Newbie here - HOA

Watershow

Well-known member
Jun 10, 2020
218
Riverside County, CA
Hello!
Been lurking here for several weeks now and am learning a lot of valuable information. Very thankful for this site! My journey is just starting. Building my first pool is both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. Just signed a contract and sent paper work in for HOA approval. It was sent back due to lack of information stating that they need “permits, measurements, etc”. I asked for more specifics on what was needed as I sent the plot plan that my PB gave detailing the design and build of the pool. We don’t have the permits yet, but I looked over my cc&r and it said nothing about needing permits to submit the application. The property manager of our HOA responded they usually need the manufacturer name of equipment and sound mitigation plan. Never had to deal with HOA before so I am not sure if the process and requirements. Is there any other information I would need to submit to minimize any delays? It was the board president asking for more information. Thanks for any advice!
 
HOAs are private fiefdoms. They set their own rules, reasonable or unreasonable. Only your HOA can tell you what the process will be and what they want to give you approval.

I was close to buying a house in an HOA and had some questions about placement of a pool. I was told only after ai bought the house and submitted the plans would ai be told if it met their basic requirements. Well I was not interested in the house if I couldn’t build it. The HOAs response ticked off the seller. And I told my wife we will never buy a house in an HOA.

Good luck sweet talking the approval from your HOA board.
 
Our past 2 pools, the builder did all the work and submitted the pack to the HOA's. In my area, the builder can't pull permits with the county without the HOA approval letter.
 
I live in and HOA in Florida. We have all the requirements on our website by modification type. We were required to show distance from set back lines, spacing from easements, orientation behind the house and IG pool only. All of this information is easy to get from the builders plans so long as it's placed on your original survey. Permits are not granted until plans are submitted to the building department and then can be rejected which can cause several cyles so it's absurd to require this before you get HOA approval. Our HOA just requires the building permit and any other permits are obtained and prominently displayed prior to start of construction.

Chris
 
Lived in an HOA once, never again. They probably just want to make sure you have a permit to legally build it, then they want o make sure you aren't planning to build a rock waterfall twice as tall as your house. I found it helps to supply pictures of material planned to be used and would say you are adding a block wall around equipment to abate noise to your neighbor. Likely no one but you and your guests will be able to see your pool but they like knowing what you are going to construct. My experience is they love the little power they have and like to hold things up. Like, we will let you know after our next monthly meeting.
 
Looks like it would be sufficient for HOA needs. Plan shows set backs and a color rendition. I would suggest 4' in the shallow end. With the pool being 21.6' long, the drop from 3 1/2 to 6 feet will be pretty drastic. Have you considered a salt chlorine generator? Let's see what other eyes see and suggest.
 
Plans also list the specific equipment which the property manager asked for.

You need to meet with someone on the HOA approval committee and go through exactly what they want.
 
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I thought so. I will email the HOA manager and see if I can speak to someone on the committee. Seems like she didn't really know either since she's filling in for the person who normally handles the applications.

I will speak to my builder about changing it to 4' on the shallow end. As far as the SWG, we decided to try without it for now and possibly put one in later, mostly because of cost. We were originally going to go with it, but then decided to go with square edge coping instead. We ditched that plan and added a heater instead before we signed the contract. But now we are thinking of adding a spa instead of the water feature, now that we added a heater. Thoughts?
 
If you add a spa you will want automation. If you get automation, it makes no sense to not get a SWCG at the same time.

If you do not get a SWCG, remember, you get to add liquid chlorine to the pool EVERY DAY, during about 9 months of the year where you live.
 

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How often would you need to add liquid chlorine when you have an swcg?

Never unless you have a problem.

The cost of a SWG and liquid chlorine is the same. You are just buying a few years of chlorine up front with a SWG in exchange for the convenience.
 
Allen is right. I suspect your water temperature may fall below 50F for a couple months each year and the SWCG will not generate chlorine under those conditions. I have to add a quart of chlorine a week during the 6 weeks or so it happens here.
 
Looks like it would be sufficient for HOA needs. Plan shows set backs and a color rendition. I would suggest 4' in the shallow end. With the pool being 21.6' long, the drop from 3 1/2 to 6 feet will be pretty drastic. Have you considered a salt chlorine generator? Let's see what other eyes see and suggest.
Hi, now you got me thinking of pool depth. So my family is on the short end 5’1-5’7” and have two kids 6 and 10. Would it be better if we go with 3.5-4.5-6ft or does that not make sense? Would like for kids to have some jumping room. Thanks.
 
I don't think I would go deeper than 4' in the shallow end. My pool is 32' long and 4'-6'. The transition is mild. I have been in pools where it is drastic and don't like it much. My youngest (8) can't stand in the shallow end but has turned into a fish. I went 6' because I have a raised bond beam on the deep end for the kids to jump off of amongst functional reasons of an elevation change.
 
Yes SWG upfront, makes pool life so much easier and you can get it plumbed in from the beginning vs having to redesign later.
Seems PB don’t like them because they don’t understand them or are worried about issues that can’t fix.

HOA are a pain, my sister lived in FL and had approval for pool and screened around it. They came back a few months later saying she was 2” over and the redo it. She proved it was what they approved and to go pound sand.
 
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