Rice Creek HOA

What Rice Creek HOA's governing documents say

This is the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions for Rice Creek, a planned single-family home community in Port Wentworth, GA. It establishes a homeowners association (HOA) that all homeowners must join and obey. The rules cover things like landscaping, architectural changes, leasing, and use of common areas, and they are binding on owners, tenants, and guests.

• What you own & maintain: You own your house and land (your 'Unit'). You must maintain it, including landscaping, to the 'Community-Wide Standard' set by the HOA. You also must maintain the strip of common area or public right-of-way within 10 feet of your property line, including irrigation.
• Architectural review: Almost any exterior change — building, painting, adding a shed, even major landscaping — needs written approval first. The builder/developer controls this review during the early phase; after that, an HOA committee takes over. They can reject projects based on looks alone, and you may have to post a bond.
• Leasing & rentals: The HOA cannot ban leasing or require its permission, but it can set a minimum lease term of up to 12 months. It can also require use of HOA-approved lease forms and charge a reasonable fee to cover administrative costs.
• Signs & displays: No signs, banners, or similar displays are allowed on your property or common areas (except builder signs and signs required by Georgia law). However, the HOA cannot ban religious/holiday decorations inside your home, though it can limit how they are displayed if visible from outside.
• Pets & household: The HOA can set rules about pets, noise, and how many people live in a home, but it cannot dictate who lives with you as long as they form one household. Activities that create danger, excessive noise, or unsightly conditions can be restricted.
• Assessments & fees: Every owner pays regular 'Base Assessments' to cover common expenses. Neighborhoods may have extra fees for shared amenities. The HOA can also levy special assessments for emergencies or repair shortfalls. Late or unpaid assessments can become a lien on your property.
• Enforcement & fines: The HOA can fine you, suspend your vote or pool access, and even enter your property to fix violations (charging you). Serious or repeated violations can lead to a lawsuit, and if the HOA wins, you pay its legal fees.
• What this document doesn't cover: This is a standard HOA declaration — it does not specify exact monthly fee amounts, pet limits, parking rules, or detailed architectural guidelines. Those are in separate 'Restrictions and Rules' and 'Architectural Guidelines' that can change without being recorded.

Plain-language summary generated from the governing documents on file for this community. It may be incomplete and is not legal advice — read the full documents below or consult the official recorded versions.