Emerald Lakes Property Owners Association

What Emerald Lakes Property Owners Association's governing documents say

This is a collection of recorded policies, guidelines, and amendments for the Emerald Lakes Property Owners Association, a standard single-family-home HOA in Willis, Texas. The documents cover a Chicken Raising Policy, Pool Rules, Architectural and Maintenance Guidelines, a Building Approval and Construction Requirements Policy, and amendments to the master declaration. These rules bind all homeowners in the subdivision, with additional requirements for lots abutting the ponds (Pond Lots).

• Chicken raising: No roosters allowed. Up to 6 female chickens per homesite. Chickens must be confined to a rear-yard coop/run (max 120 sq ft total) that is at least 50 feet from any creek, pond, or lake. ARC approval required. No commercial sale of chickens or eggs; slaughter must be out of sight.
• Pool rules: No lifeguard; swim at own risk. Open sunrise to 10 pm. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Guests must be with a property owner. Prohibited: smoking, food/drink/gum, glass, alcoholic beverages, pets, inflatables, music/noise, and private party reservations. Diaper-changing on the pool deck is banned; children not toilet-trained must wear snug disposable swim diapers.
• Architectural & maintenance guidelines: All exterior changes require prior ARC approval. Fences discouraged but allowed with limits: privacy fences/walls max 6 ft (or 6.5 ft with rot board); non-privacy fences max 4 ft. No privacy fences on lake, pond, or corner lots. Hedges treated as fences. At least 50% masonry on all elevations. Roof colors: dark gray, dark brown, or charcoal. Lots must be cleared of major underbrush (except rear 75 ft or creek bottoms may be left natural).
• Building approval & construction requirements: No construction or modification may start without written ARC approval. Required: professionally drawn plans, engineered foundation plans stamped by a licensed engineer, site/plot plan, paint/roof samples, and a non-refundable plan review fee ($1,600 for a main residence, $500 for other structures). A $1,000 refundable construction & compliance deposit is also due. Construction hours: Mon-Sat 7 am – 7 pm (no loud noise before 8 am); no work on Sundays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or New Year's Day. Approval valid for one year; foundation must be installed within three months.
• Pond lot assessments & committee: Lots abutting the ponds (Opal, Silver, Golden, Turquoise) are subject to an additional annual Pond Lot Assessment, set by the Board (can be increased up to 20% per year without a vote). A separate Pond Lot Special Assessment for capital improvements requires approval of the Pond Lot Committee and a majority of members at a meeting. The Pond Owners Committee consists of at least two pond-lot owners and one Board member.
• Signs & lighting: Signs are generally prohibited except: a single builder's sign (max 20 sq ft) during construction, and political signs allowed from 90 days before an election until 10 days after. All signs must be on the owner's property, not in the right-of-way. Outdoor lighting must be approved; mercury vapor, halogen, sodium vapor, and quartz iodine types are generally prohibited. Lighting must not spill onto adjacent properties, streets, or the lake, and must not disturb neighbors.
• Ponds & lake lots: Owners of lots abutting the lake/ponds must maintain aquatic vegetation, keep shorelines free of trash, and prevent animals from entering or damaging banks. No landscaping over 24 inches high within 75 feet of the lake. A flowage and flood easement exists within 25 feet of ponds. The Association has an access easement for maintenance. Fencing within 50 feet of the water requires ARC approval.
• What this document doesn't cover: These excerpts are a compilation of policies, guidelines, and amendments, but do not include the full text of the master Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (DCCRs). Rules about annual assessments (other than pond-lot assessments), leasing/rental restrictions, parking, and pet policies (other than chickens) are not provided here.

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.