San Diego Country Estates Association

Click on a heading for more information:

Buildings - Barns, Sheds, Garages, Horse Stalls, etc.
Fences
Storage - Horse Trailers, Autos, Boats, Small Trailers
Landscaping
Motor Homes and Travel Trailers
Painting
Patios, Patio Covers, Decks, Gazebos
Pools
Remodeling and Room Additions

BUILDINGS - BARNS, SHEDS, GARAGES, HORSE STALLS

If you are planning to add a building to your front, back or side yard the CC&Rs require that you submit a plan to the ECC before making any changes.
The plan should include an outline of your yard from above (a hand drawn representation is fine) that shows where your residence is, where the building is going to be and an indication of the start and end dates for the project.
It should also include a description of the building type, building size, building purpose and building color (a brochure from the manufacturer is an excellent source for most of this). Generally outbuildings are required to be painted the same color as the residence.
ECC Project Plan forms are available on-line, at the CRD or at the ECC office.
Construction of additional garages requires detailed construction plans with the applicable County Stamps and Permits.
This area is zoned for single-family dwellings and the CC&Rs do not permit separate buildings that are planned to be residences (Granny Flats).
Remember that a 10-foot easement exists on all 4 sides of your property and no permanent structures are to be constructed within 10 feet of the property line. Small sheds that can be moved if necessary are permitted in the easement with the permission of the ECC.
Exceptions to the above rule are if your property has a horse trail next to it or if your lot adjoins open space. Positions of buildings still must be verified by the ECC.
Consult your red book ‘Environmental Control Committee, Community Relations Department Rules and Procedures’ for additional information.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.

FENCES

If you are planning to add a fence to your front, back or side yard the CC&Rs require that you submit a plan to the ECC before making any changes.
The plan should include an outline of your yard from above (a hand drawn representation is fine) that shows where your residence is, where the fence is going to be and an indication of the start and end dates for the project.
ECC Project Plan forms are available on-line, at the CRD or at the ECC office.
Generally the ECC restricts changes to 30, 60 or 90 days depending on their size and complexity in order to monitor progress. If you believe your effort will take longer it should be broken down into phases that will be 90 days or less each.
Each phase should list a start and end date.
Fences in the front yard are limited to a height of 42 inches by the County. Fences in the side and rear yards may be up to 6 feet in height.
Wooden fences may have up to 2 feet of wooden lattice on top to make a total of 8 feet. The lattice must be the small (1 inch) hole type and must be framed. Lattice framing plans must be approved by the ECC.
Wooden fences must be installed in a neighbor friendly manner i.e. smooth side out or alternating smooth and rough sided panels. A third option is a center rail fence. Wooden fences must be sealed against the elements or painted or stained to match the residence.
Consult your red book ‘Environmental Control Committee, Community Relations Department Rules and Procedures’ for additional information.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.

STORAGE - HORSE TRAILERS, AUTOMOBILES, BOATS, SMALL TRAILERS

If you are planning to store a horse trailer, automobile, boat or other small trailer on your lot the CC&Rs require that you submit a plan to the ECC.
Generally all of the above items must be stored behind the front edge of the house in the side or back yards and concealed from public view.
All should have a custom cover if your neighbors or anyone passing by can see them. Custom covers must be neutral in color (gray or tan).
Autos that are not drivable for any reason (mechanical problems, lapsed registration, etc.) cannot be stored in the front of the house.
A storage plan must be submitted to the ECC that shows an outline of your lot (a hand drawn description is fine), your residence location and where you plan to store the item and how it is to be concealed.
ECC Project Plan forms are available on-line, at the CRD office or at the ECC office.
This should be sent to the ECC for review before attempting to store the item to save you the trouble of having to move it or change your storage option if the ECC does not approve your plan.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.

LANDSCAPING

If you are planning to change the appearance of your front, back or side yard the CC&Rs require that you submit a plan to the ECC before making any changes.
The plan should include an outline of your yard from above (a hand drawn representation is fine) that shows where your residence is, what the changes are going to be and an indication of the start and end dates for the project.
ECC Project Plan forms are available on-line, at the CRD or at the ECC office.
Generally the ECC restricts changes to 30, 60 or 90 days depending on their size and complexity in order to monitor progress. If you believe your effort will take longer it should be broken down into phases that will be 90 days or less each.
Each phase should list a start and end date.
Some examples would be:
Adding a new flowerbed to your yard.
Replacing the existing landscape with low water usage plants and ground cover or gravel.
Removing or adding trees.
Widening your driveway or adding a parking area.
Any project that changes the appearance of your yard.

Please note that general maintenance of the yard does not require approval. Bush and tree trimming, replacing existing plants, replacing dead plants and similar items are considered general maintenance.
Consult your red book ‘Environmental Control Committee, Community Relations Department Rules and Procedures’ for additional information.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.

MOTOR HOMES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS

If you plan to have a motor home or a travel trailer while living in the Estates the CC&Rs require that they be concealed.
The attached options and descriptions are from the Environmental Control Committee, Community Relations Department Rules & Procedures book (the Red Book) that you should have received when you completed escrow.
Please read the attached information thoroughly before attempting to decide how and where you are going to keep your vehicle.
When you have decided which option you are going to use fill out the form and send it to the ECC office for review.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.

PAINTING

If you are planning to repaint your residence or any of the oubuildings a different color than what is currently on them the CC&Rs require that you submit a plan to the ECC before making any changes.
ECC Project Plan forms are available on-line, at the CRD office or at the ECC office.
The plan should include what is going to be painted (house, trim, garage door, outbuilding, etc.) and what the new color(s) is/are going to be.
Samples of the new colors should be provided for the ECC to review.
A schedule of when you are planning to start and finish the project should be included.
Note that new colors should not be the same as those on nearby residences.
If you are just repainting the same colors this is considered general maintenance and does not require ECC input.
Consult your red book ‘Environmental Control Committee, Community Relations Department Rules and Procedures’ for additional information.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.

PATIOS, PATIO COVERS, DECKS, GAZEBOS

If you are planning to add one of the above items or similar items to your front, back or side yard the CC&Rs require that you submit a plan to the ECC before making any changes.
ECC Project Plan forms are available on-line, at the CRD office or at the ECC office.
The plan should include an outline of your yard from above (a hand drawn representation is fine) that shows where your residence is, where the item is going to be and an indication of the start and end dates for the project.
It should also include a description of the item, size, purpose and color (a brochure from the manufacturer if available of applicable is an excellent source for most of this).
Remember that a 10-foot easement exists on all 4 sides of your property and no permanent structures are to be constructed within 10 feet of the property line.
Exceptions to the above rule are if your property has a horse trail next to it or if your lot adjoins open space. Positions of any of the items still must be verified by the ECC.
Generally the ECC restricts changes to 30, 60 or 90 days depending on their size and complexity in order to monitor progress. If you believe your effort will take longer it should be broken down into phases that will be 90 days or less each.
Each phase should list a start and end date.
Consult your red book ‘Environmental Control Committee, Community Relations Department Rules and Procedures’ for additional information.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.

POOLS

If you are planning to add a pool to your yard the CC&Rs require that you submit a plan to the ECC before any construction begins. Also required is a copy of the County Pool Permit.
ECC Project Plan forms are available on-line, at the CRD office or at the ECC office.
The plan should include an outline of your yard from above (a hand drawn representation is fine) that shows your residence, where the pool is going to be, where the equipment is going to be located and an indication of the start and end dates for the project.
A brochure from the pool company describing the pool is always welcome.
Remember that a 10-foot easement exists on all 4 sides of your property and no permanent structures are to be constructed within 10 feet of the property line. The pool and pool equipment must be at least 10 feet from the property line. The equipment must be concealed with a solid enclosure on 3 or 4 sides and painted to match the house.
Exceptions to the above rule are if your property has a horse trail next to it or if your lot adjoins open space. Positions of pools and equipment still must be verified by the ECC.
Consult your red book ‘Environmental Control Committee, Community Relations Department Rules and Procedures’ for additional information.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.

REMODELING ROOM ADDITIONS

If you are planning to do remodeling or to add a room, or rooms the CC&Rs require that you submit a plan to the ECC before making any changes.
The plan should include an outline of your yard from above (a hand drawn representation is fine) that shows where your residence is, where the new addition is going to be and an indication of the start and end dates for the project.
It should also include detailed construction plans with the applicable County Stamps and Permits that indicate the materials and colors that are planned.
The ECC Project Plan form is available on-line, at the CRD office or at the ECC office.
The County does not permit residence structures to be within 10 feet of the property line.
This area is zoned for single-family dwellings and the CC&Rs do not permit separate buildings that are planned to be residences (Granny Flats). Any additional living space must be directly attached to the current dwelling.
Consult your red book ‘Environmental Control Committee, Community Relations Department Rules and Procedures’ for additional information.

If you have any questions about your plans or are not sure if you need to file a plan please call the ECC Secretary at 789-3788 X5000 or the Community Relations Department at 789-8747.