Tifton Park at Merestone

What Tifton Park at Merestone's governing documents say

Tifton Park at Merestone is a townhome community in Wilmington, NC, governed by a homeowners' association (HOA). Each owner holds fee simple title to a lot and dwelling, and the association maintains common areas and limited common areas (exteriors, yards). This declaration of covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) binds all owners and runs with the land.

• What you own & maintain: You own your lot and the dwelling on it. The association maintains common areas (roads, entrances, ponds) and limited common areas (exteriors of dwellings, roofs, decks, yards, shrubs, grass) except privacy-fenced yards. You are responsible for maintenance inside your dwelling and for utility easements on your lot.
• Architectural review: No structure, exterior addition, change, or painting may be done without prior written approval from the Declarant (developer) or later the Board or an Architectural Control Committee. Approval may be denied for any reason, including aesthetics. Plans not approved or disapproved within 30 days are deemed approved.
• Minimum dwelling size & construction timeline: Each dwelling must have at least 1,200 square feet of enclosed, heated area (excluding garages, decks, porches). Exterior construction must be completed within 12 months of commencement, unless delayed by strikes, fires, national emergency, or natural calamities.
• Assessments & fees: Annual assessments are set by the Board and can be increased up to 5% per year without member vote, or up to $900 per lot without approval. Special assessments for capital improvements require a two-thirds vote. A one-time working capital assessment of $150 is due at closing. Assessments are a lien on the lot and a personal obligation of the owner.
• Insurance: The association must maintain casualty and liability insurance (minimum $1,000,000 for bodily injury/property damage) on the development, excluding personal property within a townhome. Premiums are a common expense. The association may also require individual owner policies if approved by two-thirds of members.
• Developer rights & transition: The Declarant (Chippenham, Inc.) retains control of the Architectural Control Committee and can amend the declaration without member approval for certain purposes (e.g., correcting errors, conforming to law, annexing additional property). Developer control ends when Class A votes equal Class B votes, by December 31, 2002, or upon voluntary surrender.
• Use restrictions: Clothes lines are not permitted. Fences require approval. Mail and newspaper boxes must be uniform in design (provided by Declarant). Service utilities, fuel tanks, and wood piles must be screened. No specific setback lines are set, but structures must comply with governmental regulations and receive architectural approval.
• What this document doesn't cover: This excerpt does not include rules on pets, leasing/rentals, parking, age restrictions, or specific amenity details. Those may be covered in other sections of the declaration or in separate association rules.

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.