est. 2026 · Florida

Villages of Sumter Unit 78

, 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 restricted to residents aged 55 and older, with specific allowances for those over 19 and limited visitation for those younger.

The Subdivision is an adult community designed to provide housing for persons 55 years or 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

Restricted

Short-term rentals are implicitly restricted by the requirement that at least one occupant be 55 or older and the prohibition of guests under 19 for more than 30 days per year.

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

Pets

Restricted

Residents are permitted to keep up to two pets, specifically birds, fish, dogs, or cats, provided they are leashed and owners manage waste and damages.

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 und shall be responsible to imrnediately 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 they are fully enclosed in a garage.

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 they are fully enclosed in a garage.

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

Parking is prohibited for trucks over 3/4 ton, boats, and recreational vehicles unless they are in a garage or are service vehicles on a temporary basis.

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 · Section 2.4 · p.2

Fences

Requires approval

Fences and barriers are prohibited on the property unless the owner obtains 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 upproval of the Developer.

Declaration · p.3

Architectural approval

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 shingle or tile roofing materials, all constructed by the Developer or its designee to be harmonious with the development.

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 must have eave overhangs and gable overhangs, and all roofing materials shall be shingle or tile materials, 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

Home business

Not addressed

Homesites are for residential use, and commercial or professional activities involving inventory, equipment, or client visits are prohibited.

Signs

Restricted

Signs are generally prohibited without developer consent, except for name/address signs and one small for-sale or for-rent sign displayed inside 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 · p.2

Setbacks

Not addressed

The document establishes specific easement widths along the front, rear, and side lot lines of every homesite which function as setback areas for utilities and maintenance.

Exterior & architectural5

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, and any approved device must have its location previously approved in writing by the Developer.

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

Not allowed

No person may enter into any designated wildlife preserve, except as permitted by Development Orders.

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 · 2.14 · p.2

Last verified 2026-07-17

Driveways & walkways

Not allowed

No driveways, walkways, cartpaths, or access points are permitted on any road right-of-way, walkway, or cartpath, except as originally constructed by the Developer.

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 · 2.12 · 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

Property & structure upkeep

Restricted

Owners must notify the Developer when leaving their property for more than seven 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

Owners must keep homesites neat, clean, and the grass cut, irrigated, and edged; maintain unpaved areas between roadways/walkways and their homesite; maintain areas between their lot line and adjacent land use/landscape buffers or wildlife preserve fences; and perpetually maintain and replace dead foliage in easement areas, without removing or destroying developer-installed landscaping or fencing without approval.

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. The Owners of Homesites subject to a Water Feature Landscaping Easement and Owners of Homesites subject to a Special Easement for Landscaping shall perpetually maintain the easement area and will not remove or destroy any landscape or fencing thereon originally installed by the Developer without the Developer's advance written approval, and will promptly replace all dead foliage located therein.

Declaration · 2.11 · p.2

Last verified 2026-07-17

Lawn ornaments & decor

Restricted

Lawn ornaments are prohibited, except for seasonal displays not exceeding thirty days in duration.

Lawn ornaments are prohibited, except for seasons displays not exceeding a thirty (30) day duration.

Declaration · 2.15 · p.2

Last verified 2026-07-17

Use & conduct3

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 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

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 · 2.22 · 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; once curbside for collection, garbage must be in Developer-prescribed plastic bags and placed curbside no earlier than the day before scheduled pick-up; owners may be required to participate in a curbside recycling program if instituted.

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 therefor 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