Design Standards

DESIGN STANDARDS FOR ANDERSON MILL HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION

May 2025

PURPOSE

These design standards have been established by the Board of Directors of the Anderson Mill Homeowners Association (“AMHOA”) to create and maintain a community of high esteem and visual harmony.  Design standards govern the architectural control request made by residents and are not arbitrary.  Design standards are especially important to AMHOA because of the proximity of our homes.  Because of this proximity of homes any change to the appearance of one home directly affects the appearance of other homes surrounding it.  Cost of front yard maintenance, which is provided by AMHOA, is directly affected by additional edging, pine straw, etc.  Additionally, if a magnolia tree is planted in the front yard, several years later; two homes would be affected by its size.

Each homeowner and tenant should have a copy of the Declaration of Covenants, By-Laws, and the 2007 Amended Covenants and By-Laws for the community.  These documents are available at www.amho.org.  This document will be also be available on website. In the event of a conflict between the Declaration of Covenants and the Design Standards, the Covenants shall prevail.

ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL REQUEST PROCEDURE

Any addition, alteration or change of any kind to the exterior of lot/house requires approval, in advance.  All requests must be made, in writing, to the Architectural Control Committee, C/O Anderson Mill HOA, PO Box, 724 Austell GA 30168.  Requests must include the following information:

Description of project

Location (including site plan), size, color, and material

Copies of permits (if required)

The ACC will respond within thirty (30) days of receipt of request.

Below are the Design Standards, which have been adopted for AMHOA.

DESIGN STANDARDS

From the street and your neighbor’s view 

• The front entrance should be free of clutter such as toys, bikes, old papers garbage containers.

• The house and driveway must be cleaned/ maintained for dirt, oil, mildew, and mold.

• No car awnings/canopies are allowed.

Exterior Colors

As exterior colors need repair or paint, the original colors and type of materials must be used or colors and materials as near to original as possible may be substituted providing the original is not readily available.

Storm Doors/Garages

All storm doors must be trimmed in white and all glass or split glass/screen in a metal frame.  Wood screen doors are not permitted.  Garage door must be white with or without windows.  Wood or metal is permitted.

Fencing

All fence boards seen from the street must conform to the type originally installed with regards to style, height, color, and materials: French Gothic, 6 feet tall, Behr Solid Stain, color is "CHESTNUT" (you may use any brand as long as it matches Behr’s Chestnut color), wood should be pressure treated pine or cedar. A clear protection may be put on cedar fences. All fences must be repaired and maintained.  No fence originally installed shall be permanently removed (fences separating the homes).   

Landscaping

Landscaping should relate to existing terrain and natural features of the lot.  Property owners are responsible for replacing dead shrubbery and grass in the front lawn. Property owners are also responsible for cutting/ maintain shrubbery and grass in the back yard. Shrubbery should not be taller than fence and on the neighbor’s house. 

Raised Flower Beds

Flower beds and shrubbery next to the adjacent house must not interfere with the homeowner cleaning/repairing their house.

Borders

Sometimes borders interfere with lawn maintenance.  For this reason, location and type of borders must be approved in advance.  Height may not exceed (4) inches above ground and material must be made of wood, concrete, plastic, or brick.

Statuary

Any statuary objects and outdoor furniture not behind privacy fences must be approved by the ACC prior to placement on front yard and porch.  Any planters must conform to color scheme of home.  Window boxes are not permitted.

Exterior Lighting

No color lights shall be used on any portion of lot, except decorative, ornamental and holiday lighting, which will be permitted during the holiday season from the week of Thanksgiving through the first week of January.  Exterior landscape lighting must not interfere with landscaping maintenance

Play Equipment

Play equipment must be in rear of lot behind privacy fence.  Toy equipment must not be stored on front lot or porch.  Basketball goals may not be located on front lot, those located on rear lot must be approved in advance.

Sheds

Sheds may be no larger than 8’ X 10’.  On a free-standing shed, top of roof pitch will be no higher than 8’.  Where side of house is 4th side of shed, a higher sloped roof will be permitted if it does not interfere with existing roof.  Sheds where the fence is 4th side of shed, roof shall be 6 inches lower than top fence and sides of shed will match existing fence.  Roof must be shingled to match house roof.  Siding of shed should match house in material and color.  Shed must be placed to rear back corner of house and not be visible from street if possible.

Awnings/Screened Porches

Awning/screened porches must be five feet from the neighbor’s house. Roof may be either shingled to match the roof of the house or of white vinyl or aluminum.  Sides of roof must be of white vinyl- either straight or scalloped borders are acceptable.  Post should be adequate to support structure and attractive.  Awning placement must allow for maintenance of house next door.  Homeowners must secure appropriate county permits prior to submitting their request to ACC.  Copy of permits must be submitted with request.

Flags and Banners

The U.S. Flag and those depicting holidays seasons are permitted. 

Woodpiles

Woodpiles must be in the backyard area and not visible from the street.  Woodpiles must be at least three (3) feet from a neighboring home or fence because of insects, snakes, and termites.

General Maintenance and Repair

Article VI of the Declaration of Covenants stipulate the general covenants and restrictions related to maintaining the lot and structures. It is each homeowner’s responsibility to read and comply with these requirements.  

Parking

• Residents and their guests may not leave any vehicle parked on public streets within the HOA for more than 48 consecutive hours.

• A vehicle is considered “prolonged” if it remains parked on the street in substantially the same location for more than 48 hours. Simply moving the vehicle slightly (e.g., pulling forward or backward) does not reset the 48-hour period.

• Rotating multiple vehicles to avoid the 48-hour limit is also not permitted. If it is determined that vehicles are being rotated or swapped out in the same general location to bypass the policy, it will be treated as a violation.

• Local laws shall take precedence if more restrictive

• First Violation: Written warning

• Second Violation $100 fine and notice of non-compliance

• Third and Subsequent Violation: $200 fine per incident