No Fences in Howard County (New Construction)? (Columbia, Ellicott City: sales, real estate) - Maryland (MD) - City-Data Forum

starr71 · 09-12-2007, 08:59 AM

I'm in the market for a townhome in Howard County (Columbia/Ellicott City). I am considering both new construction and existing homes. But I'm getting turned off at new construction because I've been told by a builder (Ryan I think) that Howard County will not let you put a fence up (backyard) on new homes currently being built. A fence is very important to me as I have a dog and when I am not able to walk her, sometimes I like to let her out in the back yard to go potty. I think invisible fences are cruel, so that's not an option for me, neither is tying her up (attached to a stake). Besides, I like the privacy of a fence.

So it looks like a new townhome in Howard County is out for me. I'm looking only at resales now. But I want to know if anyone has any information on this? It seems overly restrictive to me.

lscalder · 09-12-2007, 11:10 AM

That might be for that Community. Community do varies because new communities do have HOA and new communities do want all houses within the community to look the exact same. Maybe you need to shop around and look at other communities.

emsgoof · 09-12-2007, 04:39 PM

The Columbia Association has restrictions on the types of fencing that can be put up. I'm not sure of the specifics for townhouses, but for a SFH, you can put up a privacy fence, or a 2 or 3 rail wood fence (with chicken wire to keep animals in). They do not permit fences in front yards.
Check out the Columbia Association web site for more info.

pwright1 · 09-13-2007, 01:23 PM

This is exactly why I choose not to live in new housing developements.

starr71 · 09-25-2007, 05:16 AM

Thanks for the comments. I saw today that the builder just reduced the pricing for the second time since January. Price went from $400K to $370K. You would think that with such a large inventory of houses they are trying to unload, they'd try to work something out with the HOA over the fence issue. I'm not the only one in this situation. It's just dumb that they are going to lose a sale over a FENCE.

I used to live in Laurel where I had an HOA, and I put up a fence, so long as I got approval and met their criteria. I don't see why the HOA for this development can't set up the same rules.

Oh well. It's their loss. I'll just look at resales in the area. Plenty of them out there.

lscalder · 09-25-2007, 06:48 AM

What I have found out HOa donot know what they are talking about majority of the time.
In my community HOA told all the homeowners that we have to move our satelite dish from the side or the front of our home. A resident research the topic and found that HOA cannot decide where the dish can be place, hat is decided by Comcast or whomever you have your satelite with. So what you can do is research the topic and bring it to HOA attention.

starr71 · 09-25-2007, 07:34 AM

Thanks lscalder, but in this case, the homes haven't even been built yet, and I'm not a homeowner of one of these pre-construction homes, so I don't really have a say in the situation. My only form of recourse was to try to get the builder to see how stupid this rule was and how it was costing them sales. I think the builder has more influence in this situation that I do.

ChosenGSR · 09-25-2007, 07:59 AM

Where is the new construction in Columbia/EC? I'm not seeing anything on the listing websites.

starr71 · 09-25-2007, 08:07 AM

This particular development is Dorsey Crossing in Ellicott City. It's at the corner of Columbia Road and Dorsey Hall Drive. There is another development in Columbia named Oakhurst, but I haven't been to that one. Ryan is the builder.

lscalder · 09-25-2007, 08:22 AM

you have to have some kind of proof. Thats why I mention to research the topic or call an Real estate attorney and ask question. Asking the sales assocaite or builder alot of them might not know the law.