A lot of Castle Rock neighborhoods, and many across Douglas County, have a homeowners association with some kind of architectural or design review. If you're repainting the outside of your house, especially in a new color, that review is often a required step. It doesn't have to be a headache. It just has to be planned.
Important: every HOA is different. The steps below are general. Your community's covenants and design guidelines are the final word, so read them or call your management company before you commit to anything.
Step 1: Find your HOA's actual guidelines
Look for documents called design guidelines, architectural guidelines or an ARC/DRC application. They're usually on your HOA or management company's website or resident portal. Look for:
- Whether repainting the same color needs approval, or only color changes
- Whether there's a pre-approved color palette or scheme list
- Rules on body, trim and accent colors, like how many and how much contrast
- Rules about matching or not matching neighbors' color schemes
- How far in advance you need to apply, and how long reviews usually take
Step 2: Pick colors with the review in mind
If your HOA has a pre-approved palette, picking from it is usually the fastest route. If not, earthy tones that fit the landscape, like stone grays, warm taupes, sage greens and deep browns, tend to fit Douglas County's red rock and scrub-oak setting. Bold accents are often fine on a front door. Check your rules.
Look at real samples on your actual house, on more than one side, at different times of day. Our high-altitude sun washes colors out, so a swatch that looks right indoors can look a shade lighter outside.
Step 3: Put together a clean submission
Most review committees want some version of the following:
- Manufacturer, color name and color number for each color
- Which color goes where: body, trim, fascia, doors, garage door, accents
- Physical chips or a color sheet, if requested
- A photo of the house as it is now
We're happy to help you put this list together as part of your estimate. Clear submissions tend to get fewer follow-up questions.
Step 4: Schedule after approval, not before
The biggest mistake we see is booking the painters, then applying. If the committee meets monthly and asks for a change, you could be waiting into colder weather. Apply early, ideally in late winter or early spring for summer work, and pencil in a start date once you have approval in writing.
Step 5: Keep your approval letter
Save the approval with your house records. If questions ever come up later, or when you sell, you'll have proof the colors were approved.
Need help?
We'll walk the house, talk colors and sheens, and give you the color schedule your HOA needs. Learn about exterior painting or request an estimate.
