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What are HOA painting guidelines?

My husband and I have been busy sprucing up our new house. To our surprise, we received a notice from our HOA telling us that our front door color is not one of the colors permitted in our community. What are HOA painting guidelines? Do we have to abide by them?

avatar
Rachel Rigolino · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Congratulations on your new house! While it’s frustrating to find out you’ll need to repaint the door, at least you discovered this before you tackled the rest of the house.
Many HOAs do restrict exterior paint colors—and yes, you agreed to abide by these restrictions when you closed on the house.
If you think about it, the policy makes sense. For instance, many people wouldn’t want to live next to a Baltimore Ravens fan who insisted on painting her house in the team’s colors (look them up and see).
So, what should you do moving forward?
  • Reassure the HOA that you’ll be repainting the door soon (you don’t want to be fined after all). Then request the approved color palette as well as the approved types of paints. Check to see if certain color combinations are required as well.
  • Ask whether HOA approval will be needed to repaint your house a different color than it is now.
  • Find out if there are any regulations about when you can paint and whether your HOA has a list of approved contractors you must use.
  • Finally, if you have your heart set on a color that is not approved, you’ll need to submit a formal request to the HOA for an exemption. Do not be surprised if they turn you down.
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