Fences and Puppers
 

Greetings everyone, my husband and I are considering a move to TV within the next few years. However, we have two requirements that I fear are diametrically opposed and may short-circuit our quest to ever become frogs.

Is there any area in TV where we might find a lot with a fenced-in back yard (for dogs) but does NOT utilize zero-lot-line construction for the home?

We are not willing to cave on either of these requirements. Our dogs are currently free-roaming on large acreage in the middle of nowhere, so a secure fence is paramount. We are also not comfortable with anyone else having any claim to access our property (nor with us needing to exercise the claim to access theirs).

As I understand it, there are no zero lot line properties in The Villages, except for townhouses. Even the courtyard villas, which are about 10 feet apart, have at least 5 feet of property around the house. Although, they do incorporate a sideyard easement deed restriction that may allow your neighbor to landscape part of your property. I would suggest that you read the deed restriction documents.

What you are looking for is a home in the “Veranda” line. These are designer level homes where the back yard is enclosed by a wall. They are being built south of 44. A few were built north of 44.

Note that this is just a back yard, which in The Villages is not expansive.

You'd need to avoid courtyard and villas, which give access to your immediate neighbor to a piece of your property that contains the edge of their driveway, and the property abutting the external wall of your house but that they have the right to plant on. Bungalow villas also are zero-lot-line, with one of their house walls serving as the back wall of your back yard. Veranda homes also have one wall of the back yard which is actually the wall of the house next door, so again - zero lot line.

I don't know of any walled yards that are /not/ zero-lot-line, other than perhaps the Cottage Villas in Newell. But the backs of them all have short fences to provide views to the retention pond, which means your dogs can easily get out (they're no higher than 4 feet, with wide posts for the view).

There are, however, dog parks scattered throughout The Villages, where your pooch can roam free with other dogs, while you relax with other owners.

This begs another question ... if a fence is already installed, can I reinforce it in any way to keep my pups in? I have a 10-pound pipsqueak who can't jump a 4' fence but can certainly scurry out between the slats. Would I be able to do something like attach chicken wire to the slats, and maybe paint the wire green or black so as to make it inconspicuous?

Courtyard villas are NOT zero lot line construction. Yes, the next door neighbor does have access to part of your property for some use and landscaping, but they do not own it. It is called a sideyard easement.

We bought a grassed corner lot courtyard villa so that our dogs would have a secure area where they can run and play. They are hard to find but available if you just keep looking. Most also have a 2 car garage which is a huge bonus.

I have noticed that a substantial number of homes on Nash Loop, by the Hemingway Pool, seem to be non-zero AND fenced in the back.

And one wall of the house next door is the wall of your yard. That, by definition, is zero-lot. A wall of YOUR house - is a wall shared by your neighbor. Not the wall around the house, the wall of the house itself.

Not true. The definition of zero lot line is when the lot line occurs at the exterior wall of the neighbor and the property extends to the exterior wall. That is not the case in The Villages. The lot lines are located between the houses. A courtyard villa lot line is about 5 feet from the nextdoor neighbor's exterior wall. That is not zero lot line building. That is why the deed restriction document defines the sideyard easements the way they do. The only lot line construction that I am aware of in The Villages is the townhouses on the north side.

Although rare there are courtyard villas that meet your needs. I have a courtyard villa that is on the edge of the development, so I have a wall, not a neighbor's house, on the other side of my back yard. Courtyard villas have outside walls (7+ feet high) and solid fences (similarly high) that separate one neighbor from another. The size of the backyard for courtyard villas varies; I have room for a pool but the size may or may not be enough for your dogs.

Because I have no neighbor next to my yard nobody needs access to my yard. However, if I want access to the side of my house that is effectively the wall for my neighbor, for example, to power wash my house, I'd need to let them know. As noted above, the property line runs roughly between the houses; the sideyard easement referred to above is an easement that allows my neighbor on that side of the property to modify and maintain everything up to but not including the wall of my house.

I have the same issue, and a slatted fence (I back up to a pond). I initially did the black plastic chicken wire, but it fell apart pretty quick, so I removed it.

What I did in its place was to run a wire horizontally across the bottom, about 10 inches high. I used a turnbuckle to keep it taunt. It is practically invisible, but the dog can't go under it (not enough room) and can't go over it, as it's too high and hard to climb over comfortably. If your dog is really motivated you could run more than one wire up to the height you feel they can't get over it.

You can buy the entire kit for a 60 foot wire/turnbuckle set up on Amazon for about $25. So far, I'm happy with it. The dog is just a bit confused. She can't believe all the stupid things I do.

One thing is that if there is no existing fence (or wall) then you cannot put one up. Have to purchase the house with them already present.

You have one other problem you have not considered, Florida has predators and your dogs may not be safe unattended even in a fenced or walled yard. We have cats, they are allowed in the glassed lanai, and in the screened in birdcage during daylight hours, after that they are restricted to the house and the lanai.

If your plan is to allow the dogs access any time they want and you have a smaller dog, TV may not be a good choice, actually Florida may not be a good choice. Please do some additional research.

I came from a house with a fenced in back & front & my dogs were able to run around outside freely. I was initially looking at fenced properties in the Villages, but eventually decided to buy a regular house & walk the dogs.

Your decisions will probably be different than mine, but I too didn't like the idea sharing walls with the next door neighbors. Hence, the eventual decision for a regular house.

It seems to me your last sentence rules out courtyard villas.

Note that the only walls that courtyard villa neighbors share are the fences and block walls at the rear of the lot. They do not share any house walls. Each courtyard villa owner has access to 4 sides of their house. This is not like zero lot line construction, where an owner only has access to 3 sides of the house. No wall sharing.

The corner lot villas are set up differently and often do not need to share access.

Sorry. got to ask. what are Puppers?
another name for dogs or a breed of dog.

Thank you (and others) for the concern. Hubby and I have been Florida residents for nearly 40 years; we are well-versed in the hazards.

What would prevent us from, say, putting up a cross-fence (or even a baby gate) in a walled Courtyard villa? Dogs would have access to the majority of the yard, but neighbors would be able to freely access their "border" wall without releasing my Kraken into the world unintentionally.

They very rarely (if ever) need access and should notify you if necessary. They need to go through your driveway to access their own gate. You can actually put a lock on yours as long as you give them access when requested.

I have two 85 pound Labradors and I would not let them in the yard alone, due to the predators. At home, we had a fenced yard and they roamed free.
What you should consider is a lot that lows a larger birdcage, put the pups out in the birdcage. They love it.

It’s also too hot in the summer for dogs to be outside.

Oh boy

:popcorn:

My restrictions in my district.

That wall is not shared it NOT neighbors property, nothing can attach or touch that wall. It damaged they are liable. They 1 foot area along wall for drainage. If anything planted there and it damages wall/foundation including paint they are liable, why developers have easements corky way the jammed housing in. Same thing goes for front door area easements nothing can touch there house or within foot of there house.

Yes, there are many birds of prey here that can take a small dog out of your yard in a flash.

Bingo.

Bingo again. Larger Corner courtyard villa lot with a birdcage for the safety of the pups. Problem solved

Firm no. But if no one complains, it can be done. The risk is you could be asked to remove it.

I’m sorry, but if your dogs are “free-roaming on large acreage in the middle of nowhere,” The Villages is probably not a good fit for you. There are a lot of homes within an hour of The Villages that have the same weather but also have 1-5 acre lots that either are fenced or can be fenced. What’s more, these houses are often larger and less expensive per square foot than homes in The Villages. Of course, you would miss out on all the activities here, but in life we have to make choices. Don’t buy a house here expecting that you will be able to convince the Architectural Review Committee to let you put up a fence around your yard. It won’t happen.

Look at the village of Chatham Acres which has five acre lots.

We honestly have no issues with our neighbors in our courtyard villa neighborhood. My neighbor on one side keeps her gate locked so her dog cannot get out and if we need access we just ask, no problem. We keep our gate locked also for the same reason, our neighbor on the other side is well aware and has never asked to access except one time to trim her hedge that had become tall.

Nobody wants to be responsible for loose dogs and we all get along, although I’m sure that is not the case everywhere. Good luck to you.

the village of Hemingway has ranch homes with fenced in backyards. On Nash Loop, if you are interested

Why would you do that to your free roaming dogs?

I have a CYV. IF my neighbor was getting her house pressure washed would be the only reason i could think of they’d ever come into my yard but it’s not unannounced. I’ve never been worried about my dogs escaping. I use Deans lawn service and they always text the day before to let me know they’re coming. I mean my dogs don’t have access to the yard unless I’m home and I don’t leave them out there unattended but nobody has ever entered my yard unannounced. You’ll be fine in a Verandah home.

I think she meant “free roaming” as in not on a leash and can let them out into a fenced yard. Not that they’re outdoor dogs.

Find a Courtyard Villa

We have a corner lot veranda with a full three car garage. A large enough lot for our two dogs, one of which is a greyhound. The backyard is large enough for her to run around and get her exercise. Although this type situation is not common in TV they do become available. Good luck with your search

Get references from Villagers for good, experienced realtors. Speak to them on your requirements. Otherwise, you will get all types of wrong information.

Nowhere in the villages ,look elsewhere.

Dogs in Florida vs up north
 

Best reply yet!
The OP said they have "free roaming" dogs. They need to fully understand that small dogs and cats can become fodder for Florida's predatory birds (and other creatures)

Doggo
 

A pupper is like a doggo just cuter. 😉