Making exterior changes without prior approval is a violation of your governing documents — and it can be an extremely costly mistake. The Association has the authority to require you to remove or modify the improvement at your own expense, even if you’ve already paid a contractor.
Unapproved work may also result in violation notices, fines, legal fees, and additional costs if the matter has to be enforced through the Association’s attorney. In some cases, the cost of correcting an unapproved change can exceed the cost of the project itself.
To avoid unnecessary expense and conflict, always submit an ARC/ACC request and obtain written approval before starting any exterior project.