Core rules12
Occupancy / age restrictions
Restricted
The Subdivision is an adult community for persons 55 years or older, requiring at least one occupant per home to be 55+, prohibiting permanent residents under 19 (with temporary visits not exceeding 30 days annually), and allowing Developer-granted hardship exceptions for 19-55 year olds if 80% adult occupancy is maintained.
“The Subdivision is an adult community designed to provide housing for persons 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.”
Declaration · 2.1 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Rentals / leasing
Not addressed
Homes may be rented, but all occupants must comply with age restrictions, requiring at least one resident to be 55 years or older, and generally prohibiting permanent residents under 19 years of age.
Short-term rentals
Not addressed
The document does not explicitly address or restrict short-term rentals.
Pets
Restricted
Birds, fish, dogs, and cats are permitted, with a maximum of two pets per Homesite, and owners are responsible for damage, waste disposal, and leashing.
“Birds, fish, dogs and cats shall be permitted, with a maximum of two (2) pets per Homesite. 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. No other animals, livestock, or poultry of any kind shall be raised, bred, or kept on any Homesite or on dedicated or reserved areas.”
Declaration · p.3
RVs & campers
Restricted
Recreational vehicles are prohibited from being parked or stored on any homesite or street unless fully enclosed in a garage or present temporarily as a service vehicle.
“No trucks in excess of 3/4 ton size, boats, or recreational vehicles 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 fully enclosed in garages located on the Homesite.”
Declaration · Section 2.4 · p.2
Boats
Restricted
Boats are prohibited from being parked or stored on any homesite or street unless fully enclosed in a garage or present temporarily as a service vehicle.
“No trucks in excess of 3/4 ton size, boats, or recreational vehicles 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 fully enclosed in garages located on the Homesite.”
Declaration · Section 2.4 · p.2
Parking
Restricted
Trucks over 3/4 ton, boats, or recreational vehicles are prohibited from being parked or stored on any Homesite or street, unless fully enclosed in garages or if they are temporary service vehicles.
“No trucks in excess of 3/4 ton size, boats, or recreational vehicles 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 fully enclosed in garages located on the Homesite. No vehicles incapable of operation shall be stored on any Homesite nor shall any junk vehicles or equipment be kept on any Homesite.”
Declaration · p.2
Fences
Requires approval
Fences, barriers, walls, or structures of any kind may not be placed on the property without prior written approval from the Developer.
“No arbor, trellis, gazebo, pergola (or similar item), awning, fence, barrier, wall or structure of any kind or nature shall be placed on the property without prior written approval of the Developer.”
Declaration · p.3
Architectural approval
Requires approval
Any construction, erection, placement, or alteration of a building or structure, as well as reconstruction, additions, alterations, or modifications to the Home, requires prior written approval from the Developer or an architectural review committee, ensuring compliance with surface water management plans and aesthetic harmony.
“No building or structure shall be constructed, erected, placed or altered on any Homesite until the construction plans and specifications and a plan showing the location of the building or structure have been approved by the Developer. After the Home has been constructed, no reconstruction, additions, alterations, or modifications to the Home, or in the locations and utility connections of the Home will be permitted except with the written consent of the Developer, or an architectural review committee appointed by the Developer.”
Declaration · 2.2 · p.1
Last verified 2026-07-17
Home business
Not allowed
Commercial, professional, or similar activities requiring inventory, equipment, or customer/client visits are not permitted to 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 2.4 · p.2
Signs
Restricted
No signs of any kind may be displayed without prior written consent from the Developer, except for customary name and address signs and one 'for sale or rent' sign (max 12"x12") located wholly within the home and visible only 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 Home and only visible through a window of the Home.”
Declaration · 2.15 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Setbacks
Not addressed
Exterior & architectural7
Antennas, solar panels, generators & equipment
Restricted
Aerials, satellite reception dishes, and antennas of any kind are prohibited within the Subdivision to the extent allowed by law, with the location of any approved device requiring prior written Developer approval.
“Aerials, satellite reception dishes, and antennas of any kind are prohibited within the Subdivision to the extent allowed by law. The location of any approved device will be as previously approved by the Developer in writing.”
Declaration · 2.16 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Conservation, wetlands & environmental
Restricted
No owner may construct or maintain any building, residence, or structure, or perform any activity in wetlands, buffer areas, and upland conservation areas without prior approval from the appropriate governmental agency or pursuant to Chapter 40D-4, F.A.C.
“No owner of the property within the Subdivision may construct or maintain any building, residence, or structure, or undertake or perform any activity in the wetlands, buffer areas, and upland conservation areas described in the approved permit or recorded plat of the Subdivision, unless prior approval is received by the appropriate governmental agency, or pursuant to Chapter 40D-4, F.A.C.”
Declaration · 3.3 · p.4
Last verified 2026-07-17
Driveways & walkways
Restricted
Each home and homesite must have a concrete driveway, and no driveways, walkways, cartpaths, or access points are permitted on any road right-of-way, walkway, or cartpath unless originally constructed by the Developer.
“Each Home and Homesite must contain a concrete driveway, the lawn must be sodded, and a lamppost erected in the front yard of each Homesite. Except as originally constructed by the Developer, no driveways, walkways, cartpaths or access shall be located on or permitted to any road right-of-way, walkway or cartpath.”
Declaration · 2.7 · p.2
Last verified 2026-07-17
Exterior & landscape lighting
Restricted
Exterior lighting must be attached to the Home and shaded to prevent nuisance to others; no other light poles may be erected.
“Except as provided above, exterior lighting must be attached to the Home and shaded so as not to create a nuisance to others. No other light poles may be erected.”
Declaration · 2.18 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Exterior colors, materials & trim
Restricted
Homesite Owners must contact the Developer or architectural review committee for paint specifications.
“The Homesite Owner must contact the Developer or the architectural review committee for paint specifications.”
Declaration · 2.11 · p.2
Last verified 2026-07-17
Pools, spas & screen enclosures
Allowed
Screen cages over patios and pools are permitted.
“Screen cages over patios and pools are allowed.”
Declaration · 2.4 · p.1
Last verified 2026-07-17
Property & structure upkeep
Restricted
Owners must notify the Developer when leaving their property for more than 7 days and advise of their tentative return date.
“All Owners shall notify the Developer when leaving their property for more than a 7-day period and shall simultaneously advise the Developer as to their tentative return date.”
Declaration · 2.20 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Landscaping & yard3
Clotheslines / outdoor drying
Not allowed
The hanging of clothes or clotheslines or poles is prohibited to the extent allowed by law.
“The hanging of clothes or clotheslines or poles is prohibited to the extent allowed by law.”
Declaration · 2.25 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Landscaping & lawn maintenance
Restricted
For new landscaping, owners may use supplemental irrigation for up to 30 minutes per day during the typical 30-day grow-in period, in addition to the regular schedule, without notifying VWCA unless suspension or termination is announced.
“If new landscaping is installed on a Homesite, the Owner may allow additional irrigation water service at the Homesite to supplement the Irrigation Water Service Schedule ("Supplemental Irrigation Water Service"), during the grow-in period, which is typically thirty (30) days. Supplemental Irrigation Water Service at a Homesite may not exceed thirty (30) minutes of irrigation water service per day, during the grow-in period, in addition to the Irrigation Water Service Schedule. VWCA reserves the right to suspend Supplemental Irrigation Water Service at Homesites. Unless the Owner is notified of suspension or termination of the Supplemental Irrigation Water Service, Owner need not notify VWCA of their intention to utilize Supplemental Irrigation Water Service.”
Declaration · 2.17 · p.5
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 lifetime charge per box, which is re-charged to new owners upon title transfer.
“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 Developer at a one time lifetime charge to Owner of $190.00 per box. If title to a Homesite is transferred, a new charge shall be made to the new Owner of the then prevailing mailbox fee being charged to new Owners of Homesites in the most recent addition or unit of the VILLAGES OF SUMTER. Payment of this fee shall be a condition of the use of the housing provided by Developer.”
Declaration · 4.4 · p.6
Last verified 2026-07-17
Use & conduct2
Noise, nuisance & conduct
Restricted
Owners must use their property in a manner that allows neighbors to enjoy theirs, with radios, record players, television, voices, and other sounds kept at a moderate level from 10:00 PM to one hour before daylight.
“Each Owner 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 PM to one (1) hour before daylight.”
Declaration · 2.21 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Trash & recycling
Restricted
Garbage and trash service is provided by a Developer-designated carrier, with charges paid separately by each owner; no rubbish, trash, garbage, or other waste material may be kept on any homesite or dedicated/reserved areas except in sanitary containers concealed from public view before being placed curbside for collection.
“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 carrier designated by the Developer, and the charges therefore shall be paid separately by each Owner. 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.”
Declaration · 4.3(a) · p.6
Last verified 2026-07-17