Community Standards

The following community standards have been designed to protect the lifestyle and safety of the community as a whole and to assist the Board and homeowners in preserving their investments in an attractive and sensible maintained community. The standards provide each homeowner with minimum guidelines for property maintenance. They further support and amplify the Declaration of Restrictions and Covenants and other governing documents that bind each property owner as defined in the community Declaration of The Clearing and recorded with the Pinellas County Clerk of the Court.
This document is not intended to address all possible situations, alterations, etc. It is provided to residents of The Clearing for their future reference.  

Fountains, Sculptures and Ornaments
* One (1) fountain or sculpture not to exceed 36 inches high is permitted on the courtyard are of your home.
* The fountain/sculpture shall not be distracting and should be kept in good condition.
* A maximum of four (4) ornaments or figurines no greater than 12 inches are allowed on the front courtyard of your home.

Maintenance of home
Hoses/Reels
* Hoses must be neatly stored out of sight behind shrubbery or on a hose reel.  Should not be draped over courtyard wall.

Storage on Front Courtyard
*No trash cans in front or back of property including in courtyard or lanais.
*Grills should be placed in back of home if possible and covered with a grill cover when not in use.  All grills must be 10 feet from the building when in use.
*Neither Courtyard walls nor the pool fence should be used to dry laundry or beach towels.

Water Softeners
*Water softeners located in the front of your home should be screened from view by plantings.

Courtyards & Rear of Homes
* Courtyards or patios are not to be used for storage. 
* There should not be anything on them but outdoor furniture or other appropriate items.  Appliances, propane tanks, coolers, building materials and extra household items should not be stored there. Your rear lanai is not to be used for storing boxes, totes, equipment, etc.
* Your unit should be clear of all personal items.  It should not be used to store any ladders, equipment,  old pavers and any hoses should be neatly stored.
*Pavers placed in courtyards or behind your home must be kept clean, even in height and replaced if they become broken. 
*Weeds should not be allowed to grow around or in between the pavers; it is the homeowners responsibility to remove all such weeds from pavers and alongside your outer courtyard landscaped areas.

Maintenance of Home Exterior
*No plants should be allowed to grow or attach themselves to the home or courtyard wall.
*All plantings should be at least 12 inches from the home to allow for painting, power washing and maintenance of buildings.
*Owners are responsible to maintain lanai framing.  It must be painted either bronze or black.
*Owners are responsible to maintain the window framing of their house.  These need to be painted bronze and maintained when the home is painted.
*Owners are responsible to rake, weed your lawn/ landscaped areas surrounding your villa.  
* Fire pits and open fires of any kind is prohibited.  You may have charcoal or LP gas grills, however they must be outside the property .

Vehicles
* Owners must keep vehicles in good repair and their license current or vehicles will be subject to tow. No disabled vehicles should be stored in the community.
* No trailers, PODs or other storage items should be parked in the community without prior approval.

Decorations
The maximum foot print allowed for courtyard items must be less than 50% of the front courtyard square feet including a proposed location for the items, This may be any combination of furniture, planters, potted plants, hangings, statues, etc, provided they follow the following restrictions.
* The materials and color used shall be generally subdued and in harmony with the natural surroundings of the home, lot and community.
* No offensive or obscene items will be allowed.

Wall Decorations
* Wall décor size is not to exceed 36x36 inches.
* It must be secured to the wall within the courtyard/alcove of the unit.

Furniture
* Seating must be outdoor courtyard furniture or outdoor benches only.

Potted Plants
* Plant life must be kept clean and healthy at all times.
* Plant must be maintained to a maximum of 45 inch height (less the planter)
* Plants must not obscure windows and/or doorways or walkways.
* If you have artificial plants in pots, they must be in good condition and changed out as soon as they start to fade or fall apart.

Hanging Items
* Wind chimes may not create a nuisance to the neighboring properties.
* A hanging basket must be secured with an anchor hook and kept in neat and healthy condition.
* Remove any hanging item during excessive wind conditions.

Door Wreath
* All seasonal door wreaths are allowed
* All seasonal door wreaths under the eave peaks are allowed.
* Artificial flowers and décor are permitted on wreaths.
* Wreaths must be properly secured.
Seasonal decorations must be removed within 1 week of season's end, ie, Week after New Year's Day.

Landscape Flags
* Vanity flags are restricted to a maximum of 12x12 inches.
They must be removed if placed where landscape personal are not able to perform their duties.
* Sports flags may be displayed during the day of the sporting event.
* American flags may be displayed provided they are in good repair and used in the proper manor.

** If you are unable to do such maintenance around your villa please inquire about hiring local students for a reasonable fee to assist with such care.  This also pertains to those who do not live here year round or rent their villas**