Community Compass library

Look it up before the meeting

Plain-language explanations and real questions from residents, volunteers, and local officials about zoning, codes, housing, neighborhoods, organizations, and local economies. Laws and programs change and vary by place, so confirm anything time-sensitive with your local office or the current official source.

Housing & revitalizationClear search

Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
"Front of lot" Interpretation
Visitor Question: Hello. I have some deed restrictions on my property. One of which says no residence or outbuilding can be 50 feet from the front of
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
1960s Rental Unit Found Unpermitted
Visitor Question: Hello there, I currently live in a downstairs unit of a duplex in an unincorporated area of our county. Long story short, the county
Guide · Housing & revitalization
A Housing Condition Survey Can Help You Visualize Areas Needing Most Attention
A housing condition survey helps communities or neighborhoods quantify and visualize housing quality issues. Your group can do it youselves.
Guide · Housing & revitalization
A Neighborhood Watchdog Notes Progress or Problems
We promote a neighborhood watchdog program with a structured checklist of potential problem items that volunteers who walk the neighborhood should observe.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
A Transit Oriented Development Fable
Last Reviewed: August 13, 2024 Website Visitor Writes: Once upon a time there was a little light rail system that didn't think it was anything special.
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Abandoned Factories Present a Challenge for Communities
Embrace these ideas for reuse of abandoned factories, which quickly become dead zones discouraging investment and attracting trash and illegal behavior,
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Abandoned home in the village
Visitor Question: We live in a small village (pop. 3500) about 20 miles east of Buffalo,N.Y. We have had an abandoned house in the village for 15 years.
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Abandoned Homes Threaten Neighborhood Stability and Image
Learn how a neighborhood or concerned individual can address abandoned homes. Housing vacancy decreases property values and may increase crime.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Abandonment of Deed Restrictions
Visitor Question: I live in a subdivision in a county that has 49 plots. The original covenants were written in 1976 for a period of 20 years with an
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Accessory Dwelling Units Add Housing, Reduce Cost
Learn how accessory dwelling units aid housing affordability, help older adults stay at home, and increase efficiency in providing services and utilities.
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Adaptive Reuse Re-Imagines Obsolete Buildings
Adaptive reuse, or converting old buildings to a new use, is an attractive means of adding distinctive and marketable housing or business to a community.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Adding a restriction to my deed
Visitor Question: How do I add a low income housing only restriction to my deed to thwart developers from calling me about my house in my quickly gentrifying
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Additional Set of Deed Restrictions
Visitor Question: I am in contract to purchase a property here in Hays County Texas. The property in located in a subdivision with recorded Deed restrictions
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Amendment to Restriction Never Recorded
Visitor Question: We bought a house on 1 acre in a non-zoned county neighborhood which is just a street. Animals are restricted; however the real estate
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Are gun buy-backs a good program for crime prevention?
Our city council woman thinks that a gun buy-back program would solve everything. Like if we have no guns, we have no crime. That might do some good, but
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Ask Us Questions About Neighborhood Quality of Life
Get answers to your questions about neighborhood quality of life, including nuisances, vacant property, and much more..
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Assess Community's Housing Renovation Needs, Then Act
A lively housing renovation scene is key to maintaining viability of older neighborhoods. Where major revitalization is necessary, begin here.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Benefits of Beautification and Addressing Boarded-Up Housing
1.Where do I find the statistics and research to convince local officials of the benefits of town beautification? 2.Where do I find research and stats
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Brownfields Problems and Redevelopment Opportunities
Brownfields, or sites showing the real or perceived need for an environmental clean-up, have become a technical specialty. Learn how citizens can act too..
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Builder Does Not Meet Subdivision Restrictions
Visitor Question: We have a builder that continues to build houses that do not meet our subdivision's restrictions... for example: gravel driveway, non-brick
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Building Codes Versus Deed Restrictions
Visitor Question: What power do building codes have over deed restrictions over a title? What power over a title do building codes have? Editors Reply:
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Building just a garage on a lot in a subdivision with an HOA
Visitor Question: Our HOA has CC&Rs stating one single family use. A lot owner built his house and just bought the lot next door but wants to build a garage.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Buying out of covered boat dock restriction
Visitor Question: I have purchased lake property. The owner placed a deed restriction on the parcel I bought. He sold the two parcels on either side
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Camps and Retreats Permit
Visitor Question: We live in a rural Montana neighborhood with 20 acres. There are 10 homesites back here ranging from 5 to 20 acres on a private easement
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can a Special Exception Be Exempt from Nuisance Laws?
I bought a historical home in a historical subdivision. Five years after I moved in I began to hear sounds of children screaming only to discover that
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can a town enforce deed restrictions
Visitor Question: Our town in New Hampshire has a Land Use Ordinance regarding RVs that reads: One recreational vehicle (RV) of any size may be parked
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can an HOA add a land use restriction by amending by-laws
Visitor Question: We have a complicated HOA, which oversees 13 subdivisions with each subdivision have its own deed restrictions, located in Michigan.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can deed restriction limit land use
Visitor Question: Can a deed restriction require the use of a piece of property only for a public park? Shouldn't the owner of the property have some
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can Deed Restrictions Apply to Only Part of Subdivision
Visitor Question: We live in a subdivision that has had several of the properties excluded or removed from the deed restrictions/covenants over the years.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can deed restrictions limit use allowed by zoning?
Visitor Question:>/b> Can a deed restriction (i.e. only single family residences) limit the use allowed by zoning (i.e. cluster homes allowed)? I was
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can Master Deed Violate Approved Site Plan?
Visitor Question: The site plan approved by the city for our condominium does not match the site plan filed with the registry of deeds with respect to
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can neighbors create an HOA to fight existing deed restrictions?
Visitor Question: I live on a street that was once land owned by a family that lives nearby. When they created the lots, they attached sweeping deed restrictions
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can Rezoning Overturn Deed Restrictions
Visitor Question: The Planning and Zoning Committee denied a request to change the designation of a lot to allow two homes instead of one on a lot. As
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can Successor Developer Ignore Covenants
Visitor Question: We have an unusual situation where the community prior to completion was foreclosed and resold to a secondary developer. The developer
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Can you add a deed restriction on only one lot already covered by covenants
Editors Note: The visitor question below was received several months ago, and we failed to answer at that time. We offer our apologies to our site visitor,
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Cars Parked on Narrow Residential Streets
Visitor Question: Our neighborhood of one and two family homes on small lots (5000 square feet on average) was developed 100 years ago when more people
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Changing the CCR document in a non HOA neighborhood
Visitor Question: We have a 40 year old ambiguous CCR (covenants, conditions, and restrictions) initially created by the community developers that was
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Chickens and an HOA
Visitor Question: If there are no chickens allowed in an HOA development but we are zoned Agricultural, does this mean that my daughter cannot have them
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Choosing a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy
Choose one of four potential neighborhood revitalization strategies to prioritize problem solving and redevelopment, housing, and infrastructure projects.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Church noise and traffic are too much
Visitor Question: Well, it's Sunday here, I guess it's Sunday everywhere. One more time those church bells at 8:00 in the morning make me crazy. It's the
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
City requiring deed restriction before final inspection
Visitor Question: OK, here is a quick run down. I purchased a property two years ago to put a barn on the back. I went back-and-forth with the city for
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Co-Housing Presents Finance, Organizational Challenges
Co-housing offers the chance to create intentional community with shared facilities, custom home designs, and sustainability features.
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Community Cultural Development: Where Arts and Civic Structure Interact
Solid community cultural development practice both promotes traditional arts while using their shared meanings and experiences to strengthen social capital.
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Concentration of Poverty Leads to Poor Outcomes
Making a dent in the concentration of poverty improves neighborhoods, interrupts intergenerational low-income patterns, and helps children thrive. Start today.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Conflict about whether we should be upscale or down to earth
Visitor Question: The weather is warming up here, and so is the temperature of our neighborhood disputes. It seems like everyone is angry about something,
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Consistent Small Town Character Helpful
Small town character requires the hard work of blending historic appearance with a homemade mix of new shops, homes, artwork, and programming.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Construction business operating in residential area
Visitor Question: Is a construction business with trucks, boats, and earth moving equipment allowed in a quiet residential neighborhood? Editors Reply:
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Could Residents and Landlords Collaborate to Plant Shrubs
Visitor Question: My city has no requirement for shrubs on residential properties, and rental properties often have none. At least one block in my neighborhood
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Covenant Protecting Mountain View
Visitor Question: I have owned my property for 15 years. We have a beautiful view of the Rocky Mountains. The original owner of my property owned 10 acres
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Covenants Not Listed on My Deed
Visitor Asks: I am trying to understand how CC & R's that were provided to me when I purchased my home can be enforced if they are not listed on my Deed?
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Covenants Require Approval But Do Not Set Up an HOA
Visitor Question: Hi - I'm considering buying a lot in a development. The deed restrictions state that if lot owners want to put up structures including
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions Expired
Reviewed: June 17, 2024 Visitor Question: We moved to our neighborhood in Florida in 2012 and were told we are in a Deed Restricted community. Title Insurance
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Criminals in your neighborhood
Visitor Question:> How can you deal with criminals in your neighborhood? My neighborhood is being terrorized by a relatively few bad buys (and one bad
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restriction Based on Race
Visitor Question: If you have a deed restriction based on race would it be A. Voidable but the conveyance is still valid Or B. Void but the deed is
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restriction Enforcement Without HOA Management
Last Updated: August 7, 2020 Visitor's Question: I have a buyer who is interested in purchasing a home in a neighborhood with 2006 deed restrictions and
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed restriction for veterans only
Visitor Question: Is it possible to create a deed restriction to allow only veterans or people living with (married to or children of) veterans? Editors
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restriction Just Became Known After Six Years
Visitor Question: What if a two acre piece of land was purchased, and the seller and the title company stated the land had restrictions. Also on the land
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restriction on Property Deceased Relative Once Owned
Visitor Question: Someone contacted me about an old deed restriction on a property no longer owned by my grandfather, who passed away many years ago. The
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restriction Requires 30 Foot Setback
Visitor Question: A deed restriction on a particular lot recorded in the 30-s provides for a 30 foot setback. All homes on the street are built and have
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restriction Setbacks Stricter Than County
Visitor Question: Are front, rear, and side lot setbacks enforceable if deed restrictions are stricter than county rules? Editors' Reply: Yes indeed,
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restrictions Contradictory and Not Being Enforced
Visitor Question: Our Deed restrictions were written by the developer for lots consisting on no less than 5 acres in a rural area (zoned agriculture).
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed restrictions imposed for city code violations
Visitor Question: What authority does a city have to require a code offender to agree to a new deed with onerous restrictions and for how long? Editors
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restrictions Next Door Being Violated
Visitor Question: My neighbor and I have the same deed restrictions. (1) Restrictions say no business is allowed. However, he operates and they advertise
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restrictions on Parking on Street
Visitor Question: I have lived in our home for 18+ years not knowing there were deed restrictions about parking cars on street in front of a home. The
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Deed Restrictions Requiring Residency
Visitor Question: Our neighborhood organization (not an HOA) has sold some property with a deed restriction requiring that the owner either maintain a
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Density credit assignment
Visitor Question: I have been living in my home for 4 years. This lady shows up wanting me to sign some legal paperwork release of covenant and density
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Developer influencing vote on restrictive covenant
Visitor Question: A developer is trying to develop a golf course and green space which is protected by a restrictive covenant in the deed. We are soon
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Developer Revising Covenants
Visitor Question: We are in a subdivision of five lots. The developer sold the fifth lot to a charity that builds houses to donate to wounded veterans,
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Developers plan approval
Visitor Question: Can a developer enforce restrictions that aren't deed recorded when approving a home plan for building? Editors Reply: We are sorry
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Dissolved Village District; What's next?
Reviewed: May 31, 2024 Visitor Question: Our Village District, located in Campton,NH, was recently dissolved by the county. There was no longer any interest
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Do Colorado HOA covenants ever run out and are major revisions allowed
Publish Date: June 19, 2024 Visitor Question: We live in an HOA whose covenants date back to 1977. In the covenants it states that they run with the
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Do I follow original deed restrictions or all future changes too
Visitor Question: I just want to know if I have to follow and obey all deed restrictions and bylaws that I originally signed with my deed OR all the ones
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Do our deed restrictions supersede a spot zoning
Reviewed: June 17, 2024 Visitor Question: My neighbor has received a spot zoning change based on the fact that his converted garage was used as a rental
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Does a foreclosure void a deed?
Visitor Question: It looks like a friend of mine is headed toward foreclosure. He hasn't been able to pay his mortgage regularly since this epidemic began
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Does civil rights violation make all covenants void
Visitor Question: Do all covenants become void if one covenant is now illegal? The City Council is telling me that since our documents still have the Caucasian
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Does Foreclosure Erase Deed Restrictions
Visitor Question: If a piece of undeveloped rural property had deed restrictions placed on it and was then foreclosed on and later re-sold, are the deed
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Downtown Redevelopment Needs Government, Business
To jump-start an aging town center, a plan, organizational structure, realistic expectations, and plenty of patience are required. Here are the major tenets of downtown redevelopment.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Enforcing Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions
Visitor Question: How do you enforce a subdivision's Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions absent a Homeowners' Association? Editors Reply: If there
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Excavations next door
Visitor Question: We purchased our property and moved in one year ago. Although there is no active HOA, there are CCRs that do run with the land. The
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Existing barn and application of deed restriction
Visitor Question: We’re in Texas. We owned a home and a property across the street from the home for 19 years, and built a 2400 square foot barn across
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Expired covenants and no HOA
Visitor Question: Our rural Colorado subdivision let the HOA expire after 20 years in 2000. But the covenants are still publicly recorded. How do these
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
File a Neighborhood Complaint
Visitor Question: How does one go about filing a neighborhood complaint? My wife and I live in a medium-sized city in a nice neighborhood. Most of the
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Filing a Deed Restriction
Visitor Question: Can an individual homeowner file his own Deed Restriction or is it always necessary to have a lawyer do it? I was under the impression
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Flag violates deed restrictions
Visitor Question: We live in a development that has deed restrictions and community standards. Isn't that their job to enforce the restrictions and standards?
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
For sale sign in motor coach
Visitor Asks: We live in a deed restricted community in Citrus County. We are allowed to store our motorhome on the lot. I have a for sale sign in the
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Funds to fix up an abandoned house
Last Reviewed: August 13, 2024 Visitor Question: We found an abandoned house that's in not too bad of shape. The former owners left quite a bit of junk.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Garage violates deed restriction
Reviewed: June 17, 2024 Visitor Question: We have a neighbor that is putting up a huge garage on a property that has a deed restriction. He received a
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Government Housing Assistance Overview
Learn how each major government housing assistance program can help you find solutions for your community.
Visitor question · Housing & revitalization
Grandfathered deed restrictions
Visitor Question: There is a 450 square foot home in a neighborhood where the homeowners association (HOA) just updated deeded restrictions on house size
Guide · Housing & revitalization
Green Home Construction Provides Lasting, Pretty Housing
If you can’t find an existing home to meet your needs, learn about the many emerging green home construction options are available.

Show more results →

Original guidance from A Good Community: How to Make and Keep It, owned and edited by Nancy Thompson (formerly Useful Community Development), shared with permission. Community Compass notes and updates are our own and have not been reviewed by Nancy Thompson.