Jan:
Sorry, didn't mean to touch any nerve!
Nanci:
Within critical guidelines, you can do a great deal after-the-fact. Any outdoor project, however, must be reviewed and approved by a board, which is both lenient and strict. You must adhere to established deed restrictions and covenants (like no troop of pink flamingoes in your yard
) and easements (that is, there are certain restrictions about how close your house can be to the street, the next-door house, the house behind, etc.)
And, I'm guessing that if you want a purple house with pink polka dots or stripes, you might be denied! ;D