If you live in Cherry Creek, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Highlands Ranch, or most other planned communities in south Denver Metro, your HOA governs more of your home's appearance than most homeowners realize — until they get a violation notice.
This isn't a guide to getting around HOA rules. It's a practical overview of what typically requires an Architectural Review Committee (ARC) application, what doesn't, and how to make sure repair work passes inspection the first time.
What Almost Always Requires HOA Approval
- Exterior paint color changes — even repainting in the same color often requires approval in managed communities
- Fence installation, replacement, or changes to fence style or material
- Deck or patio additions or significant modifications
- New or replacement landscaping that changes the overall appearance of the front yard
- Driveway modifications — resurfacing, widening, or material changes
- Permanent exterior structures: sheds, pergolas, playsets
- Window or door replacement that changes the style or color
- Roof replacement — material, color, and brand often specified
- Solar panel installation — most Denver-area HOAs now allow this but require ARC approval
- Holiday decorations in some communities — typically only during specific seasonal windows
What Typically Does Not Require HOA Approval
- Interior repairs and improvements of any kind — walls, flooring, fixtures, painting
- Like-for-like exterior repairs that maintain existing appearance — replacing fence boards with matching boards, patching stucco in the existing finish
- Maintenance that restores original condition — repainting with the approved existing color, replacing weatherstripping, caulking
- Seasonal and holiday lighting in most communities, within permitted timeframes
- Furniture assembly, TV mounting, and all interior installations
- Gutter cleaning and minor gutter repair
- Window cleaning and screen replacement
💡 Pro tip
Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village tip: These communities have among the most detailed ARC requirements in the Denver Metro. Even repainting in an approved color often requires written notification before work begins. Budget 2–4 weeks for ARC review in these neighborhoods.
How to Work with HOA Rules Efficiently
For exterior work that requires approval, the most common delay is submitting incomplete applications. ARC committees in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, and Centennial typically want:
- Color chips or manufacturer color numbers (not just a description)
- Material specifications — wood species, fence material, roofing brand and model
- Before photos of existing conditions
- Contractor information — some HOAs require that work be performed by licensed contractors
- Completion timeline
Submitting a complete package on the first submission is the single biggest time-saver. ARC turnaround in most Denver communities is 14–30 days. An incomplete submission restarts the clock.
How We Work in HOA Communities
We work in HOA communities across the Denver Metro regularly — Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial, and others. For interior work, HOA approval is not a factor and we schedule normally.
For exterior work, we provide material specifications and contractor information for ARC submissions on request. We're familiar with the documentation formats that HOA committees expect and can help you assemble a complete submission.
We do not submit ARC applications on behalf of homeowners — that's the owner's responsibility. But we can tell you what the committee will likely ask for before you submit.
What Happens If Work Is Done Without Approval
HOA violations for unpermitted exterior work typically require restoration to the pre-existing condition at the homeowner's expense. In some communities this means removing and replacing work that was otherwise done correctly. The cost of a violation — especially for fence or deck work — can easily exceed the cost of waiting for approval.
The practical lesson: for anything exterior in a managed community, check the CC&Rs before scheduling work, not after.