[quote author="ajw522"]
[quote author="nosuchreality"]Hardscape and a room addition or bulding modification are very different things. The key determinant is often a catch phrase in the CC&Rs with something such as "visible from the public areas".
Thus, the hardscape flooring of your patio the plants under the edges of the walls are not visible from the public areas where-as the plants on the front entry or a building modification that is visible over the height of the walls is governable.
In essence, the difference is in the hardscape, your neighbors have to be looking into "your [private property", in the building modification or unapproved items above the walls, people looking see it when looking at "the community" and such not necessarily looking into your 'private' property.
It's the grey area of HOAs where your relationship with the board and your neighbor's relationship with the board may be the deciding factors. And never forgot, it doesn't really matter if you are technically in the right. A board member with a bruised ego because of you is a very bad thing.
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But you can't see the California Room when looking at "the community".[/quote]
That's the thing about HOAs and CC&Rs, it's irrelevant. The California Room was designed as part of the architectural persona of the community. Without approval, any modification will be considered not too. Another way of thinking of it is, if you did a really heinous job of the modification, could it impact the resale value of your nieghbors that could see it or any other members of the community that may see from any public area (sidewalk, street, bike path, green space, etc.)
I've seen HOAs get pissy over stuff that was done years before. If you're thinking of skirting the by-laws, I hope you're a good lawyer because you're going to be in a grade A pissing match where your opponent fines you and then turns you over to collection agency when you don't pay in protest.
Their next step is to lien your house, that's provided they don't justify just hiring the property management firm's vendor du jour to just do the work at no bid prices and send you the bill. In many instances, you'll find they have the right to do it. Such as your planting something unapproved in the front, if you get a change it note and don't, they will... you'll get the bill.
And most importantly, they have the right to force you to return it to the original configuration.
I'm not saying the HOA is right, I'm just warning you of the realities of living in an HOA community. You buy in an HOA to make sure your neighbor doesn't paint their home blaze orange and hang a mounted moose head over their garage door while parking the project truck on the front lawn. In exchange, you give up the right do whatever you want to your home.
Most importantly, the rules can change with the whim of the current board. If a prior board allowed something, they don't need to allow any additional occurences. You can fight with them on it if you want but ...