Architectural Modification Information

All Exterior Modifications Require Approval! Painting, Maintenance, and Improvements

At-A-Glance Guidelines for common items such as fences, decks, and mailboxes appear at the bottom of this page.

Lawn Care

• Tend to your lawn and landscaping by trimming your yard, freshening up your pine straw and mulch, and keeping your grass and planter beds clear of weeds. Lawns require maintenance, fertilizer weed control, and pre-emergence for crabgrass.

• After mowing, all grass clippings should be swept up and bagged for pick up. Grass clippings should not be blown into the street or disposed of in an open lot area, stormwater drains, or retention/detention ponds. Please check your natural areas and flower beds, as those areas usually require weeding and new pine straw or mulch around this time of year.

• Tree edging should be defined by a deep edge surrounding the tree that separates it distinctly from the end of the grass and the beginning of the tree bed. Edging is also required curbside, including the seam in the street, where the blacktop and the cement curb meet, walkway, and driveways.

General Maintenance

• Fences and gates: Please check for repairing or staining.

• Retaining walls: They should be pressure washed to remove the mold and mildew.

• Exterior of homes: Inspect the exterior of your homes for signs of any maintenance needed, including painting and/or pressure washing of all trim and siding. Concrete steps and porches and exposed foundations should be pressure washed.

• Windows: All windows should be clear, and all foggy windows are required to be replaced.

• Driveways: Driveways require pressure washing where cars or trucks have leaked oil and left a stain on the driveway or black mildew is visible.

Covenant

• Mailboxes: Review mailboxes to be sure they are clean and fresh; replace missing or faded mailbox numbers. Faded numbers are difficult for emergency personnel to read.

• Storage: Storage of garden supplies, trash cans, and children’s toys should be in your garage or out of view. Hoses, wheelbarrows, garden tools, and ladders should not be left out in flower beds in front or on the sides of the house.

• Parking: All vehicles should be parked in the garage or driveway. Please do not park in the street and parking on your lawn is strictly prohibited.

• Pets: Please be a good neighbor and pick up after your dog. Please take an extra bag along on your walks. Dogs should always be leashed when off property. Please refrain from leaving your dog outside to bark continuously and annoy your neighbors.

• Speed: Please watch your speed as you enter and leave the community. Speeding reduces reaction time and can cause unnecessary accidents. The Speed Limit is 25 MPH inside the community.

• Trash Cans: Please ensure that your trash cans are moved from the curb after your trash pickup. Trash cans should not be visible from the street and should not be left at the curb after pickup.

Architectural Modifications

Contact HMS if you would like to make any changes to the exterior of your home. An Application for Modification form must be submitted for all exterior changes, including any painting, staining, fencing, landscaping, tree removal, decks, or any similar project. Please submit your request for approval prior to scheduling or starting your project.

The Creekside at Scarborough Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions is designed to keep your property values high and make it a desirable place for your family to live. After all, your homes are one of your largest investments. It is not the intent of HMS to inconvenience anyone; it is simply our obligation to be sure everyone is abiding by the Declaration of Covenants for the benefit of all homeowners and residents. You can download a copy of the governing documents on your HMS Community Website.

As we begin spending more time outside, let’s help maintain the high standards that make Creekside at Scarborough a wonderful place to call home!

Inspection and Compliance

In maintaining the standards of the Creekside at Scarborough community, your attention to the standards outlined in the Declaration of Covenants is appreciated. Learn more about these standards and where the rules come from at www.HMS-inc.net/compliance.

How to submit an application: 

Save yourself time! Visit www.HMS-inc.net/modifications for general FAQs on modifications and watch our 5-minute video on Architectural Modification Requests. You will find tips on how to help facilitate a fast approval!

• Complete the Application for Modification form and gather all supporting documentation.

• Examples of supporting documentation include photos, measurements, details on material, paint chips, and paint color (manufacturer and number).

• The more complete your application, the faster your request will be processed.

• Submit the information to the Association’s management company, HMS.

Common Modification & Maintenance Issues

It is the responsibility of every owner and tenant to follow the rules, regulations, and guidelines when it comes to architectural control within the community. Although this page represents a comprehensive list of most potential items and the standards that apply, keep in mind that some items require written approval from the Board of Directors. 

Mailbox Questions

Homeowner Management Services facilitates decisions made by the Architectural Committee. HMS does not make any decisions, and your management company does not set your standards for approval.