Core rules12
Occupancy / age restrictions
Restricted
The community is for persons 55 years of age or older, requiring at least one occupant per Home to be 55 or older, and prohibiting permanent residents under 19 years of age, with temporary visits for those under 19 limited to 30 days per calendar year.
“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.”
Declaration · p.3
Rentals / leasing
Not addressed
Short-term rentals
Not addressed
Pets
Restricted
Birds, fish, dogs, and cats are permitted, with a maximum of two pets per Homesite; Owners are responsible for pet damage, immediate waste removal, and keeping pets on a leash; no other animals, livestock, or poultry are allowed.
“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 · 2.24 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
RVs & campers
Restricted
Recreational vehicles are not allowed to be parked or stored on any homesite or street, unless they are service vehicles temporarily performing a service or vehicles fully enclosed in garages.
“No trucks in excess of 3/4 ton size, boats, or recreational vehicles shall be perked, 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 not allowed to be parked or stored on any homesite or street, unless they are service vehicles temporarily performing a service or vehicles fully enclosed in garages.
“No trucks in excess of 3/4 ton size, boats, or recreational vehicles shall be perked, 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
No trucks over 3/4 ton, boats, or recreational vehicles may be parked, stored, or remain on any Homesite or street, except for temporary service vehicles or vehicles fully enclosed in garages; inoperable or junk vehicles/equipment are prohibited.
“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 · 2.9 · p.2
Last verified 2026-07-17
Fences
Requires approval
No fence or similar structure of any kind shall 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, or any reconstruction, additions, alterations, or modifications to a Home, requires prior written approval from the Developer or an architectural review committee.
“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 an inventory, equipment, or customer/client visits are prohibited in a Home or on a Homesite, as properties are intended for residential use only.
“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
Signs are generally prohibited without Developer's written consent, with exceptions for customary name/address signs and one small 'for sale/rent' sign 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. Lawn ornaments are prohibited, except for seasons displays not exceeding a thirty (30) day duration.”
Declaration · p.3
Setbacks
Not addressed
Easements are reserved along property lines, defining areas where no buildings or improvements may be made without prior written approval from the Developer, effectively acting as setbacks for utilities.
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 · 2.17 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Conservation, wetlands & environmental
Not allowed
No person may enter into any wildlife preserve areas designated in the Development Orders, except as permitted therein.
“Except as permitted in the Development Orders entered into in connection with the Villages of Sumter, a Development of Regional Impact, no person may enter into any wildlife preserve set forth within the areas designated as such in those Development Orders.”
Declaration · 2.15 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Driveways & walkways
Restricted
Each Home and Homesite must have a concrete driveway, and no driveways, walkways, cartpaths, or access may be located on or permitted to any road right-of-way, walkway, or cartpath, except as originally constructed by the Developer.
“Each Home and Homesite must contain a concrete driveway, and a lamppost must be 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 · 2.8 · 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 · 2.8 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Exterior colors, materials & trim
Requires approval
Owners must contact the Developer or architectural review committee for paint specifications for perimeter security walls, gates, and fences.
“The Homesite Owner must contact the Developer or the architectural review committee for paint specifications.”
Declaration · 2.12 · 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 keep Homesites neat and clean, with grass cut, irrigated, and edged at all times, and are responsible for maintaining unpaved areas between their Homesite and adjacent roadways/walkways, as well as areas adjoining land use/landscape buffers, wildlife preserves, and perimeter security walls/gates/fences.
“Owners shall keep their Homesites neat and clean and the grass cut, irrigated and edged at all times. The Homesite Owner shall have the obligation to mow and maintain the unpaved area between an adjacent roadway or walkway located in the road right of way and the Owner's Homesite. Persons owning Homesites adjacent to a land use or landscape buffer, or a wildlife preserve, shall have the obligation to mow and maintain all areas between their Homesite lot line and the land use or landscape buffer, and between their Homesite lot line and the board fence on the adjoining wildlife preserve, even though they may not own that portion of the land.”
Declaration · 2.12 · p.2
Last verified 2026-07-17
Landscaping & yard4
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 · 2.26 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Landscaping & lawn maintenance
Restricted
Owners must regulate their irrigation water service to comply with the Irrigation Water Service Schedule provided by VWCA, and supplemental irrigation for new landscaping during a 30-day grow-in period is limited to 30 minutes per day in addition to the schedule.
“The Owner of the Homesite shall regulate the irrigation water service to the Homesite and will be responsible for complying with the Irrigation Water Service Schedule. If Owner repeatedly fails to comply with the Irrigation Water Service Schedule, VWCA may enter onto the Homesite, over and upon easements hereby reserved in favor of VWCA, and install a control valve to compel Owner's compliance with the Irrigation Water Service Schedule, with all costs related thereto being charged to Owner. 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.”
Declaration · 2.7 · p.6
Last verified 2026-07-17
Lawn ornaments & decor
Restricted
Lawn ornaments are prohibited, except for seasonal displays not exceeding a thirty (30) day duration.
“Lawn ornaments are prohibited, except for seasons displays not exceeding a thirty (30) day duration.”
Declaration · 2.16 · p.3
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, which is a condition of use and constitutes a lien until paid.
“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 at 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. This mailbox fee shall be collectible in the same manner as the Contractual Amenities Fee and shall constitute a lien against the Homesite until paid.”
Declaration · 4.4 · 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 its prior appearance and condition within two months of damage and complete it within eight months, unless prevented by governmental authority, subject to existing 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 and walls 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 eight (8) months after the damage occurs, unless prevented by governmental authority. Such reconstruction is subject to the provisions of these restrictions.”
Declaration · 2.29 · p.4
Last verified 2026-07-17
Noise, nuisance & conduct
Restricted
Radios, record players, television, voices, and other sounds must be 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 · 2.22 · p.3
Last verified 2026-07-17
Solicitation & yard sales
Restricted
The Developer reserves the right to prohibit or control all peddling, soliciting, selling, delivery, and vehicular traffic within the Subdivision.
“The Developer reserves the right to prohibit or control all peddling, soliciting, selling, delivery and vehicular traffic within the Subdivision.”
Declaration · 2.23 · 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; garbage placed curbside for collection must be in Developer-prescribed plastic bags and placed no earlier than the day before scheduled pick-up; Owners may be required to participate in a curbside recycling program.
“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. Once placed curbside for collection, all garbage will be contained in plastic bags prescribed by the Developer and placed curbside no earlier than the day before scheduled pick-up. Developer reserves the right to require all Owner's to participate in a curbside recycling program if and when one is instituted.”
Declaration · 4.3 · p.6
Last verified 2026-07-17