How do I get my neighborhood's HOA to let me build a shed?

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by majormcf

A shed is an eye sore, no one wants to look at some crappy shed and watch property values dwindle while homeowners junk up their lots. Go rent a storage unit like everyone else or buy a house with a 3 or 4 car garage.

But if they are allowed to put one in their backyard and it's in the rules then opinions don't matter.

[Protester]

i don't want to alert the gestapo because I've already exstensivley added a lot of what I hope are upgrades. My shed is huge, I'd like to add a garage style heater, enclose the added on shed-roof [thereby increasing it's square footage to 320 sq.ft.] My problem is raising the entire structure to match house grade. It's so close to the fence now that I'm worried raising approx. 3feet would look funny to the neighbors. [sloped yard with standard 6 ft. cedar fence] Floor is already 3.5 ft off original grade; 9 ft. walls with 4/12 pitch roof.

[Protester]

i don't want to alert the gestapo because I've already exstensivley added a lot of what I hope are upgrades. My shed is huge, I'd like to add a garage style heater, enclose the added on shed-roof [thereby increasing it's square footage to 320 sq.ft.] My problem is raising the entire structure to match house grade. It's so close to the fence now that I'm worried raising approx. 3feet would look funny to the neighbors. [sloped yard with standard 6 ft. cedar fence] Floor is already 3.5 ft off original grade; 9 ft. walls with 4/12 pitch roof.

[Glenn Ross]

From experience avoid plastic storage units like the plague! They'll last 3 or 4 years, then between the summer heat and the winter temps, they'll warp and fall apart.

Ask your HOA what kind of shed is acceptable. It may be that sheds built of wood with roofs that match the house are acceptable.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by Glenn Ross

From experience avoid plastic storage units like the plague! They'll last 3 or 4 years, then between the summer heat and the winter temps, they'll warp and fall apart.

Ask your HOA what kind of shed is acceptable. It may be that sheds built of wood with roofs that match the house are acceptable.

My neighborhood hoa are total nazis when it comes to sheds. Absolutely no wooden ones, no Home Depot type sheds, no plastic ones. They must be actual brick structures with roofs that match the house. People appear to comply as I've yet to see a shed. I think that's too much...nothing wrong with them.

[HappyTexan]

Originally Posted by riaelise

My neighborhood hoa are total nazis when it comes to sheds. Absolutely no wooden ones, no Home Depot type sheds, no plastic ones. They must be actual brick structures with roofs that match the house. People appear to comply as I've yet to see a shed. I think that's too much...nothing wrong with them.

Wow..too bad. I got one of those HD sheds..the low roof ones that most HOA's approve.
They actually built it on site. I had a gray brick home and I chose a gray paint for the shed along with a shingle roof that almost matched mine.

Actually looked pretty good and complimented the landscape.

And after 10 years it stood the test of time and still looked great.

It was my chicken house no less

[JH6]

I live in a pretty basic HOA in round rock.

The HOA sent spotters to walk through the greenbelt and peer into homeowners back yards!

They they did a "round up" of all the non approved sheds, greenhouses, etc.

They sent remove or fine letters to all the people.

The cheap thin metal ones fall apart. I guess they want you to spend a couple grand on a tuff built shed, and paint it the same color as your home.

Last time I live in a HOA, I'm buying land to build a house the next time around.

[eileenkeeney]

Originally Posted by jbiggs

The similar materials they are referring to are what the exterior of the home is covered in. The purpose is so that the shed at least blends in with the surrounding construction and helps preserve the neighborhoods looks. I don't care for HOA's but they do serve a purpose. They prevent people from throwing up all types of contrasting structures, painting their homes offbeat and gaudy colors, prevent the "Roach Coach" owners (and others) from parking oil and grease dripping vehicles in streets and driveways. Unfortunately some HOA's get drunk with power and become a problem. In this case I don't see that.

Couldn't these same benefits be achieved through neighborhood covenants or even more preferable would be city zoning rules?
Shouldn't the rules be something that those effected have some control over, through some sort of voting rights?

[Hyena]

Originally Posted by eileenkeeney

Couldn't these same benefits be achieved through neighborhood covenants or even more preferable would be city zoning rules?
Shouldn't the rules be something that those effected have some control over, through some sort of voting rights?

You have voting rights in an HOA, covenants in an HOA - so, basically, you've described an HOA.