The following is a summary of Association Covenants. Also included (and noted) are City Ordinance issues that receive the most complaints. This summary provides a quick reference of covenants and restrictions designed to enhance and protect the desirability, safety, and attractiveness of the Association. Refer to the full Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions and/or the City of Richland’s website http://www.ci.richland.wa.us/ for complete ordinance descriptions.
Architectural Control
No external improvement, above or below the surface, may be made without the written approval of the Association through the Architectural Control Committee. No building shall be erected, placed or altered on any lot (residential or non residential) on the property until the building, plans, specifications, plot plan, landscaping and fencing plan, showing the nature, kind, shape, height, materials, and location of such building have been approved in writing as to conformity and harmony of external design with existing structures in the subdivision, and as to location of the building with respect to topography and finished ground elevation, by the Architectural Control Committee.
Campers/Trailers
No trailer or unmounted camper shall be stored or parked on the premises nearer the front property line than the minimum setback line.
Fences
No fence, wall, hedge, or mass planting other than foundation planting shall be permitted to extend nearer to any street than the minimum setback line of the residence, except that nothing shall prevent the erection of a necessary retaining wall, the top of which does not extend more than two feet above the finished grade at the back of said retaining wall, provided, however, that no fence, wall, hedge or mass planting shall at any time, where permitted, extend higher than six feet above ground. Fences shall be well constructed of suitable fencing materials and shall be artistic in design and shall not detract from the appearance of the dwelling house located upon the adjacent lots or building sites or be offensive to the owners or occupants thereof.
Fairway Lots
No fence shall be constructed or maintained on any fairway lot in the property except as follows:
a) A patio constructed immediately adjacent to the house on any lot may be enclosed by a fence. Also a fence may be constructed and maintained to enclose any swimming pool. However, no part of any such fence enclosing a patio or a swimming pool may be closer than 15 feet to the rear property line without the prior written approval of the Architectural Control Committee provided for in Article VIII Section 2 hereof.
b) A fence may be constructed and maintained by an Owner on either or both side lines of his lot, but no such fence shall be closer than the front setback line not closer than 15 feet to the back property line. (Thus, for example, on a lot having a depth of 100 feet, such a fence may have a maximum length of 65 feet, with the ends of the fence being a minimum of 20 feet from the front property line and 15 feet from the back property line, respectively.)
Home Occupations & Commercial Activity
Business use of residential property shall comply at all times with Association Covenants and the City of Richland requirements.
Noise Complaints
Noise violations are enforced by the Police Department; please call the non-emergency line at 628-0333.
Oil and Mining Operations
No oil drilling, oil development operations, oil refining, quarrying or mining operations of any kind shall be permitted upon or in any lot, nor shall oil wells, tanks, tunnels, mineral excavations or shafts be permitted upon or in any lot.
Pets
No animal, livestock, or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred, or kept on any lot, except that dogs, cats, birds or other household pets may be kept if they are not kept, bred, or maintained for any commercial purposes, and that they shall not be kept in numbers or under conditions reasonably objectionable in a closely built up residential community.
City of Richland Municipal Code 7.03.030: It is unlawful for any owner to permit any dog, cat or other animal to trespass on private or public property so as to damage or destroy any property or thing of value, or to deposit fecal matter on any property not that of his owner, and the same is declared to be a nuisance and any such dog, cat or other animal may be seized and impounded.
For barking dogs, contact the Richland City Attorney’s Office at 942-7382 (8am – 5pm, Monday-Friday). After hours, call the non-emergency line at 628-0333. For all other animal complaints, contact Tri-City Animal Shelter at 545-3740.
Public Nuisance
No noxious or offensive activity may occur on any lot. Activities resulting in annoyance or nuisance to the neighborhood are not allowed.
Radio and Television Antennas
No radio or television antennas shall be permitted to extend more than ten feet above the roof line of any residence without the written approval of the said committee.
Rights of the Association
The Association has the right to promote the appearance, safety, and recreation of the area through the enforcement of covenants and the assessment of dues or other charges.
The process for assessment of dues or other charges are described in the Association’s Articles of Association or Bylaws. No sale or transfer relieves the lot from liability for any unpaid dues or other charges.
Sidewalks
Per City of Richland Code Chapter 12.16, maintenance of public sidewalks is the responsibility of the owner of each lot. Property owners are required to keep the public sidewalks or sidewalks along their property in the street or streets adjacent thereto cleaned and maintained in a reasonable and safe condition. Also see Trees and Shrubs.
Temporary Structures
No structure of a temporary character, such as a trailer or a shack or other outbuildings shall be used on any lot at any time as a residence.
Trashy Yard
No lot or tract shall be used as a dump for trash or rubbish of any kind. All garbage and other waste shall be kept in appropriate sanitary containers for proper disposal. Yard rakings, such as rocks, lawn and shrubbery clippings, and dirt and other material resulting from landscaping work shall not be dumped into public streets or ditches.
Trees and Shrubs
Per City of Richland Ordinance No. 26-05: Trees and Shrubs near sidewalks and streets must be trimmed in accordance to City of Richland code. All limbs of trees must be at least seven (7) feet above the surface of any public sidewalk, or twelve (12) feet above the surface of any street.
Vehicle Storage / Junk Vehicles
No owner or contract purchaser of any residential lot shall permit any vehicle owned by him or by any member of his family or by any acquaintance, and which is in an extreme state of disrepair, to be abandoned or to remain parked upon any street within the existing property for a period in excess of forty-eight (48) hours.
Water and Sewage
No individual water supply system or sewage disposal system is permitted on any lot.
Weeds, Grasses, Vegetation
Per City of Richland Ordinance No. 26-05: All grasses, weeds, or other vegetation growing or which has grown and died shall not exceed six (6) inches in height measured above the ground, determined to be a fire or safety hazard or a nuisance to persons.
Yard Signs
No signs shall be erected or maintained on any residential lot in the tract, except that not more than one approved FOR SALE or FOR RENT sign placed by the owner or builder or by a licensed real estate broker, not exceeding eighteen (18) inches high and twenty-four (24) inches long, may be displayed on any lot.
To report a city code violation, call the Code Enforcement complaint line at 509-942-7739 (staffed Monday through Thursday from 7:30am – 4pm). You can also complete a Complaint Form at the Richland Police Station, 871 George Washington Way.