Deed Restrictions
 

Has anyone else received a letter from a lawyer that a political sign is a window is a violation of the deed restrictions and if you have what have you done about it.

It is from a lawyer representing The Villages and yes I do have a political sign in my window, but so do many other homes. I guess my real question is have other people received the same type letter. I understand that technically it is a violation of the deed restrictions, but it is OK to run a political message on a flag pole, but not in a window?

Who is the lawyer representing?

Read your deed restrictions, in most areas you are limited to one 12x12 For Sale sign in a front window, nothing else. If you have anything else, you are in violation of the restrictions. This is not a freedom of speach issue, you agreed to giving up this freedom when you purchased your home and agreed to the deed restrictions. Ignorance of what you agreed to is not a defense for these violations.

I think that almost every outside real estate company violates the "for sale" sign rule. They are too large, they often have more than one sign, and they are often placed on the garage door, not inside a window.

And evidently everyone is ok with that. Not so much with political signs.

Very interesting.

and just like everyone else around here we did not read the deed restrictions.

Wouldn't notices of violations come from TV and not some lawyer? I'm wondering if the letter is from a neighbor (who may or may not be a lawyer him or herself) who doesn't care for your choice of candidate.

kathy

Name of lawyer?
Do you have a sign?
What does the letter tell you to do?

Why not call: Community Standards
Phone: 352-751-3912

I guess we're one of the few people who actually read deed restrictions BEFORE buying a home here. :) As for what you can do about it depending on the COMPLETE facts and assuming it is from T.V. I would guess your only option is to appeal and then make a legal case out of it but you will likely be SOL.

However without providing details as Mr Bogie suggests like: Name of lawyer? (was it from The Villages?), What does the letter tell you to do? this thread basically just becomes just another generic deed restriction thread because no one really knows the facts behind it. Can't imagine why an outside lawyer would send a letter relating to deed restrictions or if s/he would even have any standing in that matter.

All the violation letters come from an attorney however someone has to turn you in first.

Are retail businesses in the squares also bound by any sort of deed restrictions such as non-business related signs in their windows?

What sort of non-business signs are you referring to?

More BS, lawyers name?

Also, be careful about asking a blanket question about deed restriction. The items in your deed restriction apply to restriction of your CDD district and are not the same across the entire villages. So something that might be acceptable in one Village may not be acceptable in another. You will find that as The Villages grew, a lot more restrictions were added to the newer areas. So the areas north of 466 aren't the same as south of 466, and I suspect that the areas south of 44 may have some differences to those north of 44. Just wait till you see the deed restrictions for those villages that will be eventually built south of I - 4 :icon_wink:

Depends on where you live, read the restrictions for your area

Doubt it but read their deed restrictions if there are any. Remember, all commercial property in the squares is owned by the developer

The hypocrisy is unbelievable. People getting called out for a minor deed restriction, yet internal deed restrictions like running an AIRBNB out of a single family home are ignored. Worse yet, residents are required to adhere to strict deed restrictions, but the developer can get zoning approval to dump an apartment complex in a residential neighborhood. Where will it end?

All you need to do is buy a commissioner or two or three and you can pretty much do as you wish.

So much for tolerance.
 

It’s amazing that so many “tolerant” people are so concerned with what others do in their home/property. I think it’s sad that people waste their time being so overly concerned about signs, yard decor, and other menial nonsense, their lives must be very boring for this to be a priority.

As a veteran I am pretty disappointed in how people today act and their desire to impose THEIR will on others. If it doesn’t directly effect you just keep it moving. You should take a good hard look in the mirror, I’m sure that everyone that wants to play “police” is in fact doing something that offends someone else.

Just do the best you can to live your life with integrity and honor and stop trying to change everyone else. If your good example doesn’t change someone’s actions Athen your reporting them is t going to matter.

Enjoy life and live.

And what about flying a flag of a political candidate on a flagpole in your yard?

Lawyer?
 

Why is the name of the client relevant?

Owning how divisive the current political climate, I wondering why “neighbors” would display political signs anyway?
I’d like to keep it out of our neighborhood and enjoy each other’s company

It is not the restrictions, it is HOW IT IS ADMINISTERED THAT GETS EVERYONE UPSET!!

Flying a political flag on a flag pole has been upheld as being legal.

Look around, and you'll see a number of political signs, both for Biden and Trump, posted in yards. Those are in violation of deed restrictions in most, and possibly all, CDDs. For me, I'd like to see them removed. With the exception of a very small number of people, signs do not change peoples' minds whether on a golf cart, automobile or lawn.

Either did I
Where can I find them?

It’s interesting that the villages will enforce minor transgressions like “sign restrictions” but trample our rights by creating new rules for apartments

Ignore it

Sorry but you didn't give up freedom of speech, Federal and state law preempts anything you signed.
Believe what you want I will not debate this, many of the deed restrictions violate state and federal law and are not enforceable except by intimidation!

Agree. A sign isnt going to change my vote and I doubt any neighbors really care who you vote for. In todays climate its just antagonistic so dont complain if someone steals it or destroys it. Regardless if its in violation or not, Its tacky looking. No one cares about your political, religious views etc so why do you feel the need to shout it to the world.

Go to districtgov.org and click on "How do I?".

Political window signs are bad enough. Some people are brazen enough to actually have political yard signs stuck in their front lawns. Rules don’t apply to them.

Check out this memo. It’s taken from Districtgov.org.

https://www.districtgov.org/PdfUploa...emo%202020.pdf

Where does it stop? Yard art? Political signs? RVs in the driveway?

Mark it with RETURN TO SENDER and drop it in the mail.

There are many signs in windows and on flagpoles. They write a letter about that but allow some individuals to park their carts on the side of the round about with signs that are clearly inappropriate regardless of how one feels. What a joke.

Keep saying it all the time, people do not know when to stop. Just ride around some of the non deed restricted neighborhoods in the towns nearby and tell me what you see. Those 3 cars in my front yard are art. Oh the blue tarped shade over the dog kennel is okay. There are only a few fence post that are rotten and only one section of the fence is down.

Enforce all the rules and not reading the deed restrictions is each individuals fault. If you do not follow the rules/laws you agreed to when you moved in then you suffer the consequences.

Exactly someone had to turn them in. I thought we were moving into an adult retirement community, not a preschool day care. Are adults really offended by something as small as a political sign supporting their candidate? Will people soon not be allowed to wear sport team clothing into store or restaurants because adults aren’t adult enough to not be offended by everything? Have we moved into a time where people are so petty and shallow that a political sign sends them into a hold your breath child like fit? 🙁🙁

So then - why does the Daily Sun put a 'flag' in the paper for you to put in your window, if you can only have a "for sale" sign? Also, when we rented our home out through TV's Hometown Property Management, they said we had to put the house numbers in a window on the front of the house. I realize the numbers are not something that might be considered controversial and are for safety, but when one makes exceptions to 'hard and fast' rules, one sets precedents. Just playing devil's advocate. Personally the only thing I personally have is a miniature flag that I change with the seasons, under a palm tree. And I'm sure it violates something somewhere, but the trolls haven't attacked it yet. I don't personally object to people putting their signs/big flags out between now and the elections - but I don't think it needs to be year round. Personally, I'm leery to do so, having seen the rabid behavior of a few at a recent rally; I don't want any damage to my person or property. My personal opinions only; I realize they aren't binding or necessarily allowable under deed restrictions.

There is information about political signage on the District website districtgov.org Exterior signage is enforced (if necessary) through the Community Standards and your CDD. That being said, it currently refers to north of Rt 44. There may still be Developer enforcement south of Rt 44. But generally, exterior (including exterior windows) restrictions are under CDD enforcement while interior restrictions are "at the discretion of the Developer". Yes, check your particular deed restriction, determine if there is anything regarding interior or exterior restrictions, and know what the signage requirements are. Community Standards can answer questions on specific areas since, as was previously stated, every area is different. Since the Developer doesn't enforce anything north of Rt 466, it seems that he's discriminating in how he treats certain areas. And a sign in a window doesn't appear to be in his interest. Of course, as always, one can be wrong in assumptions.

Deed restrictions
 

You signed on to deed restrictions when you bought here. Follow them.