Xheck the archictecture review manual, half of it is specific to landscaping

VCDD Community Standards

And yes, people will report you.

My landscaper took care of doing the paperwork for us before starting.

It depends on the district - call your district customer service is all you have to do and they will inform you. some don't want any ARC some do

In my dealing with any HOA its always best to get approval first for any changes just to be safe. Have everything approved and NEVER mention anything to your neighbors - especially if you are not on the best of terms with each other - just in case they may want to cause you a problem.

:what:

Removed two sets of bushes in front of house, replaced with cement. All I had to do was make a drawing, submit it to the ARC, they emailed me back with approval in a few days, no problem.

Best to get the information for what you are doing from the horses mouth. Every district has different rules and I, personally, am glad for them.

ARC approval for landscaping
 

I have a PV I wanted to remove front grass and replace it with stone, I have about 5 neighbors that did it and liked the look. I got a few estimates and they all said you don't need approval. Well I called ARC and they said this is not allowed, they said they have about 40 cases on her desk and they will all have to rip it out. I'm glad I called.

Always safest to contact the ARC first. You will get both good and bad advice from this forum, the problem is you won’t know which until you contact the ARC.

Ohiobuckeye
 

[QUOTE=Bleudeturquoise;leu landscaping?
And, it you don't - then what - are you fined????[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately you do! It seems pretty bad when you paid & own your property but if TV didn’t do this you could amagine what some people would do. I thought like you, why do I have to get permission to redo my landscape, they wouldn’t let me put a farm wagon in my landscape area, it would of been beautiful. You see why now, Bluedeturquoise! Some people live like hillbillies.

Key word in your thoughts is "drastic". Forms and meetings and "approvals" should hardly be necessary to go into one's yard and remove a small plant or bush that has died and is unsightly. We look at an old "junk" RV that is only moved once a week or so, and untrimmed tress everywhere, ours, our neighbors, but most belonging to the Villages. The RV runs, so what is "junk", looks or condition ? They use it every so often. Are any of these things hurting us, the quality of our lives, our peace and quiet ? No ! Seems like over kill, like the outrage over the couple down the street who placed a small (and I mean SMALL) cross in a flower bed to remind them of a personal loss. Such a friendly home town. Such a huge difference in seriousness of broken eggs and broken legs, need a little common sense around here.... and now those who just can't face the day without making nasty or self-centered remarks on our social media platform will probably start out, oh well. Even with that type around, most villagers are still kind and tolerant and don't expect everyone to be exactly like them. It would be helpful if our properties were marked to indicate easements, that alone could eliminate a good portion of this constant "wrangling" and arguing about someone's this or that 2" over the property line. Sometimes you have to just smile, chuckle, and carryon the best you can by spreading a little kindness and understanding ! Was it Will Rogers who said, "people are just about as happy as THEY make up their own minds to be." ?

yes you will be fined....

Yes, I changed all my landscaping 2 years ago and the landscaping company applied for approval, if you don't and someone complains, you will have to remove it, better to be safe than sorry!

FACT..
If you didn't get approval, and the changes were within the guidelines of the ARC,
you CAN get approval after the work is done without removal, and without fines.

The nice part is about doing it this way, is you get to find out if there is a busy body close by, AND who they are. Reports are no longer anon.

Since when have complaint reports been made anonymous in ALL CDDs?

The ARC site still says "Concerns about possible deed restriction violations may be provided to the Community Standards Deed Compliance Division by phone, fax, mail, electronic mail, or in person and may be made anonymously. The Community Standards Deed Compliance Division is entirely complaint driven