Remember, you can do anything with permission, south of 466. Take it by ARC. They may agree it's lovely. North of 466 their restrictions are less, so if you haven't moved here and are pining for a cannon or a large carved bear to show your individuality, go for it.

And there will always be those who feel deed restrictions do not apply to them. And that their taste in decorating must be accepted by everyone else despite violating the restrictions they agreed to when they bought here.

Loving the Villages....residents are a hoot! Thanks for all the advise, rule interpretation, etc. Know that my lovely mermaid is sunning herself in private in our backyard. Glad to hear that it was just some law enforcing neighbor/guest that reported my transgression and not a vigilant Troll police making his rounds....making his quota of complaint citations! I have no problem with the restrictions, but did believe it didn't apply to my area since others had lawn ornaments.....but now we are ALL in compliance. Viva complaint management, long live Mrs. Kravites

Listen to graciegirl re the ARC. We put in a two-level herb garden by our front door. We got approval from the ARC just to be safe. Now no herb-hating troll can take it away from us.

Let me clarify a bit, it is true most anything seems to go north of 466 if you're in Sumter County. Once you enter Marion County which starts just behind Harmeswood it becomes very strict again ;) I know because I live there LOL

THANK YOU for clarifying. It is so lovely where you live.

I do so like simple and unadorned.

Gracie I don't think there's a place in TV's that isn't beautiful, we're all blessed to be here! Thank you though! I chuckle when I think back because when we mode here where I'm at WAS the newest section! LOL What still amazes me is that while heaven forbid I put a "lawn ornament" in my front yard there is no restriction for what goes in my back yard OR side yard. Since we have a very large corner lot and are on the beginning of a cul de sac what most people see is our side and back yard...I'm just glad we can decorate for the holidays! Our neighbors really enjoy it since out place lights up the cul de sac :)

There are parts of "NORTH OF 466" that have the same deed restriction as those south of 466.

For all of you reading this, please do not try to think that all of north of 466 are a wide-open area. I have seen only one cannon on this side and it is aimed at the area south of 466. As old as it is I doubt if it would hit the house across the street. :pepper2:

Z

A little more clarification is needed. Not all of the units in Sumter County north of 466 are free of lawn ornament restrictions.

Go to Village Community Development Districts for the real info.

I previously posted this same info on this thread (post#46) but it has been largely ignored.

amen! :agree:

Very true I didn't mean all I thought I said "most" anything goes especially in the sections west f Spanish Springs and east of Buena Vista. After over 12 years here I know better tun to generalize too much LOL And it's not every house but some people do feel if they can they will personalize their "home". Actually this doesn't bother me at all why it may not be my taste my feeling is it's their home. I personally don't like the Stepford look. Everyone has their own tastes and unless a home is in foreclosure I think everyone does a good job of taking pride in their homes.

Hi observer: I suppose one could define people who report infractions as bullies cowards, etc.

I suppose one could say that its unfair that ARC, (District function) forces residents to complain before they will do their due diligence.

I suppose these residents would need not to complain if other residents complied with their deed restrictions, eliminating the need

I suppose residents could all mind their own business but I suspected we would discover a whole lot of toilets contain Ivy sitting in residents front yards.

Personal Best Regards:

Wow , ok... while i truly agree with a lot of what was said, you must not hold many Villagers in high regard if you think the wonderful people that chose to live out their lives here would use toliets for planters! Another reason I will never leave my wonderful neighbors I am blessed to have ....whew....

You forgot to add to your reply to observer.....good luck in the sale of your home, using the little sign.

I guess I'm in the minority here, but I don't have a problem with a bird bath, a small tasteful garden ornament placed in with your flowers and bushes, or even a small plaque telling the world your grand kids think you are the best Grandmother in the whole world. In fact I don't really notice what other people are doing, unless it is outrageous.

What would really bother me would be a loud TV on someone's open lanai, loud music at their private pool, outside parties several nights a week ..........

I do, however, get very annoyed that we cannot seem to do anything to help the people who live next door to abandoned properties, that really is disgraceful and is far more egregious than an ornament in someone's yard!

:agree: We lived through having a foreclosed on home right behind us for almost 3 years! Constantly having to complain because of weeds sometimes 3 set high and all we got rom the VCDD or anyone else was it was bank owned and they could do nothing about it! Finally into the second year someone came to cut the grass etc. now and then.

Had a foreclosed home across the street. The owners who had maintained a beautiful yard just upped and left. Until the bank gets ownership nothing gets done. After that it's spotty but better than nothing, Believe me, a toilet planter would have been an improvement.

Abandoned properties or not taken care of properties.
 

They have had two information filled articles on the not to be named online news. "They" will come and cut the grass and trim, but have to be notified each time. They place a lien against the property for the service. There is only so much anyone can do as the property does not belong to The Villages or to us. However some very good suggestions have been offered as to what neighbors can do. I think it wouldn't hurt to have an email campaign to the bank. One woman talked the owner into selling. She had moved away.

Thank goodness there are not a lot of them, but when they are near you they affect values in a negative way.

Gee, I wonder why she didn't get along with anyone.

As long as the restrictions are complaint driven, they are being selectively enforced.

I don't understand why Community Watch is not empowered to report infractions.

Right again, Doc.

I present this lovely creature as evidence.

http://modcloth.files.wordpress.com/...ncyladybum.jpg

I don't believe that it's true that nothing can be done. It is my understanding that in these cases, Community Standards sends a crew to the property to cut the grass and otherwise clean it up. They then place lien on the property for the cost. I see it done quite often in the Historic District.

Now that is outrageous, and where do you come up with this stuff?

I've actually seen that Mrs. BigButtBloomers Weeding placard in yards in other states. THAT is why there are deed restrictions:

Somebody's actually DONE that!

If you allow for some yard ornaments that look okay, eventually you will have a neighbor-hoarder that has the front yard full and looking like a junk yard, while normal people in front of or beside them have their home listed for sale and can't attract a buyer.

Didn't people learn how hard it can be to sell their well-kept, beautiful home when trying to do so in other states a few years ago??

Some seem to never think of anybody but themselves, and never beyond next week.

Let me expand on my "selectively enforced" remark. In the subject community infractions were reported but not enforced. Enforcement depended on who you were or who you knew.

I have since learned there is now no enforcement in that community. The HOA which was supposed to be governing was disbanded as a result of no one willing to serve in any capacity.

As to CW being empowered to enforce, there have been a few references to that in local media. Frankly I don't remember the reasons given but it seemed to make sense to me at the time. I have never heard of any situation where infractions have been reported and not investigated by Community Standards.

I am satisfied with the current system, recognizing it is not perfect. It means my neighbor can place a lawn ornament on his/her lawn and if no one finds it objectionable it can stay. It also means if I sell my house and the new owner finds it objectionable he/she can file an anonymous complaint and have it removed.

The problem is they don't do it often enough. Believe me all our
neighbors complained on a regular basis, some even came and cut the grass themselves my husband even did once. This went on for almost 3 years! Also there are a lot more foreclosed homes than we'd like to think here. I think it's gone down a bit though.

Don't the come every time you call?
Community Standards is not in the business of cutting lawns on a scheduled basis.
It was suggested in the article in the DS to do just that, call and keep calling.

Mrs Big Butt Bloomers and a flock of pink flamingos would be allowed in districts one, two and three, and all of Lake County in The Villages, but not allowed in districts four through twelve. The problem arises when residents don't like the rules of their district. There are choices. Choose the one that's right for you and abide by it.

Here's a good one
 

Drive down Cazaras Ave. in Santo Domingo and check out Snow White and all seven of her dwarfs lined up......Classy!

Personally I wish zero lawn ornaments were permitted.

Thank you for that common sense approach to this situation.

Nope most of the time we were all told they could do nothing about it because of the house being bank owned. The house was bought about a year ago and remodeled and fixed up and since has been sold to a couple that won't be moving here full time for a couple of years. They have a regular lawn service and everything is fine now but for over 2 years it was a mess. What really made it an eyesore was i was a corner lot! Very visible.

Not all of district 3. There are units in district 3 that have lawn ornament restrictions.

It is what it is. You are a realtor. You know about contracts.

This thread has degenerated to bickering. The topic has been covered. This thread is closed.