Tipton Lakes Community Association

What Tipton Lakes Community Association's governing documents say

Tipton Lakes is a large, master-planned community in Columbus, Indiana, governed by a homeowners association (HOA). This document is the main Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) that sets up the association and running rules for the entire community. It establishes a three-level institutional structure (Community, Neighborhood, and Cluster) and binds all property owners within the development.

• What you own & maintain: You own your individual lot or living unit (house, condo, or living unit within a cooperative). The association owns and maintains the Common Areas, lakes, and other shared facilities, funded by your assessments.
• Assessments & fees: Every owner must pay annual General, Neighborhood Service District, and Cluster Assessments, plus special assessments for capital improvements or emergencies. Maximum assessment amounts are set annually and automatically adjust for inflation. The board can also charge user fees for certain common facilities.
• Architectural & design review: No new construction, exterior alteration, or improvement can be built without prior written approval from the Design Review Committee (or its Modifications and New Construction subcommittees). The committee can set rules and application fees to maintain a harmonious appearance.
• Leasing & rentals: Owners may lease their lot or living unit, but leases must be in writing and the owner must notify the association. The tenant becomes an occupant member with limited voting rights. The declaration does not set a minimum lease term (unlike the Maplewood Villas excerpt).
• Common Area use & enforcement: All use of the lake property, common areas, and facilities is by revokable license only. The association may adopt rules, charge user fees, and impose penalties (including temporary suspension of use rights and fines) for violations, with due process. Violation costs can become a lien on the property.
• Maintenance & nuisances: Owners must keep their lots and improvements in good condition, free of debris, dead trees, and unsightly growth. Noxious or offensive activities that become unreasonable annoyances or nuisances are prohibited.
• Community structure: Clusters & Neighborhood Service Districts: The community is organized into Clusters (small groups of lots) and Neighborhood Service Districts (larger areas). Each level may have its own assessments, common areas, and committee (Cluster Committee, Neighborhood Council) to manage localized benefits and services.
• Membership & voting: Every owner (Class A) gets one vote per lot or living unit. Occupants/tenants (Class B) get one vote per unit in certain matters. The developer (Class C) holds weighted votes until development is complete, and can appoint directors. Members must sign a Membership Agreement, or risk losing voting and common area use rights for up to a year.

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.