Frequently Asked Questions

  • Go to the Residential Building Permit Information webpage and open the Project Requirements document to determine if a project requires a building permit. If it does, you can download the appropriate application at the bottom of that webpage. The Residential Fee Schedule is also located on this webpage for reference.

  • Go to the Orange Township Zoning Dept website and review the Zoning Code and Residential Permit Cheat Sheet documents. If you require a zoning permit, complete the application which can be submitted online here.

General Guidelines

HOA Common Property

Open Areas

  1. Do not install or store personal property in the common areas. This includes trampolines, soccer nets, garden beds, building materials or garbage.

  2. Soccer nets can be placed in the common areas for the day for children to play. Remove them at the end of the day.

Retention Ponds

  1. There are two retention ponds in our community. They are not for recreational purposes. They are for drainage purposes only.

  2. The retention ponds are not to be used the pond for any purpose, including, but not limited to fishing, swimming, boating, wading, or ice skating. 

Fences

  1. Homeowners who live adjacent to an HOA fence must not plant vegetation, shrubs, gardens, or trees that will grow into the fence at maturity. Any homeowner vegetation that grows into the fence will be cut back and the costs charged back to the homeowner. 

  2. Do not lean items or affix items to any HOA fence. They will be removed and any costs associated with fence repair will be charged back to the homeowner.

  3. If an HOA fence borders your property and you want to install a property line fence, you will be allowed to run your fence up to the HOA fence. Submit your application as usual.

Homeowner Property

Landscaping Care (Bushes, Shrubs, Ornamental Trees)

  1. Replace dead bushes, shrubs and ornamental trees with “like-kind” choices. 

  2. Trim overgrown or dying bushes, shrubs, and ornamental trees as recommended for that type of vegetation. 

  3. Landscaping beds should be weeded regularly to prevent them from becoming overgrown and a nuisance. Pulling weeds early will keep them from going to seed and spreading even more weeds in your yard and your neighbor’s yard.

  4. Landscaping beds should be mulched regularly when you notice that dirt is showing through. Brown or black mulch is acceptable and does not need an application. River stones in grey, tan, or brown colors can be used, but need an application. Red-dyed mulch is prohibited. Any other material or color request would need to go through the application process.

Street Trees

  1. Homeowners are responsible for the street trees that were planted by the builder on their lots. 

  2. Broken or overgrown tree limbs should be trimmed. Consult a tree-trimming company, if needed.

  3. Orange Township uses a guide of 6’7” for the clearance of tree limbs that are above sidewalks. If your tree has very low branches that are blocking the sidewalk, trim them up to this height.

  4. Dead trees are to be replaced with like-kind trees as soon as possible, but within reasonable consideration of the season. Replacement trees must be a minimum size of 6’ tall. A tree cannot be replaced with a sapling, for example. 

  5. Street tree replacement does not require an application for approval as long as these guides are followed.

Vegetable Gardens

  1. Approval. Gardens require board approval using the application process. Include a plot plan with your application showing the requested location. If a deck or patio has already taken up the approved garden area in your yard, consider adding a few containers on the deck or patio instead. The board will review your location request against any easement restrictions that might be in your yard, especially drainage easements. (A garden cannot be placed directly over a drainage grate, for example.)

  2. Location. Gardens are not permitted in the front yard or side yards. 

  3. Location. Gardens are permitted in the backyard behind the back plane of the house. If a house is on a corner lot with two street frontages, the garden is further restricted to the inside half of the backyard, away from the street frontage. See drawings for detail. Do not place a garden bed directly on the property line. As with playsets, garden beds should be located five feet from any property line.

  4. Screening. Gardens that are properly located do not require any type of landscape screening, since proper placement reduces their visibility from the street.

  5. Garden Limitations. Garden sizes should be appropriate to the lot and open space. Gardens are limited to a maximum of four separate garden beds and a max of 150 square feet in total. (For example, a 6x6 bed = 36 sq feet x 4 beds = 144 sq feet.) 

  6. Container Gardening. Growing plants and vegetables in containers such as pots, planters, fabric grow-bags is acceptable and would follow the same rules as an in-ground gardens. Containers should be located behind the back plane of the house. Do no place containers in the landscaping beds on the front or sides of the house.

  7. Garden Supports. Trellises, cages, stakes, or other vertical mechanisms are used to support plants as they grow vertically, typically used for vining, creeping types of plants. Typically made from wood, plastic, or metal. These items should be removed from the garden at the end of the growing season and stored indoors over the winter. A permanent arching-type trellis would need to be approved through the application process. Include pictures in your application.

  8. Garden Protection. These items are intended to protect plants from animals, birds, insects, or extreme weather events. A low-visibility fine mesh fabric can be used to neatly wrap or cover plants during the growing season and should be removed and stored indoors over the winter. Use of wire or mesh fencing (like chicken wire) is limited to the same footprint as the garden bed (see example photos). Wire fencing cannot be used to surround multiple garden beds into one larger area.

  9. Garden Appearance. Keep gardens neat and trimmed during the growing season. Replace or remove any rotting structures or components as soon as they are visible. Choose your vegetables carefully so that they don’t excessively overgrow the beds and spill into the lawn or neighboring properties. When the growing season is over, clear out dead vegetation so that the beds look as neat as possible through the winter months. If you have used portable containers to garden, they must be stored indoors through the winter. 

  10. Colors. Garden beds and components must be natural/neutral colors such as blacks, browns and greys. Brightly colored trellises, cages, or stakes can easily be spray-painted in these colors to make them less visible.

Examples of Garden Protection

Trash / Trash Cans

  1. Trash cans be put to the curb the night before trash collection. Store trash cans in the garage when it is not trash day. Trash cans can not be left in the driveway after trash day.  Do not store trash cans in landscaping beds on the front or sides of your home.

  2. If you are making improvements to your house or yard, please remove trash and leftover building materials in a timely manner. 

Sidewalks

  1. Homeowners are responsible for all costs associated with maintenance and repair of sidewalks abutting their property.  Repair damaged sidewalk in a timely manner. Refer to the Township zoning Sidewalk Policy for their rules on when to repair sections of your sidewalk. 

  2. Sidewalk repair does not require HOA approval. Follow all township standards, specifications, inspections, as required. Homeowners are required to obtain any required township or county permits, as applicable.

Trampolines

  1. Trampolines require an application with the location marked on your plot map. 

  2. They must be placed 5 feet from the property line, as noted by Orange Township.

  3. Trampolines must be anchored to avoid them becoming a flying hazard during high winds. Include the type of anchor being used in your application.

  4. If your trampoline includes a safety net, it must be kept in good condition. If it becomes torn, replace it or remove it.

  5. Colors for trampolines can be blue or black and safety netting can be black.

Playsets / Swingsets

  1. Children’s playsets and swing sets require an application with the location marked on the plot map. 

  2. They must be placed 5 feet from the property line, as noted by Orange Township.

  3. Excessively sized playsets will not be allowed. 

  4. To keep the equipment low visibility, the main colors must be black and/or neutral, earth-tone colors. 

  5. Keep all playsets in a safe condition. Any broken or damaged components should be repaired or replaced in a timely manner. This would include ripped tarp covers. 

  6. Restain or repaint any wood components every few years to maintain a neat appearance.

Basketball Hoops

  1. Portable basketball hoops can not be placed in the street. 

  2. Portable basketball hoops can not be weighted down with bricks, sandbags, or other objects. You should fill the base with sand or water per the manufacturer’s instructions.

  3. Portable basketball hoops should be properly anchored using an appropriate anchor system made for the hoops. You can find these on Amazon.com or at other sporting goods stores.

  4. Do not lay the hoops in your yard for extended periods of time when not in use.

  5. Permanent basketball hoops must go through the application process.

Front Porches

  1. Front porches should be kept tidy and not become overly cluttered. Furniture should be an appropriate scale for the size of your porch. 

  2. Front porch furniture, such as chairs, rockers, and small tables should be maintained in good condition. Cushions should not be torn or tattered. 

  3. Flowerpots should be maintained in good condition. Remove dead plants. 

  4. Avoid excessive clutter with decorative items and flowerpots on the front porch and in the front yard landscaping beds. 

Holiday Lighting / Decor

  1. Temporary holiday lighting or decorations do not require an application.

  2. Permanent exterior lighting that is meant to replace temporary holiday lighting needs an application, just as any exterior lighting project would need. 

  3. Temporary holiday lighting and decorations can be installed and illuminated about two weeks before and after the holiday. If you can’t get the lighting and décor removed in this time frame, remove it as soon as weather permits, but do not use the lighting beyond the holiday period.

  4. Be courteous and respectful of your neighbors with your holiday lighting. Your lights may be keeping your neighbors from getting to sleep.  Turn off lights at a reasonable time every night around 10-11pm. Use timers, if necessary.

Deck Maintenance

  1. Clean regularly to remove dirt, stains, mildew, or algae growth.

  2. Routinely stain, paint, or seal the deck to prevent decay and preserve its appearance. Significant discoloration, fading, peeling, or flaking should be remedied in a timely manner.

  3. Repair any damage or decay in a timely manner. Ensure the structure remains safe.

  4. Maintenance does not require an application. An application is only required if you are changing the originally approved project. For example, if you expand the footprint, change the color palette, or replace components with new material types, an application is required.

Paver Patio Maintenance

  1. Clean regularly to remove dirt, stains, mildew, or algae growth.

  2. Keep weeds from growing between pavers. 

  3. Make repairs in a timely manner.

  4. Maintenance does not require an application. An application is only required if you are changing the originally approved project. For example, if you expand the footprint, change the color palette, or replace components with new material types, an application is required.

Exterior Home Maintenance

  1. Maintenance of siding, windows, roofing, and other exteriors of the home should be maintained in good working condition and appearance.

Solar Panels

  1. Maintain all solar panel equipment per the manufacturer’s instructions and keep in compliance with any county or state regulations.

  2. Maintenance does not require an application. An application is only required if you are changing the originally approved solar panel project in any way, such as expanding the footprint.

Example of Garden Protection - Same Footprint as Garden Bed