Can you request a variance?

[Hifred]

I have a Bridgeport model home. The back lanai is small and doesn't get much ventilation. It is enclosed and rather a waste of space. I want to add a small cage in the back of my home but the regulations say I must allow seven and a half feet between the property line and the back of my home. I could fit a small cage on the back of my home but it would not be worth the cost. I would like to add an extra two feet but that would be in violation of the back easement restriction. I know there is an architectural review committee but I don't know do they ever agree to a variance from the standard rules outlined in the covenants or is their role to enforce the covenants and not approve any deviations? I am not going to move to a lot with more space in the back because my bond is paid, the inside of my house is fine and the cost of a new construction home with a new bond is too expensive.

I strongly urge anyone just moving to TV for the first time to really take stock in what you want in a home so you don't have to move multiple times. I wish I would have gotten a home with the lanai I wanted but at the time I was concerned about not over spending on a home so I didn't get everything I wanted and I just should have bit the bullet. House values have gone up and it would have been fine to have spent more than I did.

[retiredguy123]

The easement for the rear of my property is 5 feet, not 7.5 feet. I would just file the ARC form and see what happens. That is the only way you will know for sure.

[Toymeister]

As a point of clarification:

South of 44 the entire home is moved towards the front ten feet which leaves plenty of room for a Bridgeport lanai. Also newer Bridgeport lanais are larger by extension of the roofline to form a larger area.

Overall the Bridgeport is a lovely design with nine foot walls, front closet and 2.5 baths, making it rare amongst designer home floorplans.

[dougjb]

Why not just contact the ARC for their specs? Afterall, they are the experts (with the power to enforce). On TOTV, all you get are opinions of mostly uninformed and sometimes well meaning anonymous posters.

In my dealings with the ARC, they have been informative and helpful and made sure I was in compliance. I deeply appreciate their work!

[retiredguy123]

Why not just contact the ARC for their specs? Afterall, they are the experts (with the power to enforce). On TOTV, all you get are opinions of mostly uninformed and sometimes well meaning anonymous posters.

In my dealings with the ARC, they have been informative and helpful and made sure I was in compliance. I deeply appreciate their work!
The OP doesn't want to be in compliance, he wants a variance. I agree that most people at ARC are helpful, but the only way to know if the committee will approve a variance is to actually apply for it by submitting their application form. It is a relatively easy process.

[Babubhat]

You get the information in your closing package deed restrictions. Have no idea why they legally could make an exception. They would be flooded with requests and lawsuits from denied applications. Lot lines are already too close in many locations

[JohnN]

The answer is to submit the plan to the ARC. I have done that a couple of times now and have found the ARC to be helpful.
Good luck.

[champion6]

The 7.5 ft. setback is a county requirement. A variance request will have to be submitted to your county. If you contact ARC, they will simply tell you what you already know -- 7.5 ft.

[pauld315]

The easement for the rear of my property is 5 feet, not 7.5 feet. I would just file the ARC form and see what happens. That is the only way you will know for sure.

That depends on the CDD for that particular lot, the are different in different areas of The Villages

[villagetinker]

OP, as noted above you will probably need 2 approvals, the first being the county as you want to exceed the build lines. If you get that approval, then you will need to get ARC approval for the proposed structure. IMHO, I doubt you will get the county approval, we found this out when we installed our birdcage, basically we were told NOTHING permanent could be built in the rear right or way, so we had to design around that restriction by limiting the size and location of the birdcage.
Good luck.

[VApeople]

We bought a new house in Osceola Hills 6 years ago. The plat map of our lot shows a 10' border along the back and 5' borders along the sides.

We would never build anything within those borders.

[thelegges]

The easement for the rear of my property is 5 feet, not 7.5 feet. I would just file the ARC form and see what happens. That is the only way you will know for sure.

maybe at you property but not mine. Our back easement is 7.5. Had to change new pool design with a small corner cut to fit the 7.5 rear easements

[Papa_lecki]

Don’t you also need to consider landscaping? Don’t different types of landscaping and borders have different set back requirements?

[thelegges]

Don’t you also need to consider landscaping? Don’t different types of landscaping and borders have different set back requirements?

On corner lots and lots that back to a road, and depending on the utilities in your yard, set back are very different

[Pairadocs]

I have a Bridgeport model home. The back lanai is small and doesn't get much ventilation. It is enclosed and rather a waste of space. I want to add a small cage in the back of my home but the regulations say I must allow seven and a half feet between the property line and the back of my home. I could fit a small cage on the back of my home but it would not be worth the cost. I would like to add an extra two feet but that would be in violation of the back easement restriction. I know there is an architectural review committee but I don't know do they ever agree to a variance from the standard rules outlined in the covenants or is their role to enforce the covenants and not approve any deviations? I am not going to move to a lot with more space in the back because my bond is paid, the inside of my house is fine and the cost of a new construction home with a new bond is too expensive.

I strongly urge anyone just moving to TV for the first time to really take stock in what you want in a home so you don't have to move multiple times. I wish I would have gotten a home with the lanai I wanted but at the time I was concerned about not over spending on a home so I didn't get everything I wanted and I just should have bit the bullet. House values have gone up and it would have been fine to have spent more than I did.

You said it all for those still looking....."at the time I was concerned about not over spending on a home so I didn't get everything I wanted and I just should have bit the bullet", should have just "bit the bullet" for sure. Even things that seem small and can be added "later", like having natural gas line run to your grill (when you get sick and tired of taking the propane tank to be filled, and then reattaching it !) can become so expensive later. Another seemingly "small" thing, such as outlets in the middle of a living room floor (rather than running extension cords for floor lamps, Christmas trees, etc. and same for outside outlets; have those you'd like for outdoor Christmas decorations done NOW, not "later" !

[wisbad1]

The easement for the rear of my property is 5 feet, not 7.5 feet. I would just file the ARC form and see what happens. That is the only way you will know for sure.
Mine was 9 feet, I live in Collier , each one is different.

[Ngader]

As a point of clarification:

South of 44 the entire home is moved towards the front ten feet which leaves plenty of room for a Bridgeport lanai. Also newer Bridgeport lanais are larger by extension of the roofline to form a larger area.

Overall the Bridgeport is a lovely design with nine foot walls, front closet and 2.5 baths, making it rare amongst designer home floorplans.
Plus this home, due to the placement of the lanai allows so much light into the home. All other designs are dark inside. And you may need lights during the day.

[rsmurano]

I have a Bridgeport model home. The back lanai is small and doesn't get much ventilation. It is enclosed and rather a waste of space. I want to add a small cage in the back of my home but the regulations say I must allow seven and a half feet between the property line and the back of my home. I could fit a small cage on the back of my home but it would not be worth the cost. I would like to add an extra two feet but that would be in violation of the back easement restriction. I know there is an architectural review committee but I don't know do they ever agree to a variance from the standard rules outlined in the covenants or is their role to enforce the covenants and not approve any deviations? I am not going to move to a lot with more space in the back because my bond is paid, the inside of my house is fine and the cost of a new construction home with a new bond is too expensive.

I strongly urge anyone just moving to TV for the first time to really take stock in what you want in a home so you don't have to move multiple times. I wish I would have gotten a home with the lanai I wanted but at the time I was concerned about not over spending on a home so I didn't get everything I wanted and I just should have bit the bullet. House values have gone up and it would have been fine to have spent more than I did.

So why not replace a couple of windows with 1’s that open with screens? When we enclosed our lanai, we put in 2 windows on each end that can open with screens so we can get some fresh air in

[bowlingal]

Hindsight.....so easy to say now, but at the time you bought, you thought you were doing the right thing, at the right home for you.

[Black Beauty]

We rented for 4 years to decide what we wanted and what we didn't want. We wanted golf course view with a pond and the golf path on the other side. No need for a pool as we're across the street from TV largest sport pool. We lucked out and got over 100 feet of frontage and 32 feet side yard! No need to move! (Also a 24x24 garage)

[TC_Arch]

I have a Bridgeport model home. The back lanai is small and doesn't get much ventilation. It is enclosed and rather a waste of space. I want to add a small cage in the back of my home but the regulations say I must allow seven and a half feet between the property line and the back of my home. I could fit a small cage on the back of my home but it would not be worth the cost. I would like to add an extra two feet but that would be in violation of the back easement restriction. I know there is an architectural review committee but I don't know do they ever agree to a variance from the standard rules outlined in the covenants or is their role to enforce the covenants and not approve any deviations? I am not going to move to a lot with more space in the back because my bond is paid, the inside of my house is fine and the cost of a new construction home with a new bond is too expensive.

I strongly urge anyone just moving to TV for the first time to really take stock in what you want in a home so you don't have to move multiple times. I wish I would have gotten a home with the lanai I wanted but at the time I was concerned about not over spending on a home so I didn't get everything I wanted and I just should have bit the bullet. House values have gone up and it would have been fine to have spent more than I did.

We have a Bridgeport. We got approval from the ARC to add 20 feet to our lanai with a birdcage. However, Sumter County said only 2 feet. County said we could apply for a variance for $500 but we would lose.

[PoolBrews]

Is that for Sumter county? I'm in Marion, and it's only 5'. Makes a BIG difference on the area available for a birdcage.

[Barborv]

We are actually in the final process of extending our lanai and adding a birdcage. We first went to ARC to see what the actual setback was from our wall (which we back up against) We were told by some contractors that it's 20 feet. Some said 7 1/2. ARC clarified that it was 7 1/2 feet for my property. Then we had estimates from several contractors and when decided on one, permits had to be submitted. We just got the permits and it's a go ahead. Can't wait to see the finished product.

[DAVES]

You said it all for those still looking....."at the time I was concerned about not over spending on a home so I didn't get everything I wanted and I just should have bit the bullet", should have just "bit the bullet" for sure. Even things that seem small and can be added "later", like having natural gas line run to your grill (when you get sick and tired of taking the propane tank to be filled, and then reattaching it !) can become so expensive later. Another seemingly "small" thing, such as outlets in the middle of a living room floor (rather than running extension cords for floor lamps, Christmas trees, etc. and same for outside outlets; have those you'd like for outdoor Christmas decorations done NOW, not "later" !

Some people are woulda, shoulda, coulda, mighta. I to the best of my ability deal with what is not what should be or could be. SOLUTION to natural gas line. We do not have gas either. COST, I don't know but several people have installed buried tanks to run hot tubs and or a gas stove. Do you have room to do this? Is the cost worth it to you? We too have an outlet in the middle of the Livingroom floor. It is under our couch. Our previous home was 1948. In terms of outlets, we have far more than we used to have. Many/most,
are not used.