Traditionally, people own houses with adjoining yards, driveway, garages and other outbuildings. The person owns that property without neighbors or anyone else dictating the use, look and layout of the property, except for local governments who enforce zoning and public safety laws.
However, some people feel that the value of everyone’s homes can be increased and maintained at higher levels if an entire neighborhood adopted certain rules to which everyone would agree. Examples of items of agreement include setback distances from streets, architectural designs, home colors and the locations of trees and landscaping.
Usually, such an agreement among owners of houses in a subdivision or neighborhood is set up by the neighborhood’s homebuilder/developer before the homes are built.
Read more about this in Lee’s article in the Lima News here: “Legal-Ease column: “Condos, PUDs and homeowner associations differ by what’s owned versus shared”,”
Source: LimaOhio.com, “Legal-Ease column: “Condos, PUDs and homeowner associations differ by what’s owned versus shared”,” by Lee R. Schroeder, February 8, 2020.
Lee R. Schroeder is an Ohio licensed attorney at Schroeder Law LLC in Putnam County. He limits his practice to business, real estate, estate planning and agriculture issues in northwest Ohio. He can be reached at Lee@LeeSchroeder.com or at 419-659-2058. This article is not intended to serve as legal advice, and specific advice should be sought from the licensed attorney of your choice based upon the specific facts and circumstances that you face.