What part of the decision was not yours? You have no complaints. I just don't get people who refuse to take responsibility for their actions.

 

[Frank The Plumber]

Move.

Yup. That's the solution.

 

[tnshovelhead]

Get on the board of the HOA. Lots of times this will help with a "variance" decision. Show them a good plan and how it actually improves the look of the community. I'll bet it would have a good chance of getting approved.

 

[tnshovelhead]

...or...go to the next association meeting and petition to change the by-laws. It's not impossible.

 

[98TJ]

Lower level - garage.

Upper level - living area.

Problem solved.

 

[jocko87]

Lower level - garage.

Upper level - living area.

Problem solved.

I have a neighbor with a house like that. It's a beautiful two story brick with a plus sized 4 car for the first floor, one door on the front and one in the back yard. It does look a bit odd because the main garage door on the front is in the middle of the house. The second floor is about 1400 sq ft living area. Kinda odd but you could probably get it by an HOA (we are not).