Villages of Sumter Unit 197

Restricted

The community is an adult community for persons 55 years or older, requiring at least one occupant per home to be 55 or older, and prohibiting permanent residents under 19, with temporary visits for those under 19 limited to 30 days per calendar year, and hardship exceptions for 19-55 year olds possible 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 pernit 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 · 2.25 · p.3

Last verified 2026-07-17

Not addressed

Not addressed

Restricted

Birds, fish, dogs, and cats are permitted, with a maximum of two pets per homesite; owners are responsible for any damage, immediate removal and disposal of excrement, 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

Not addressed

Not addressed

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

Restricted

Owners of homesites adjoining developer-constructed perimeter security walls, gates, or fences are responsible for their maintenance and repairs, including surface and structural integrity, and must contact the Developer or architectural review committee for paint specifications.

“Additionally, for those Owners of Homesites adjoining perimeter security walls, gates, or fences originally constructed by the Developer, Owners shall be responsible for maintenance and repairs of the surface and structural integrity of the walls, gates, and fences adjoining the Owners Homesite whether on the Owners Hoinesite or on an adjacent Homesite, reserved area or dedicated area. ... The Homesite Owner must contact the Developer or the architectural review committee for paint specifications, Owners of Homesites adjoining stack block walls, perimeter security walls, landscaped buffers or fences shall maintain up to such wall, buffer or fence whether or not such area is within or outside of the Homesite.”

Declaration · 2.12 · p.2

Last verified 2026-07-17

Restricted

Each homesite must have only one conventionally built home with a garage, at least 1050 square feet (excluding non-heated/non-air-conditioned space), a minimum 4" in 12" roof pitch, eave and gable overhangs, and Developer-approved roofing materials and design, color, construction materials, and size.

“There shall be only one Home on each Homesite. All Homes must have garages and be of at least 1050 square feet, exclusive of any garage, storage room, screen room or other non-heated and non-air-conditioned space. All Homes must be constructed with at least a 4" in 12" rise and run roof pitch. ... The Home shall be a conventionally built Home and which must be placed on the Homesite and constructed by the Developer, or its designee, of a design approved by the Developer as being harmonious with the development as to color, construction materials, design, size and other qualities. Each Home inusthave eave overhangs and gable overhangs, and all roofing materials shall be approved by the Developer, including the roof over garages, screen porches, utility rooms, etc., and all areas must have ceilings.”

Declaration · 2.2 · p.1

Last verified 2026-07-17

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 · 2.10 · p.2

Last verified 2026-07-17

Restricted

No signs of any kind may be displayed to public view without prior written consent from the Developer, except for customary name and address signs and one 'for sale or rent' sign no larger than 12x12 inches, 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 · 2.16 · p.3

Last verified 2026-07-17

Not addressed

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

Not allowed

No person may enter into any wildlife preserve as 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

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

Restricted

Exterior lighting must be attached to the Home and shaded to avoid creating a nuisance, and 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

Restricted

Homesite 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, Owners of Homesites adjoining stack block walls, perimeter security walls, landscaped buffers or fences shall maintain up to such wall, buffer or fence whether or not such area is within or outside of the Homesite.”

Declaration · 2.12 · p.3

Last verified 2026-07-17

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

Restricted

Owners must keep their 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 between their homesite lot line and land use/landscape buffers or board fences on wildlife preserves.

“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

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.4

Last verified 2026-07-17

Restricted

Irrigation water provided by SWCA is for irrigation purposes only and cannot be used for human or pet consumption, bathing, washing, car washing, or any other non-irrigation use; potable water may not be used for irrigation, except for supplemental irrigation of annuals and heat-stressed areas with a hose and automatic shutoff nozzle, but not sprinklers on a hose connection.

“The irrigation water provided by SWCA is suitable for irrigation purposes only. The irrigation water can not be used for human or pet consumption, bathing, washing, car washing or any other use except for irrigation. Owners covenant to ensure that no one on the Homesite uses irrigation water for any non-irrigation purpose. ... Potable water may not be used for irrigation, except that supplemental irrigation with potable water is limited to annuals and the isolated treatment of heat stressed areas. All supplemental irrigation utilizing potable water must be done with a hose with an automatic shutoff nozzle. Use of sprinklers on a hose connection is not permitted.”

Declaration · 2.7 · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17

Restricted

Lawn ornaments are prohibited, except for seasonal displays not exceeding a thirty-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

Not allowed

Individual mailboxes may not be located upon a Homesite; 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 against the Homesite 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. ... 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.7

Last verified 2026-07-17

Restricted

If a residence is damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty, the Owner must, with due diligence, rebuild, repair, or reconstruct it to substantially restore 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 govemmental authority. Such reconstruction is subject to the provisions of these restrictions.”

Declaration · 2.29 · p.4

Last verified 2026-07-17

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 PM to one hour before daylight.

“Each Owner shall use his property in such a manner as to allow his neighborsto 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

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

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 in Developer-prescribed plastic bags no earlier than the day before scheduled pick-up.

“To maintain the Subdivision in a clean and sanitary condition and to minimize heavy commercial traffic within the Subdivision, garbage and trasb service shall he 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.”

Declaration · 4.3(a) · p.6

Last verified 2026-07-17