WHAT IS COVENANTS ADMINISTRATION?

Role and Purpose

The mission of the Covenants Administration department is to promote and foster the attractiveness and quality of life of the Reston community by administering – fairly and consistently – the adopted guidelines and protective covenants related to the design, maintenance, and use of residential and certain commercial and non-residential properties. These properties include more than 21,000 residential lots, non-residential, commercial complexes, and open and recreational spaces.

Who to Contact

To contact someone in the covenants department, please call 703-435-6530.

Covenants Advisors

Each neighborhood or cluster under the RA umbrella has an assigned advisor that is responsible for the following: (1) processing applications submitted for design review, (2) answering questions related to inspections, (3) consulting if a proposed project meets cluster standards or design guidelines, and (4) liaising with cluster association sub-HOAs.

Resale Documents and Inspections

Being member of a common interest community, all members are required to order a resale disclosure package when selling their home. This package includes the governing documents, resolutions, insurance, most recent approved budget, and the results of an exterior lot inspection to ensure the lot and contained improvements conform with RA protective covenants.

Design Review Applications

Most exterior modifications will require review by and the approval of the DRB. DRB applications are generally reviewed for conformance with cluster standards and/ or applicable Design Guidelines. All DRB applications require at least three (3) signatures as required by the Reston Amended Deed. Single Family Detached homes (non-cluster) require three neighboring lot signatures. Cluster properties require a signature from each of the following: an adjacent lot, a lot within view, and a cluster association board officer.

Design Guidelines and Cluster Standards

RA’s Design Guidelines provide general guidance on acceptable exterior modifications and establish application review levels. Design Guideline changes are proposed by the Design Review Board (DRB) and approved by the RA Board of Directors. Cluster standards are specific to each cluster, cover basic or unique elements, and must still adhere to the Design Guidelines. Cluster standards are proposed by each cluster association’s Board of Directors and approved by the DRB.

Affected Party

The Reston Amended Deed affords any member who is materially impacted by the use or design of another Property to register as an Affected Party (AP) on an application being reviewed by the DRB. Any Affected Party may be heard by a DRB Panel; will receive notice of decisions and any subsequent actions taken by the DRB; will be sent notice of the Applicant’s appeal, if made; and may file his/her own appeal. Applications with an AP must be reviewed by either a Panel of the DRB or the Full Design Review Board.

WHAT IS COVENANTS ADMINISTRATION?

Cluster and Condo or Reston Association – Who is Responsible?

Cluster or Condominium Associations are discrete and independent entities that are members of RA. Each association has its own set of governing documents, board of directors, rules and regulations, assessments, and services (trash, landscaping, plowing, etc.) provided. Most needs of members in these associations will be under the purview of the association’s board of directors, not RA. However, since RA is the master association, all members are required to adhere to not only their cluster associations rules and regulations, but also RA’s protective covenants. Most cluster associations defer enforcement of non-compliance issues to RA.

A large majority of single family detached homes are not lots within cluster associations and therefore fall directly under RA’s protective covenants.

Types of Inspections Conducted

RA staff conducts four types of inspections. All inspections (except for resales) require fourteen (14) days written notice prior to conducting the inspection. They include:

Complaints

As a result of a formal written complaint by a RA member (complainant) related to an alleged violation, staff will provide fourteen (14) days’ notice of intent to inspect. Results of that inspection are then provided to the owner and the complainant and potentially referred to RA’s Covenants Committee.

Walkthroughs

Walkthrough inspections are cluster-wide inspections of all member properties, including cluster associationowner property. Cluster associations request and qualify for walkthroughs and Covenants Staff works closely with cluster associations to prepare members and ensure timely notification of the inspection(s).

Resale

At the request of the seller (or the seller’s agent), the resale package order will include an exterior lot inspection. Since this inspection is requested by the owner, notification of our intent to inspect is not required. However, staff is required to complete the inspection and deliver the package within fourteen (14) days of the request.

Post DRB

Performed after notification of a completed DRBapproved project is submitted or eighteen (18) months after the date of the approval of an application (whichever comes first) to check for compliance with the conditions of approval. Most members submit photographs of the completed project, which is helpful.