HERON LAKES ESTATES OWNERS ASSOCIATION

ARCHITECTURAL GUIDELINES

Outbuildings
An outbuilding is any structure that is not attached to the house. Outbuildings include
storage sheds, pool houses, enclosed toilets, garden houses, gazebos, and similar
buildings. (1) The objective of these Guidelines is to harmoniously integrate the visual
appearance of the outbuilding into its immediate surroundings through the careful
choice of location, design elements, colors, and materials, and to achieve a quality of
construction of the improvement that is consistent with the quality of the construction of
the homes and landscaping in Heron Lakes Estates. Well designed and sited storage
sheds can enhance the attractiveness and value of the Lot and Subdivision. (2)(4)

Height The overall height from the ground to the peak of the shed roof shall not
exceed 8 feet, which includes the height of the supporting foundation.
(CC&Rs III.1)

Footprint The overall footprint of the shed shall be limited to 100 square feet. (3)

Location The shed must be located in the rear yard of the Lot at a location that has
limited visibility from the street. The shed shall also be screened from
visibility from the golf course or common areas. The shed shall be located
behind the building setback line(s) for the house shown on the recorded
plat of the Subdivision and at least 5 feet away from any side Lot boundary
line at least 3 feet away from any rear Lot boundary line. The shed shall not
be located on a utility easement area. (CC&Rs II.2 & III.4)

Screening If there is no location in the back yard of the Lot where the shed can be
located with minimal visibility from the street, some type of screening
materials shall be installed such as landscape shrubbery or trees that
soften or hide the appearance of the shed when viewed from the street. (8)

Neighbor Approval
Because of the impact that a new storage shed may have on an existing
view from a neighbor’s home, as a courtesy to the neighbors, the
homeowner installing the shed shall obtain approval from each of the
Owners of the adjacent Lots where the shed lies within the line of sight of
the neighbor’s view. Screening materials such as fencing or landscaping
may be installed to soften the appearance or hide the shed as a bargaining
chip to help obtain a neighbor’s approval. (8)

Harmony of Design
In general, the closer the storage shed is located to the house, the more
the shed should blend in with the architectural appearance of the house. If
the shed is attached or set up against the house, the architectural design of
the shed shall be directly compatible with the house (i.e. same materials,
same color scheme, same roof pitch, same trim/edge detailing, same
roofing, etc.). Alternately, if the shed is installed up against a fence, the
shed may be compatible with the architectural style and color of the fencing
in lieu of the house. (2)

Foundation The shed must be installed on a concrete slab with proper leveling and
drainage. (5)(6)

Outbuildings Draft: September 22, 2009

HLEOA Architectural Guideline #AG01D2 Page 1
 Color The exterior walls of shed must match the primary color of paint used on
the exterior Hardie-plank or stucco on the house, and the trim color on the
shed shall match the trim color on the house. If all exterior walls of the
house are brick or stone veneer, the color of the shed shall be in harmony
with the color of the brick and stone veneer.

Wall Siding The exterior walls of the shed shall be constructed using HardiePlank
siding, brick veneer, or similar approved materials. (9)

Roofing The roof of the shed shall be constructed using composite shingles that
match those used on the house on the Lot where the shed is located. (9)

Windows and Doors Windows and doors of sheds must be similar in style to those in the house.

Roof Pitch The pitch of the roof of the shed shall match or be in harmony with the pitch
used on the main roof of the house.

Anchorage The shed shall be positively anchored to the ground. (7)

Usage No outbuilding shall be used as a residence, living quarters, or commercial

activities. The usage of the outbuilding must be consistent with a residential
Lot for a single-family home, The construction must be permanent in
nature; temporary structures are not permitted. (CC&Rs III.1 & III.7)

Exterior Storage Items may not be hung on the exterior walls of the shed or stored around
the exterior of the shed in a manner that creates clutter, detracts from the
appearance of the shed, or creates a public nuisance. All equipment and
supplies must be stored inside the shed. (CC&Rs III.6 & III.12)

Number Only one shed is permitted to be installed on any Lot.

Notes:

(1) Children’s playhouses, playground equipment, decks, patio covers, patio enclosures, sunrooms, and greenhouses are covered
by other Architectural Guidelines.
(2) Pre-manufactured or prefabricated sheds are discouraged since they typically are not designed to be in harmony with the
architectural style of the houses in the subdivision.
(3) The footprint of the shed is defined as the overall perimeter of the shed where it meets the ground.
(4) Although storage sheds in themselves may tend to detract from the appearance of the neighborhood if they don’t blend in well,
they have the benefit of concealing many cluttering objects such as tools, hoses, trash cans, bicycles, etc.
(5) Sheds supported by wood or concrete blocks with accessible space underneath the floor should be avoided since they tend to
attract rodents, snakes, or other types of varmints under the shed.
(6) Improper drainage around a shed can promote ponding of water and mosquitoes. The foundation and grading around the shed
shall not cause stormwater drainage from the Lot to be diverted onto a neighboring Lot.
(7) Preferably, a licensed structural engineer shall be engaged to check the design and anchorage of the shed for wind loading. If
there is not enough weight in the shed to hold down the structure in the event of hurricane force winds, the structure could be
dislodged or uplifted from the foundation and possibly be blown into and damage the house on the Lot or a neighboring home.
A poorly manufactured storage shed could be blown apart by hurricane force winds and the pieces could become missiles.
(8) Screening materials should be installed as soon as possible after the shed is installed, but no later than 6 months. Approved
screening materials consist of a screen wall, fence, gate, lawn-sodded earth berm, or densely planted evergreens or other non-
deciduous shrubbery and trees to effectively restrict 50% to 75% of the view to adjoining property to a height that matches the
height of the improvement but not less than 6 feet. If vegetation is used as the screening material, a reasonable time period for
growth will be allowed for the screening to become effective, but fast-growing plants must be selected that are at least 3-feet
tall when planted and that are approved by the ACC.
(9) The roofing and siding materials shall have an appearance, durability, and quality consistent with the homes and other
structures in the community. Plastic, polyethylene, vinyl, sheet metal, and similar materials are not acceptable for exterior roof
and wall finish materials.

Outbuildings Draft: September 22, 2009

HLEOA Architectural Guideline #AG01D1 Page 2