Why approval is needed
Neighborhoods along SR 54, SR 56 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd were mostly built as planned communities with a homeowners association. Their governing documents usually give an architectural review committee, often called the ARC or ARB, the say over exterior changes. Paint colors are almost always on that list, even if you are repainting in the exact same color.
Skipping approval can lead to a violation letter, fines, and in the worst case a requirement to repaint at your own cost. It is not worth the risk. The process is usually simple once you know what the committee wants to see.
Start by finding your governing documents. They are usually called the declaration of covenants, plus a separate set of architectural guidelines or design standards. Your management company can send them, and many communities post them on a resident portal. Read the section on exterior changes before you even pick up a color card, because some guidelines also cover sheen, accent colors, shutters and garage doors. If something is unclear, ask the manager in writing and keep the reply.
How paint schemes usually work
Many communities keep an approved palette, often organized into numbered schemes. Each scheme pairs a body color with a trim color and sometimes an accent for the front door or shutters. You pick a full scheme rather than mixing and matching colors from different ones.
Some communities also have rules about neighboring homes, such as not matching the scheme of the house next door or directly across the street. Others let you pick any color within a range of tones. Because every association is different, the only reliable source is your own documents and the current palette from your management company. Ask for the latest version, since palettes get updated over the years and paint stores sometimes have an old copy.
What to submit
Requirements vary, but most applications ask for some combination of these:
- The completed architectural modification request from your management company or resident portal.
- The scheme number, or the exact color names and codes for body, trim, door and any accents.
- Paint brand and sheen, since some communities specify flat or low sheen on the body.
- Physical color samples or chips, and in some cases a painted sample area on the house.
- A photo of the house as it is now.
- Which surfaces will change: walls, trim, fascia, garage door, front door, shutters.
- Your painting company's name and expected start date, if the form asks for it.
How long approval takes
Committees often meet monthly, and many governing documents give the committee a set number of days to respond, commonly around 30, though some move faster. Applications submitted the day after a meeting can wait almost a full month. Plan on two to six weeks from submission to written approval, and do not schedule your painters until you have it in hand.
If your application comes back denied or with conditions, read the reason carefully. It is usually a color pairing that is not on the palette or missing information. Fix it and resubmit rather than arguing the point. If you are torn between schemes, a color consultation can help you pick one that suits your roof color and stone or paver accents before you file.
Tips that save time
A few habits make the process smoother:
- Ask the paint store to mix sample quarts of your scheme and brush a 2 by 2 foot patch on a shaded wall and a sunny wall. Colors look very different on stucco in full Florida sun.
- Photograph the samples at midday and in the evening and include those photos with your application.
- Keep a copy of the signed approval. Give one to your painter so the crew can match it can by can.
- If you are also changing the garage door or front door color, include them now. A second application later means a second wait.
- Check whether roof, gutter or paver changes need their own approval if you are doing several projects at once.
When the whole neighborhood repaints
Some associations repaint all homes on a schedule, or require repainting when a house looks faded. In those cases the association may pick colors, set deadlines and sometimes arrange the work. Our HOA community repainting crews work from the approved palette and handle one home after another without crossing schemes.
For a single home, once your approval letter arrives, call (813) 471-5995. We will check the colors against the letter, look at the stucco and trim, and give you a written estimate. A typical single-story repaint in the approved scheme runs about $3,860 to $6,940, with the final price following a free on-site look.