est. 2026 · Florida

Villages of Southern Oaks Unit 55

, 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 for persons 55 years or older, requiring at least one occupant per home to be 55 or older, with permanent residents under 19 prohibited, and temporary visits for those under 19 limited to 30 days per calendar year, though the Developer may grant hardship exceptions as long as 80% adult occupancy is maintained.

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. The Developer, or its designee, in its sole discretion shall have the right to establish hardship exceptions to permit individuals between the ages of nineteen (19) and fifty-five (55) to permanently reside in a Home even though there is not a permanent resident in the Home who is fifty-five (55) years of age or over, providing that said exceptions shall not be permitted in situations where the granting of a hardship exception would result in less than 80% of the Homesites in the Subdivision having less than one resident fifty-five (55) years of age or older, it being the intent that at least 80% of the units shall at all times have at least one resident fifty-five (55) years of age or older. The Developer shall establish rules, regulations policies and procedures for the purpose of assuring that the foregoing required percentages of adult occupancy are maintained at all times. The Developer, or its designee, shall have the sole and absolute authority to deny occupancy of a Home by any person(s) who would thereby create a violation of the aforesaid percentages of adult occupancy. Permanent occupancy or residency may be further defined in the Rules and Regulations of the Subdivision as may be promulgated by the Developer, or its designee, from time to time. All residents shall certify from time to time as requested by the Developer, the names and dates of birth of all occupants of a Home.

Declaration · Section 2. · p.4

Last verified 2026-07-17

Rentals / leasing

Not addressed

Short-term rentals

Not addressed

Pets

Restricted

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

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 · p.5

RVs & campers

Not addressed

Boats

Not addressed

Parking

Restricted

Any temporary parking areas depicted on the Plat are designated for the use of owners' invitees or guests, not for the owners themselves.

Temporary parking depicted on the Plat of the Subdivision, if any, is not for Owner's use but is for the use of Owner's invitees or guests.

Declaration · p.6

Fences

Restricted

Owners are responsible for all wall and fence maintenance not assumed by the District, including painting and keeping them clean, maintaining the gate on the gate fence or wall if enjoying the adjacent side yard, and maintaining and repairing the structural integrity of all walls and fences serving their Homesites, sharing costs if a wall or fence serves more than one Homesite.

Owners shall be responsible for all wall and/or fence maintenance not assumed by the District in ARTICLE II. Section 1. Subject to these restrictions, each Owner shall paint and keep clean all fences and walls. The gate on the gate fence or wall shall be maintained by the Owner enjoying the use of the adjacent side yard area. Owners shall be responsible for maintenance and repair of the structural integrity of all walls and fences serving the Owners' Homesites whether on the Owner's Homesite or on an adjacent Homesite, reserved area, or dedicated area. Where a wall or fence serves more than one Homesite, the cost of maintaining and repairing the structural integrity of the wall or fence shall be shared among the respective Owners served by such wall and/or fence. If an Owner's Homesite has a wall and/or fence between the Homesite and an adjoining roadway, the Owner will maintain the interior, exterior and structural integrity of the wall and/or fence and the landscaping lying between the wall and/or fence and adjoining roadway unless the maintenance is performed by the District pursuant to ARTICLE II.

Declaration · Section 8. · p.8

Last verified 2026-07-17

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 proposed work benefits and enhances the Subdivision and complies with surface 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 · ARTICLE X. ARCHITECTURAL CONTROL Section 1. Alterations, Additions, and Improvements of Residences. · p.9

Last verified 2026-07-17

Home business

Not allowed

No commercial, professional, or similar activity requiring inventory, equipment, or customer/client visits may be conducted 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 3. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Signs

Restricted

No signs of any kind are allowed without Developer's prior written consent, except for customary name and address signs and one 'for sale or rent' sign, which must be no larger than 12x12 inches, located entirely within the residence, and only visible through a window.

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 and one sign advertising a property for sale or rent which shall be no larger than twelve (12) inches wide and twelve (12) inches high and which shall be located wholly within the residence and only visible through a window of the residence.

Declaration · Section 5. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Setbacks

Not addressed

Exterior & architectural4

Antennas, solar panels, generators & equipment

Restricted

No aerials, satellite reception dishes, or antennas of any kind are permitted within the Subdivision, except as specifically allowed by law, and the location of any approved device must be pre-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 11. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Conservation, wetlands & environmental

Requires approval

Owners must ensure construction complies with approved surface water management plans and may not construct or maintain any building, residence, or structure, or perform any activity in wetlands, mitigation areas, buffer areas, and upland conservation areas without prior written approval from SWFWMD.

Each Owner shall ensure that any construction on the Homesite complies with the construction plans for the surface 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, 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 19. · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17

Driveways & walkways

Restricted

Concrete and driveway coatings are permitted if their design is harmonious with the Subdivision and the coating color matches the home, but no ingress or egress is allowed except via driveways and sidewalks originally constructed by the Developer.

Concrete and driveway coatings are permitted providing that the design is harmonious with the Subdivision and that such coating is the same color as the home. 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 8. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Property & structure upkeep

Restricted

Each Owner must repair their residence to a condition comparable to its initial construction, maintain their driveway, perpetually maintain vegetation on Special Easements for Landscaping, and ensure landscaped buffers comply with applicable law; owners adjoining security walls/fences must maintain and repair their surface and structural integrity, sharing costs if a wall/fence serves multiple homes, and must contact the Developer for paint specifications.

Subject to the requirements set forth herein, each Owner shall, at his sole cost and expense, repair his residence, other than as otherwise provided for herein, keeping the same in condition comparable to the condition of such residence at the time of its initial construction, excepting only normal wear and tear. Each Homesite Owner shall be responsible for maintaining his driveway. 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. No owner of a Homesite which is subject to a Special Easement for Landscaping shall take any action to prevent the Landscaped Buffer from complying with those provisions of applicable law or regulations requiring Landscaped Buffer areas. Additionally, for those Owners of Homesites adjoining security walls and/or fences originally constructed by the Developer, Owners shall be responsible for maintenance and repairs of the surface and structural integrity of the walls and/or fences adjoining the Owners Homesite whether on the Owners Homesite or on an adjacent Homesite, reserved area or dedicated area, Where a wall and/or fence adjoins more than one Homesite, the cost of maintaining and repairing the surface and the structural integrity of the wall and/or fence shall be shared among the respective Owners served by such wall and/or fence. Such Owners are encouraged to maintain the walls and fences in a cooperative and uniform manner with the adjacent Homesite Owners so as to present to the public a uniform and well-maintained appearance of the Subdivision as a whole. The Homesite Owner must contact the Developer or the Developer's designee for paint specifications. Owners of Homesites adjoining stack block wall, security walls, fences or landscaped buffers shall maintain up to such wall, fence or landscaped buffer whether or not such area is within or outside of the Homesite. If an Owner's Homesite has a wall and/or fence between the Homesite and an adjoining roadway, the Owner will maintain the interior, exterior and structural integrity of the wall and/or fence and the landscaping lying between the wall and/or fence and adjoining roadway unless the maintenance is performed by the District pursuant to ARTICLE II.

Declaration · Section 1. (a) · p.7

Last verified 2026-07-17

Landscaping & yard3

Clotheslines / outdoor drying

Not allowed

The hanging of clothes or clotheslines and the placing of clothes poles are 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 11. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Landscaping & lawn maintenance

Restricted

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 or replace landscaping with more water-conservative and drought-tolerant options with prior written approval from the Developer or its designee.

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 11. · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17

Mailboxes

Not allowed

Individual mailboxes are not permitted on Homesites; mailboxes are provided by the U.S. Postal Service and housed by the Developer for a one-time charge of $190.00 per box, payable at the initial sale.

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 17. · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17

Use & conduct4

Insurance & rebuilding after damage

Restricted

If a residence is damaged or destroyed, the Owner must rebuild, repair, or reconstruct it to substantially restore its prior appearance and condition within two months of damage and complete it within six months, unless prevented by governmental authority, and 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 6. · p.8

Last verified 2026-07-17

Noise, nuisance & conduct

Restricted

Owners must use their property to allow neighbors to enjoy theirs, 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's 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 4. · 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 15. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17

Trash & recycling

Restricted

Rubbish, trash, garbage, or other waste 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, must be in Developer-prescribed plastic bags, and owners must use the City of Wildwood Franchised Hauler designated by the Developer, with mandatory participation in a curbside recycling program if instituted.

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. The solid waste hauler shall be a City of Wildwood Franchised Hauler designated by the Developer. 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. To maintain the Subdivision in a clean and sanitary condition and to minimize heavy commercial traffic within the Subdivision, garbage and trash service shall be provided by a hauler designated by Developer, and charges paid separately by each Owner. Owner agrees that garbage and trash service shall commence on the closing date the Owner purchases Owner's Homesite and home. Owner acknowledges that garbage and trash services is provided, and the fee for such service is payable, on a year-round basis regardless of use or occupancy. Developer reserves the right to require all Owner's to participate in a curbside recycling program if and when one is instituted.

Declaration · Section 12. · p.5

Last verified 2026-07-17