There are proposed changes to the covenants (http://lcela.org/):

-Proposed amendments to the covenants
—Include maximum height restriction
—No portable toilets on site - unless during construction
—Responsibilities of the Control Committee
—Property Usage ("All Lots are hereby restricted exclusively to single-family residential use. No Lot shall be used for a commercial purpose. A home office that does not generate third party business-related traffic is permitted.")

What does this mean for you?

If these pass, then your property usage could be in violation if ANYONE on the control committee deems you are using your property for any type of commercial purpose.

This includes: AirBNB, trailer rentals, renting out a room, selling girl scout cookies or a lemonade stand out front, offering fitness training at a gym inside your house, dog training, too many chickens on your land (too many, you could be selling the eggs), horses being used for lessons, kids camps, too many storage containers (you could be using some for commercial use), your barn is too big for residential use, any type of construction equipment you own and keep on your property (could be used for commercial purposes), and much much more. Furthermore, anything you build in the future, whether is a workshop, a barn, or anything else could be subject to scrutiny as to it’s intended purpose.

If Mandatory HOA Membership happens, this could mean getting HOA violation notices and liens. You will also be forced to pay a monthly HOA fee – and if the HOA takes over the roads from the county, the cost of repairs could make HOA fees astronomical!

You will be unable to use and enjoy your property as you see fit. This will not only devalue your property but open potential lawsuits and other legal ramifications. Do you really want to have to defend whatever you want to do on your property with a controlling HOA board? Do you really want to pay mandatory HOA monthly payments and potential violation fees?

Say NO! to any amendments to the restrictive covenants.

Say NO! to a mandatory HOA.