Helms Port Yacht Club

What Helms Port Yacht Club's governing documents say

Helms Port Yacht Club is a community boating facility in Wilmington, NC, where membership is tied to owning a lot in the Helms Port subdivision. This document governs the rights and obligations of members who hold a membership entitling them to exclusive use of a boat slip and shared use of common areas. It is not a standard HOA or condominium declaration but a specialized set of covenants for a recreational boating club.

• Membership & boat slip ownership: There are two classes of membership: Charter (initially held by the developer, with 75 boat slips) and Class A (transferred to lot owners). Each Class A membership grants an exclusive license to use one boat slip, and membership is limited to record owners of lots in Helms Port subdivision.
• Transfer & right of first refusal: Class A memberships cannot be transferred to anyone who is not a lot owner. Before selling, the member must first offer the membership to SEL Property Investors (or later the Corporation) at the same price and terms, which has 30 days to exercise its right of first refusal.
• Leasing & licensing: A member may license (lease) their boat slip to another lot owner or a tenant of a lot owner, subject to board approval. The licensee gets exclusive use of the slip during the license term, while the member retains voting rights and payment obligations.
• Assessments & fees: Class A members must pay regular assessments, special assessments (over $1,000 per year require majority vote), working capital assessments (equal to one year's budgeted assessment upon transfer), and violation assessments up to $500 per occurrence. Unpaid assessments become a lien on the membership, bearing 18% annual interest.
• Use restrictions: The facility is for recreational boating only; no commercial use. Only one vessel and one jet-ski/wave runner per slip. Vessels must be registered and not extend more than four feet beyond the pier head line. No obnoxious or offensive activities.
• Architectural control: No structures or alterations (including color changes) may be made without board approval. Dock boxes are limited to one per slip and must be approved. Boat lifts must be low-profile and stealth-like.
• Maintenance & dredging: The Corporation maintains the facility, including periodic dredging to maintain at least 4 feet depth at mean low water. Dredging costs are allocated 86.7% to the Corporation and 13.3% to an adjacent property owner (MBM Capital/Emmarts).
• What this document doesn't cover: This document does not address rules for residential lots in Helms Port subdivision (those are governed by a separate master declaration), nor does it cover pet policies, parking for vehicles, or age restrictions.

Plain-language summary generated from the governing documents on file for this community. It may be incomplete and is not legal advice — read the full documents below or consult the official recorded versions.