It is estimated that over 70% of homeowners in HOA communities have restrictions they must adhere to for hurricane protection. These regulations are designed to maintain HOA community aesthetics while boosting property value and curb appeal. However, sometimes they can feel restrictive, especially when upgrading your Florida home’s storm protection. Hurricane season is an intense six-month stretch in Florida (June to November), and having storm protection is crucial. So understanding HOA restrictions on hurricane shutters is essential to ensure you are prepared.
Protecting your home is a must. And doing so in a way that harmonizes the look of your shutters with your community’s visual appeal can be challenging. With so much at stake, ensuring that your hurricane shutters in Southwest Florida provide robust protection while meeting your community’s HOA guidelines is crucial.
One goal of an HOA is to create a cohesive, inviting environment for the community. Rules like HOA restrictions on hurricane shutters, along with others, are intended to create aesthetic consistency in a community. This is why the restrictions on the types of hurricane shutters allowed (or not allowed) are put in place.
Fortunately, homeowners in HOAs can strike a careful balance between protection and meeting HOA requirements.
Why Can’t I Choose My Own Shutters? Understanding HOA Restrictions on Hurricane Shutters
If you’ve wondered why your choice of hurricane shutters is under scrutiny, you’re not alone. But the thing to remember is that they are doing it for a reason. HOAs aren’t out to make your life harder. But they are tasked with preserving the neighborhood’s aesthetic harmony, which also preserves appearance and property values.
Think about it. Would you want a neighbor’s neon green hurricane shutters ruining your home’s curb appeal? And a building with ten types of hurricane shutters in a row would not look outstanding either.
Sometimes it might feel like HOAs are overstepping their bounds. However, HOAs step in to create order, ensuring each home or condo blends in with the overall HOA community standards.
At the same time safety of HOA residents should be make ensuring residents’ safety a top priority. According to FEMA, storm shutters can reduce hurricane-related property damage by up to 80%. In turn, it is important for HOAs to ensure proper safety standards while also aligning the shutter requirements with HOA community guidelines.
In turn, HOA rules and restrictions can be used to help strike a balance of safeguarding homes without sacrificing neighborhood charm. Understandably, feeling like your creative freedom is restricted can be frustrating. But it’s all part of the greater goal of maintaining a beautiful, safe community.
The Fine Print—What Hurricane Shutter Restrictions Do HOAs Typically Enforce?
HOA restrictions on hurricane shutters are similar to those on all restrictions on the exterior of the building. Just like paint color restrictions and more. These restrictions are like the small print on a warranty: it’s essential to understand them.
The hurricane protection guidelines in Florida vary from one HOA to another. So it is important to understand your specific HOA community’s guidelines. With that being said, the restrictions generally focus on materials, colors, and designs.
- The HOA will determine which, if any hurricane shutter types are allowed, including acceptable colors and other features.
- Some HOAs do not allow hurricane shutters, and instead only allow impact windows in Southwest Florida and other hurricane prone areas. Windows may be required in order to not change the exterior look of the building. Even with windows, the HOA most likely has restrictions of the colors of the frames, as well as films on the glass.
- Flashy, colors are typically a no-go. HOAs often demand neutral tones, like whites, beige, dark bronze, and ivory. These choices blend with the property’s exterior and the overall vibe of the neighborhood, keeping things cohesive. Their goal is that anything on the exterior of the building is cohesive and put there intentionally when the property was built.
- HOAs may have requirements on the level of protection for the shutters (or windows). For instance, they will require hurricane-rated shutters or impact windows. These are made from durable and storm-rated materials like aluminum, impact-resistant fabric, or polycarbonate. Not all materials are created equal when standing up against hurricane-force winds and flying debris. The aim is to ensure your shutters protect your home without resembling a patchwork quilt of mismatched options.
- The HOA will determine which types of hurricane shutters are allowed. Accordion shutters, roll-down shutters, and removable panels are popular options, but the style must be approved and match your community’s architectural design theme. For example, installing something overly modern in a colonial-style neighborhood would be a hard pass for most HOAs.
HOA rules may feel restrictive. Just remember they are meant to keep your neighborhood looking polished while preventing one person’s “tasteful” choice from becoming another person’s “eyesore.”
Approved Materials, Colors, and Designs: The Typical “Don’ts”
As we mentioned above, it is important to understand your HOA’s requirements and restrictions for hurricane shutters before you order or install them. The guidelines will outline if hurricane shutters are allowed, along with the types and colors allowed, etc.
Below are some easy no-no’s to adhere to when it comes to HOA restrictions for hurricane shutters.
- Avoid unapproved style or materials. These would render hurricane shutters ineffective, and you’d likely earn a citation from your community.
- Avoid “loud” or unconventional colors. Your HOA may not share your enthusiasm for hot pink, especially if they do not meet the restrictions.
- Don’t ignore HOA restrictions on hurricane shutters. Not following the guidelines may lead to costly penalties and neighborhood conflicts.
Time-Sensitive Rules: Installation and Removal Requirements for Hurricane Shutters
Timing is everything when it comes to hurricane preparedness. If your HOA allows storm panels, timing also presents another restriction. Most HOAs enforce strict timelines for when storm panels can go up and when they must come down.
For instance, many communities require shutters to be installed just before the beginning of an approaching hurricane. Some HOAs may not allow storm panels to be installed and left up for the season, while others may allow this.
In some neighborhoods, only removable hurricane shutters are allowed and only for an active storm. This is because they believe leaving shutters up year-round can give the community an unwelcoming, fortress-like appearance. This means that the storm panels must be installed right before a storm hits. The National Weather Service reports that homeowners often have 24 to 48 hours to prepare once a hurricane is forecasted.
Once the hurricane has passed, many HOAs mandate shutter removal or retraction within 72 hours if the home is undamaged. This rule ensures the community is restored to its a more normal appearance.
These time-sensitive regulations may seem strict and unnecessary. But again, they are designed to balance protection with aesthetic appeal of the community. A plan that complies with HOA restrictions on hurricane shutters ensures storm preparedness while also keeping the peace in your neighborhood.
When Homeowners and HOAs Clash: How to Find Common Ground
What happens when your vision for hurricane shutters does not align with your HOA’s rulebook? This is a classic clash of individuality versus conformity. However, compromise may be possible.
To start it is important to review the HOA guidebook thoroughly before moving into an HOA. You will want to specifically review the section about HOA restrictions on hurricane shutters. If you have specific preferences that don’t fit within the rules this will help you decide if it is the right community. If you already live there, then approach your HOA with a well-prepared proposal. For instance, if you prefer a slightly different color or style, demonstrate how it can still align with the community’s aesthetic and safety requirements.
Sometimes, seeking professional advice from a hurricane shutter company can also help. Also, some legal aids specialize in navigating HOA restrictions, offering solutions that satisfy homeowners and associations. Their expertise can help you find a middle ground that works for everyone.
Remember—open, honest communication and a willingness to collaborate and compromise can go a long way in resolving HOA disputes.
Eurex Shutters: A Shutter Company to Help You Pick Shutters for a HOA
Don’t let HOA restrictions on hurricane shutters dim your storm-prep ambitions. It is possible to protect your home and loved ones, stay compliant, and enhance property value while keeping your HOA happy.
Eurex Shutters checks every box with various options to withstand extreme weather while adhering to the strictest HOA guidelines. We ensure your choice blends with your restricted property and neighborhood, from roll-down shutters for convenience, accordion shutters for value, or removable panels for flexibility. We save you the hassle of potential penalties and guesswork.
The goal of our company is to provide Condominiums and Home Owner’s Associations with uniform, attractive and effective storm protection. We at Eurex Shutters pride ourselves at working closely with Boards and Associations to make sure that all their needs are fulfilled.
So whether you are a HOA or a homeowner please contact us for questions or to start your project.
Or call (239) 369-8600 for immediate service.
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