Covenants Guidelines

 
WHAT ARE COVENANTS?
 
The specific authority for enforcing covenants comes from the HOA's governing documents, such as the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and the bylaws.
 
 
Covenants typically cover a range of topics, including:
 
  • Property Appearance: Rules on exterior paint colors, landscaping, architectural standards, and permissible fencing.
  • Property Maintenance: Standards for maintaining property to prevent neglect, such as keeping property clean and well-maintained.
  • Usage Restrictions: Regulations on pets, parking, business operations, signs, and other activities on a property.
__________ 
 
WHAT ARE AN HOA’S REQUIREMENTS REGARDING COVENANTS IN DC?
 
The HOA board is tasked with and has the legal authority to enforce these rules, which can include sending warnings, issuing fines, or even pursuing legal action against non-compliant homeowners. This is to be done reasonably, consistently, and in compliance with the association's governing documents and D.C. laws.
 
When implementing rules or enforcing them, boards must often follow a process that includes providing homeowners with notice and an opportunity to be heard. The exact enforcement procedure can be found on our website under Regulatory Resolution (https://www.cloisterswest.org/editor_upload/File/Regulatory%20Resolution%2006-3.pdf).
 
Specifically what areas related to property appearance are considered when determining if an item is in violation?
 
  • Roof (missing or curled shingles or missing flashing)
  • Exterior Paint (not approved colors, peeling, dirty, or chipped) 
  • Soffit, Trim and Fascia (not approved color, dirty, or wood rot)
  • Gutters (not approved color, not attached or clogged with leaves or growth)
  • Downspouts (not approved color, dirty. or not securely attached)
  • Exterior Vents (missing)
  • Shutters (not approved color, wood rot, chipped or faded paint)
  • Exterior Wood (not approved fence, dirty, or incorrect gate styled, wood rot, not sturdy)
  • Masonry (car pad, walkways, steps and porch-cracked or stained with mold or dirt)
  • Railings (not approved color, rusted)
  • Doors (front and garage door-not approved color, not approved storm door, in need of paint or repair, dirty, wood rot)
  • Windows (not approved style or color, glass broken or cracked, condensation before panes, screens damaged)
  • Lighting (exterior front door and garage door-rusted or not attached properly)
  • Cables/Wiring (not secured and not hidden in corners behind downspouts, color other than black
  • House Numbers (less than 3 inches in height and less than 2 inches in width, missing number). The size requirements are a DC Requirement.
 
The Association through the board of directors is charged with maintenance oversight to assure the attractiveness of the property and to protect the value of your home in our community. That being said, it is the board’s desire to address covenants violations as required foremost as a means to provide a blueprint to maintain properties without taking away an owner’s personal taste as long as it doesn’t conflict with the best interests of the community.
__________ 
 
WHO DOES THE INSPECTIONS?
 
The community Property Manager
__________ 
 
HOW OFTEN ARE THE INSPECTIONS DONE?
 
Quarterly
__________ 
 
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING A COVENANT VIOLATION?
 
  • Property Manager identifies a potential covenant violation.
  • Property Manager submits a potential covenant violation to the CW HOA Board member responsible for covenants.
  • CW HOA Board member responsible for covenants reviews a potential violation and presents it to the CW HOA Board with a recommended action.
  • CW HOA Board votes on whether a covenant violation is present and the steps to remediate the violation.
  • Property Manager contacts the owner and monitors the covenant violation remediation.
__________ 
 
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY PROPERTY HAS BEEN DEEMED TO HAVE A VIOLATION?
 
Before levying a fine or taking other action for a violation, the board must give the homeowner:
 
  • Written notice of the alleged violation.
  • A Thirty Day opportunity to correct the issue. (If more time is needed due to vendor constraints, then the homeowner may request an extension)
  • A chance to be heard at a board meeting, often referred to as a "due process hearing”.
__________ 
 
WHERE DO I FIND THE APPROVED COLORS AND STYLES? 
 
The website has this information. Please click here to access it - (https://www.cloisterswest.org/editor_upload/File/McCormick%20Paint%20Colors.pdf )
__________
 
WHEN I AM REPLACING A ROOF, WINDOWS, DOORS OR ADDING A STORM DOOR, WINDOW BOX, SOLAR PANELS OR SHUTTERS HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I NEED BOARD APPROVAL?
 
You will need approval from the board and the form to request the change is on our website. Please click here to access it - (https://www.cloisterswest.org/editor_upload/File/Exterior%20Change%20Request%20Form-5-4-23(1).pdf )
 
__________
 
IF I NEED BOARD APPROVAL< HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM ALSO REQUIRED TO GET DC GOV APPROVAL SINCE WE ARE IN A HISTORICAL DISTRICT?
 
Please check with the DC Government to make sure. Here are the links: https://planning.dc.gov/page/building-permits-historic-property and https://planning.dc.gov/page/permits-design-review.
__________
 
The above Covenants Guidelines were approved by the Board on October 28, 2025 following community consultation in October 2025.
 
 
© Copyright 2026 Cloisters West | Homeowner Association Website by HOA Sites | Terms of Use | Admin