est. 2026 · Florida

Villages of Southern Oaks Unit 228

, Sumter County, FL

Part of The Villages. This is one platted neighborhood (“Unit”) within The Villages; its rules come from its own recorded declaration. See the The Villages overview.

deed restricted

Core rules12

Occupancy / age restrictions

Restricted

The community is an adult community for persons 55 years of age or older, requiring at least one permanent resident per home to be 55 or older, with exceptions for those between 19 and 55 under hardship conditions, and temporary visits for those under 19 not exceeding 30 days per calendar year.

The Subdivision is an adult community designed to provide housing for persons fifty-five (55) years of age or older. All Homes that are occupied must be occupied by at least one person who is at least fifty-five (55) years of age. No person under nineteen (19) years of age may be a permanent resident of a Home, except that persons below the age of nineteen (19) years may be permitted to visit and temporarily reside for periods not exceeding thirty (30) days in total in any calendar year period.

Declaration · Section 1. · p.4

Last verified 2026-07-17

Rentals / leasing

Not addressed

Short-term rentals

Not addressed

Pets

Restricted

Domestic pets are allowed if they do not create a nuisance, and owners are responsible for any damage, immediate waste removal, and keeping pets on a leash; no other animals, livestock, poultry, or swine are permitted.

Domestic pets shall be permitted, provided they do not create a nuisance to others. Each Owner shall be personally responsible for any damage caused to dedicated or reserved areas by any such pet and shall be responsible to immediately remove and dispose of any excrement of such pet and shall be responsible to keep such pet on a leash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no other animals, livestock, poultry, or swine of any kind shall be raised, bred, or kept on any Homesite or on dedicated or reserved areas.

Declaration · Section 6. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

RVs & campers

Not addressed

Boats

Not addressed

Parking

Not allowed

No trucks exceeding 3/4 ton, boats, trailers, aircraft, recreational vehicles, or any vehicle other than a private non-commercial vehicle may be parked, stored, or remain on any Homesite or street, except for temporary service vehicles or vehicles/boats fully enclosed in garages.

No trucks in excess of 3/4 ton size, boats, trailers, aircraft, recreational vehicles, or any vehicle other than a private non-commercial vehicle shall be parked, stored or otherwise remain on any Homesite or street, except for (a) service vehicles located thereon on a temporary basis while performing a service for a resident, or (b) vehicles or boats fully enclosed in garages located on the Homesite.

Declaration · ARTICLE IX. · p.8

Last verified 2026-07-17

Fences

Restricted

Fencing is restricted from being built or maintained on easements, unless it was originally constructed by the Developer.

No dwelling unit or other structure of any kind including fencing shall be built, erected, or maintained on any such easement either created in this Declaration or as shown on the Plat, or by reservation or right of way, except that patios and walks may be constructed by the dominant tenement over the easements reserved over the strip of land running along the side Homesite lot line of each Homesite, and also except for the walls, fences and other improvements originally constructed by the Developer.

Declaration · Section 4 · p.4

Architectural approval

Requires approval

Owners must obtain prior written approval from the Developer or its designee for any structural alteration, exterior repainting or repair, or addition to their residence or Homesite that would substantially alter its exterior appearance, ensuring the work benefits the Subdivision and complies with storm water management plans.

No Owner, other than Developer or its transferees, shall make any structural alteration, or shall undertake any exterior repainting or repair of, or addition to his residence or Homesite, which would substantially alter the exterior appearance thereof, without the prior written approval of the plans and specifications therefor by the Developer or the Developer's designee.

Declaration · Section 8. · p.9

Last verified 2026-07-17

Home business

Not allowed

Commercial, professional, or similar activities requiring inventory, equipment, or customer/client visits are not allowed in a Home or on a Homesite.

Properties within the Subdivision are intended for residential use and no commercial, professional or similar activity requiring either maintaining an inventory, equipment or customer/client visits may be conducted in a Home or on a Homesite.

Declaration · Section 2 · p.5

Signs

Requires approval

No signs of any kind, except customary name and address signs, may be displayed without prior written consent from the Developer.

No sign of any kind shall be displayed to public view on a Homesite or any dedicated or reserved area without the prior written consent of the Developer, except customary name and address signs.

Declaration · Section 4. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Setbacks

Not addressed

Exterior & architectural5

Antennas, solar panels, generators & equipment

Restricted

No aerials, satellite reception dishes, or antennas of any kind are permitted, except as specifically allowed by law, and the location of any improved device must be previously approved by the Developer in writing.

No aerials, satellite reception dishes, or antennas of any kind nor window air-conditioners or irrigation wells are permitted within the Subdivision, except as specifically allowed by law. The location of any improved device will be as previously approved by the Developer in writing.

Declaration · Section 10. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Conservation, wetlands & environmental

Restricted

Owners must comply with approved construction plans for the storm water management system and may not construct or maintain any building or structure, or perform any activity in wetlands, mitigation areas, buffer areas, drainage easements, and upland conservation areas without prior written approval from SWFWMD.

Each property Owner within the Subdivision at the time of construction of a building, residence, or structure shall comply with the construction plans for the storm water management system approved and on file with the Southwest Florida Water Management District ("SWFWMD"). No Owner of property within the Subdivision may construct or maintain any building, residence, or structure, or undertake or perform any activity in the wetlands, mitigation areas, buffer areas, drainage easements, and upland conservation areas described in the approved permit and recorded Plat of the Subdivision unless prior written approval is received from SWFWMD.

Declaration · Section 18. · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17

Driveways & walkways

Restricted

Ingress or egress to or from any Homesite is only permitted via driveways and sidewalks originally constructed by the Developer, and no driveways, walkways, cart paths, or access may be located on any road right of way, walkway, or cart path unless originally constructed or approved in writing by the Developer.

No ingress or egress to or from any Homesite is permitted except pursuant to such driveways and sidewalks as originally constructed by the Developer.

Declaration · Section 7. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Exterior colors, materials & trim

Restricted

Painting with natural concrete color or clear (non-colored) concrete and driveway coatings are permitted, but no colored coatings are allowed without prior written consent from the Developer.

Painting with natural concrete color or clear (non-colored) concrete and driveway coatings are permitted. No colored coatings are permitted without the prior written consent of the Developer or the Developer's designee.

Declaration · Section 8. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Property & structure upkeep

Restricted

Each homesite owner is responsible for maintaining in a mowed, edged, neat, and clean manner their homesite not subject to side yard or driveway easements, their side yard easement area, driveway easement area and driveway, the unpaved area between an adjacent roadway or walkway and their homesite, and perpetually maintaining vegetation on Special Easements for Landscaping.

Each Homesite Owner shall be responsible for maintaining in a mowed, edged, neat and clean manner: (i) that portion of his Homesite not subject to side yard or driveway easements; (ii) his side yard easement area, driveway easement area and driveway, whether on his Homesite or on an adjacent Homesite, reserved area, or dedicated area; (iii) the unpaved area between an adjacent roadway or walkway located in the road right of way and the Owner's Homesite; and (iv) Owners of Homesites subject to a Special Easement for Landscaping, as shown on the Plat or described in Article IV above, shall perpetually maintain the vegetation located thereon, consistent with good horticultural practice.

Declaration · (a) · p.8

Last verified 2026-07-17

Landscaping & yard3

Clotheslines / outdoor drying

Not allowed

The hanging of clothes or clotheslines or placing of clothes poles is prohibited to the extent allowed by law.

The hanging of clothes or clotheslines or placing of clothes poles is prohibited to the extent allowed by law.

Declaration · Section 10. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Landscaping & lawn maintenance

Restricted

All Homesites must maintain the same quantity and style of water-conservative, drought-tolerant sod and landscape as originally provided by the Developer, though owners may add and replace more water-conservative and drought-tolerant landscape with prior written approval from the Developer.

In an effort to protect limited natural resources, all Homesites shall remain finished with the same quantity and style of water-conservative, drought-tolerant sod and landscape as originally provided by the Developer. Notwithstanding: (a) the construction, installation, and maintenance of structures, additions, and other improvements to Owner's Homes and Homesites shall not be deemed a violation of the foregoing sentence if such improvements and activities are first approved by the Developer or Developer's designee in accordance with the other provisions set forth in this Declaration; and (b) Owners may add and replace landscape that is more water-conservative and drought-tolerant than originally provided, however, any such alterations must receive the prior written approval from the Developer or Developer's designee.

Declaration · Section 22. · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17

Mailboxes

Not allowed

Individual mailboxes are not permitted on Homesites, as mailboxes are provided by the U.S. Postal Service and housed by the Developer for a one-time charge.

Individual mailboxes may not be located upon a Homesite. Mailboxes are provided by the U.S. Postal Service at no cost to Owner, however, those boxes shall be housed by the Developer at a one-time charge of $190.00 per box, payable at the time of the initial sale of the Homesite from Developer to Owner.

Declaration · Section 16. · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17

Vehicles & parking1

Commercial & non-passenger vehicles

Not allowed

No motor vehicles, boats, trailers, aircraft, recreational vehicles, or other vehicles or equipment may be kept on any Homesite, nor can any repairs be performed on them, except for emergency repairs to enable movement to a proper repair facility.

No motor vehicles, boats, trailers, aircraft, recreational vehicles or other vehicles or equipment be kept on any Homesite. No Owner of a Homesite shall repair or restore any motor vehicles, boats, trailers, aircraft, recreational vehicles or other vehicles on any portion of any Homesite, or on dedicated or reserved areas, except for emergency repairs, and then only to the extent necessary to enable movement to a proper repair facility.

Declaration · p.9

Last verified 2026-07-17

Use & conduct5

Common area use & conduct

Requires approval

Nothing may be altered in, constructed on, or removed from any dedicated or reserved areas without the Developer's written consent after original development.

Nothing shall be altered in, constructed on, or removed from any dedicated or reserved areas except on the written consent of the Developer, after the original development thereof by the Developer.

Declaration · Section 9. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Insurance & rebuilding after damage

Restricted

If a residence is damaged or destroyed, the Owner must rebuild, repair, or reconstruct it to its prior appearance and condition within two months of damage and complete it within six months, unless prevented by governmental authority, subject to these Restrictions.

If all or any portion of a residence is damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty, it shall be the duty of the Owner thereof, with all due diligence, to rebuild, repair, or reconstruct such residence in a manner which will substantially restore it to its appearance and condition immediately prior to the casualty. Reconstruction shall be undertaken within two (2) months after the damage occurs, and shall be completed within six (6) months after the damage occurs, unless prevented by governmental authority. Such reconstruction is subject to the provisions of these Restrictions.

Declaration · Section 5. · p.8

Last verified 2026-07-17

Noise, nuisance & conduct

Restricted

Owners must use their property in a manner that allows neighbors to enjoy their property, with radios, record players, television, voices, and other sounds kept at a moderate level from 10:00 p.m. to one hour before daylight, excluding developer construction noises.

Owner(s) shall use his property in such a manner as to allow his neighbors to enjoy the use of their property. Radios, record players, television, voices and other sounds are to be kept on a moderate level from 10:00 p.m. to one (1) hour before daylight. These restrictions shall not apply to construction noises being made by the Developer.

Declaration · Section 3. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Solicitation & yard sales

Not allowed

The Developer reserves the right to prohibit or control all peddling, soliciting, selling, delivery, and vehicular traffic within the Subdivision.

The Developer is hereby given, and reserves the right to prohibit or control all peddling, soliciting, selling, delivery and vehicular traffic within the Subdivision.

Declaration · Section 14. · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17

Trash & recycling

Restricted

Rubbish, trash, garbage, or other waste material must be kept in sanitary containers concealed from public view until placed curbside for collection, which can be no earlier than the day before scheduled pick-up, and must be contained in plastic bags prescribed by the Developer; a curbside recycling program may be required.

Prior to being placed curbside for collection, no rubbish, trash, garbage, or other waste material shall be kept or permitted on any Homesite or on dedicated or reserved areas except in sanitary containers located in appropriate areas concealed from public view. Once placed curbside for collection, all garbage will be contained in plastic bags prescribed by Developer and placed curbside no earlier than the day before scheduled pick-up. In the alternative, the Developer shall have the right to require that garbage be placed in a dumpster and not placed curbside. In either event, all garbage must be contained in fully closed and sealed plastic bags prescribed by the Developer. Developer reserves the right to require all Owner's to participate in a curbside recycling program if and when one is instituted.

Declaration · Section 11. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17