HOA Rules That May Apply to Your Garage Door

If you live in a development that is controlled by a Home Owner's Association (HOA) you know - for better or worse - how total their control can be when it comes to what people can do to their own homes. That control typically extends from how often you need to mow your lawn to the color of the shingles on your roof, and everything in between. Which means most HOAs have plenty to say about garage doors. So in this post, our local install team up here in Loveland did a deep dive into one of our own technician's HOA guidelines to see if we could better understand the rules around garage doors.

Things Your HOA May Require Regarding Your Garage Door

While it's likely there will be some variation from HOA to HOA regarding garage doors these are some of the most common rules we've encountered that required HOA approval in order to install new garage doors around Colorado.

HOA Rules Regarding Installation

Before we get to the rules regarding the appearance of your garage door it's important to note that most HOAs will also have rules regarding the installation process.

Most importantly, don't even think about installing a new garage door without submitting a request to the HOA's review committee first. This request should include as many specifics about the door as possible as well as the proposed date and time of the installation, who will be performing it, and what type of door you're planning to install.

The people on the review committee (often but not always called the Architectural Review Committee or ARC) will go over your request with a fine-tooth comb. If they have any questions or decide you need to install it on another date or at another time of day, they'll tell you. In the unlikely event they completely reject your request you may be able to appeal.

HOA Rules Regarding the Garage Door Appearance

Before the garage door company arrives to install your garage door you will need to ensure it complies with the HOA's rule regarding appearance. In many cases the list of HOA rules governing the appearance can be formidable and may include the following:

• Style: You may have picked out a new garage door style that you think is perfect for your home but are you sure it's a style that will be allowed by the HOA? In most cases in order to maintain aesthetic consistency within the development the HOA will not allow garage doors that are significantly different from most others in the development.
• Color: Even if the style of the door you want is allowed by the HOA you most likely will not be able to paint it any color you want. It is almost a certainty that the HOA will have very strict rules regarding what colors are acceptable and what colors are not. For the most part if you paint it one of the same colors as your primary house colors you should be in the clear.
• Windows: Windows on your garage door are likely to be allowed, but not just any windows. They'll also likely have rules regarding how many windows and whether full view (all windows) garage doors are allowed. If you're wanting tined or frosted windows be sure and ask about that in your design proposal as well.
• Complementary hardware: Your HOA may have rules governing whether you can add things like carriage-house-style hinges or decorative flourishes. Most types are probably allowed but you'll want to still include this detail in your approval request to your HOA board.
• Maintenance: HOAs may require homeowners to keep their garage door in good working order in addition to its overall appearance. That typically means no peeling paint on the panels, no doors that hang unevenly, no broken panels and the like.

Why You Should Comply With HOA Rules

HOA rules can often seem, let's say, a bit excessive. But you ignore them at your own peril. If you agreed to abide by the HOA guidelines, compliance is not an option. In fact, the law gives Homeowners Associations a lot of leeway when it comes to enforcing HOA rules and guidelines, including granting them the power to levy fines and to revoke privileges like access community amenities.

If push comes to shove and the homeowner refuses to pay fines that were levied against them for, say, installing a non-approved garage door, the Homeowners Association even has the power to put a lien on the violator's property in order to collect the fine (and any penalties) owed.

“Before you sign off on a new garage door, make sure you've signed off with your HOA. Fixing a violation after installation is almost always more expensive than getting approval upfront.” — C & M Garage Doors Team

Garage Door Sales and Service From C & M Garage Doors

If you live in a development in Loveland or Greeley that has a Homeowners Association you don’t have to navigate the process alone. Our team can review your HOA guidelines with you, help you choose doors, colors, windows, and hardware that fit the rules, prepare the details your Architectural Review Committee wants to see, and coordinate installation once your project is approved.

Because we work with HOAs across Northern Colorado, we’re very familiar with common requirements and approval timelines in both Loveland and Greeley, and can streamline the entire end-to-end process; from design and documentation through final installation and follow-up service.