A lot of neighborhoods across Utah County and the Salt Lake Valley – Daybreak, Saratoga Springs, Eagle Mountain, Herriman, and plenty of newer subdivisions in Lehi and South Jordan – are governed by an HOA with an architectural review committee. If you’re planning new siding, a stucco color change, or even new gutter colors, there’s a good chance you need sign-off before a crew ever shows up. Skipping that step can mean a stop-work notice, a fine, or being asked to redo work you just paid for.
What Actually Needs Approval
Most HOAs require approval for anything that changes the exterior appearance of the home: a different siding material, a new stucco or paint color, gutter and downspout color, and sometimes trim or shutter colors. Repairs that match the existing material and color usually don’t need a review, but a full re-side or a stucco color change almost always does. Permanent holiday lighting is usually exempt since it’s not a permanent exterior modification, but it’s worth checking your CC&Rs if the fixtures themselves stay visible year-round.
How the Architectural Review Process Works
Every HOA runs this a little differently, but the basic steps are the same: you submit an application – usually through the management company’s online portal – along with the proposed material, manufacturer, and color. Most committees want an actual swatch or sample, not just a paint chip name, and some ask for a photo or simple sketch showing where it goes on the home. Review can take anywhere from a few days to four to six weeks depending on how often the committee meets, so this isn’t something to start the week before you want work to begin.
Why Applications Get Sent Back
The most common holdup we see is a color that isn’t on the HOA’s approved palette, even when it’s a popular manufacturer color. Some HOAs keep a short list of approved siding and stucco colors specific to the neighborhood, and anything outside it gets rejected outright, approved elsewhere or not. Missing samples, an incomplete application, or not specifying the exact product line – vinyl versus fiber cement, smooth versus textured stucco – are the other frequent reasons for a resubmission request.
What to Bring to Your Submission
A stronger application includes the manufacturer name, product line, and color name or number, a physical sample if the HOA allows it, and your contractor’s license and insurance information if the HOA requests it. We provide manufacturer color charts and physical samples for any siding, stucco, or gutter project so you have exactly what the committee asks for, rather than guessing at what’s needed.
Build the Timeline Into Your Project
Because approval can take weeks, we recommend getting HOA sign-off before materials are ordered, not after. Changing a color mid-project because the HOA rejected the original choice costs more in both time and material than building a few extra weeks into the schedule up front. Keep your written approval on file, too – some HOAs will ask for it again at resale or during a future exterior project.
If you’re planning a siding, stucco, or gutter project in an HOA community and need color samples, spec sheets, or help navigating the approval process, reach out to Ridgeline Home Exteriors and we’ll help you get it right the first time.
