Community Standards

Your residence is on display for all who reside in or visit the community. Basic home maintenance and adherence to community standards plays an essential role in maintaining the wellbeing of the neighborhood as a whole. Outlined below, are some of the community standards and routine maintenance items that you should be keeping up with in order to keep WaterColor among the top places to live and play on 30A. Please take time to review the items that are outlined below and take action if needed.

Power washing

One of the easiest ways to improve the appearance of your home is to make sure it is clean! If there is mold, mildew, and/or pollen staining the trim of your residence or residing under its eves, it is time to have the exterior power washed. Power washing should be a regularly scheduled maintenance item preformed on an annual basis at a minimum. 

Painting

WaterColor prides itself in its unique and varied color palettes which characterize each district within the community. It’s in the name after all! If sections of paint on your residence look faded and tired, it may be time to look into touch-ups or a fresh coat of paint. If paint is chipping away from your porch trim or baseboards, it is past time to schedule a painter. Painted porch floors show wear and gather grime faster than those that are stained. Needless to say, but if the wood on your walkways show any sign of rot, this should be repaired. Do not let the first impression of your residence be a dirty and chipping entryway floor. Residences within the community are required to adhere to their applicable color palettes as directed by the governing documents. If you would like to change any of the existing exterior colors on your residence, please contact the Design Review Board Coordinator for information on how best to proceed. 

Landscaping

Landscaping within the community is meant to reflect and enhance the beauty of its coastal environment. Homeowners are responsible for the maintenance of landscaping on their property. Vegetation, especially fast growing species such as Saw Palmettos, needs to be pruned on a regular basis. Vegetation should not protrude into community paths or right-of-ways. Residences should have the appearance of being carefully incorporated into the natural environment. Roofs and gutters should be regularly cleared of pine straw and debris. It is not only unsightly, it is a fire hazard. 

Trashcans and Enclosures

Homes within WaterColor don’t just live in harmony with the native plant life, but also with its animal life. All residences are required by both the community and county to utilize scavenger-proof garbage receptacles. 

Scavenger Proof Trashcans

In order to satisfy the requirement of the US Fish and Wildlife Service for “scavenger proof” garbage cans, the community is looking for containers who’s lids may be securely fastened on at least two sides. The mechanism for securing the lid should only allow for its removal after a deliberate action is taken to remove or disable the mechanism. Bungee cords and lids that are simply press fit are not compliant.

There are popular garbage containers used within the community that meet these requirements. The “Rubbermaid Animal Stopper” trashcans are the most popular, and one of the cheapest compliant cans.

https://www.rubbermaid.com/animal-stopper.ht

As a “True Value” distributer, the store “Half Hitch” on Tomas Drive in Panama City, carries these Rubbermaid garbage cans. It is suggested to contact the store in order to determine availability. 

The community is regularly inspected by environmental agencies to ensure compliance. Whether done intentionally or through negligence, it is against the law to feed the native wildlife.

It is the responsibility of the homeowner to maintain their trash crib enclosure. The standard paint color for the enclosures is, “Martha Stewart – F08 – Cashmere”. 

Lighting

Did you know that the entire community has lighting restrictions that they are required to follow? The turtle lighting restrictions that apply to properties along the Walton County beaches are widely known, however, multiple endangered and threatened species reside in the local habitat. Prior to the development of WaterColor, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issued an “Incidental Take” permit that outlines preventative measures that are to be followed in order to protect native species. Below are some of the lighting regulations that were put into place in order to comply with that permit. 

•    Exterior electric light fixtures may not have clear glass.

•    Up lighting is not permitted on the exterior or landscaping of any residence.

•    The brightness of any single exterior house light fixture is not to exceed the lumen value of a 30W bulb.

•    String lighting (seasonal holiday lighting excluded) are not permitted.

•    Exterior ceiling fans may not have a light kit

Summary

Compliance to the community's standards plays a vital role in keeping the community beautiful for its residents and everyone who visits or plans to visit. Community inspections regularly take place to ensure compliance with community standards. Residences that continue to not correct compliance items after notice is provided are subject to penalties including the issuance of fines and possible suspension of amenity access.