Rules for Property Rentals

Dear Homeowners,

As enterprises such as AirBnB, Vrbo, Home Share and other short term vacation rentals become more and more popular, some owners have expressed interest in taking advantage of our location and use their lots/homes as a revenue generating property. This type of activity is in sharp contrast to the community that we enjoy today. Enforcement of our existing bylaws and other rules are difficult to enforce when the owner is not the occupant of the property. Allowing short term rentals would add a layer of complexity that the board is not equipped to enforce. It has been our experience that renters face little to no consequences for bad behavior as they are not the owners. This is especially true when they are only in the park for a night or two. They don’t worry about the amount of water they use nor the impact to roads, common areas and other amenities. The water company has urged us and other Home Owners Associations (HOAs) they serve not to allow these short term rental due to the excess water usage. The board felt that because we were addressing short term rentals the time was right to address all rentals within our HOA.

Article 9, Rules in our official By-Laws, and Article 4, 4.15 Association Rules in our Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions (CCRs) allows the board to establish operational rules deemed necessary or appropriate in order to assure the peaceful and orderly use and enjoyment of the property. It also gives the board the power to enforce compliance with those rules by a system of fines for infractions of those rules and to recover costs associated with enforcement of them.

The board has not used this avenue to establish rules before but we now find it necessary to establish some clear rules, in addition to our bylaws, so that we can maintain Sweetwater Ridge as it was intended when it started under the name of Sweetwater Park Trailer and Camper Park, a place of peaceful enjoyment for owner’s their families and guests.

As of 1 April 2020 the following rules will become effective:

1-01042020

Renting or leasing of lots and dwellings within Sweetwater Ridge will not be allowed. This includes enterprises such as AirBnb, Vrbo, Home Share or any other short term rental enterprise.

2-01042020

Digging, excavating or movement of heavy equipment, such as cement trucks,within the boundaries of Sweetwater Ridge will be prohibited between 1 November and 1 April in order to protect water lines and infrastructure of our community. (BL Water Company)

3-01042020

Mobile homes will not be allowed to be moved into or out of Sweetwater Ridge between the dates of 1 November and 1 April in order to decrease the possibility of damage to the water system and roads.