Architectural Review - Park Hills Homes Association

Architectural review in the Park Hills Homes Association is governed by state law and the association’s Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs). Upon purchase of property in Park Hills, members of the association enter into a legal contract to follow the CC&Rs and related association policies pertaining to architectural control. Each member received a copy of the CCRs when they purchased their home. Additional copies of the CCRs may be downloaded by loging in to PayHOA and navigating to Documents.

Download a copy of the Architectural Review Guidelines here

To start a new application, log in to PayHOA and navigate to Requests in the left side menu.

Not Sure if you need to apply for Architectural Review? Please review the chart below.

Project Description	Full Review Required	Expedited Review Required	No Reviews Required
New and replacement fences, walls, accessory buildings, major hardscaping changes or other structures which front on a public street or are visible from the public right of way.	✅
Exterior alterations, additions, and expansions which increase the building footprint including but not limited to room additions or expansions, garage expansions, second story additions, and accessory dwelling units.	✅
New driveways and walkways or significant alteration of an existing driveway or walkway adjacent to or connecting with the public right of way.	✅
Exterior lighting in the front yard which is attached to structure at a level greater than six feet high visible from the public right of way or is directed, oriented, or extends into the public right of way.	✅
Any other exterior change not explicitly mentioned in this document which would, by law, require a building permit, regardless of the homeowners’ intention to secure such permit.	✅
New window and door installations where the windows or doors face adjacent habitable structures.		✅
New and replacement side yard and backyard fences no greater than six feet high.		✅
Accessory structures located in the side or backyards that are no greater than 120 sqr ft.		✅
Patio, deck or other landscaping improvements which significantly increase impervious surface coverage or may otherwise result in a potential change or increase of stormwater run-off on adjacent properties.		✅
Exterior lighting in the side or backyards which is attached to structure at a level greater than six feet high and may produce light trespass or glare onto adjacent properties.		✅
Pools and hot tubs.		✅
Routine maintenance and home upkeep such as gutter cleaning, window washing, minor patching, roof repairs, etc.			✅
Interior remodeling or modification including plumbing and electrical work that does not alter the current building footprint.			✅
Exterior improvements such reroofing, painting, or replacement of siding, so long as the materials and repairs meet or exceed the building fire safety standards for the City of Berkeley’s Fire Zone 2. https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/2022-02/RestrictionsintheFireZone.pdf			✅
Non-structural garden additions and minor landscaping improvements that do not increase impervious lot coverage and that follow applicable fire safety recommendations with respect to plant selection and location.			✅
Installation of skylights or new rooftop solar panels below the structure’s ridgeline.			✅
Foundation repair and other structural seismic improvements.			✅
Alterations and repairs to chimneys for seismic safety purposes.			✅
Window and door repairs include removal or replacement of existing openings or increasing the size of fenestration in existing locations up to 120% of the existing opening size.			✅
Replacement of any architectural element which is identical to the original element in terms of location, size, and shape; and is made of materials that outwardly have the same dimensions, proportions, details, and textures of the original element and that outwardly appear unchanged.			✅
Temporary holiday decorations, lighting or other displays.			✅
Exterior lighting which is primarily for landscaping, decorative purposes, or ground fixtures used to illuminate walkways or patios.			✅
Changes to the locations or sizes of existing utility meters, electrical distribution equipment, interconnects or outlets, or communications equipment interfaces provided that they are attached to the main structure below the roofline and do not involve the addition of aerial cables or wires.			✅
Electric car chargers that meet Berkeley building code.			✅

If you have a project in mind that does not fit into one of the above project description categories, please contact the Architectural Committee at ARC@parkhillshomes.org.

Download a copy of the Architectural Review Guidelines here

To start a new application, log in to PayHOA and navigate to Requests in the left side menu.

Not Sure if you need to apply for Architectural Review? Please review the chart below.

New and replacement fences, walls, accessory buildings, major hardscaping changes or other structures which front on a public street or are visible from the public right of way.

Exterior alterations, additions, and expansions which increase the building footprint including but not limited to room additions or expansions, garage expansions, second story additions, and accessory dwelling units.

New driveways and walkways or significant alteration of an existing driveway or walkway adjacent to or connecting with the public right of way.

Exterior lighting in the front yard which is attached to structure at a level greater than six feet high visible from the public right of way or is directed, oriented, or extends into the public right of way.

Any other exterior change not explicitly mentioned in this document which would, by law, require a building permit, regardless of the homeowners’ intention to secure such permit.

New window and door installations where the windows or doors face adjacent habitable structures.

New and replacement side yard and backyard fences no greater than six feet high.

Accessory structures located in the side or backyards that are no greater than 120 sqr ft.

Patio, deck or other landscaping improvements which significantly increase impervious surface coverage or may otherwise result in a potential change or increase of stormwater run-off on adjacent properties.

Exterior lighting in the side or backyards which is attached to structure at a level greater than six feet high and may produce light trespass or glare onto adjacent properties.

Pools and hot tubs.

Routine maintenance and home upkeep such as gutter cleaning, window washing, minor patching, roof repairs, etc.

Interior remodeling or modification including plumbing and electrical work that does not alter the current building footprint.

Exterior improvements such reroofing, painting, or replacement of siding, so long as the materials and repairs meet or exceed the building fire safety standards for the City of Berkeley’s Fire Zone 2.

Non-structural garden additions and minor landscaping improvements that do not increase impervious lot coverage and that follow applicable fire safety recommendations with respect to plant selection and location.

Installation of skylights or new rooftop solar panels below the structure’s ridgeline.

Foundation repair and other structural seismic improvements.

Alterations and repairs to chimneys for seismic safety purposes.

Window and door repairs include removal or replacement of existing openings or increasing the size of fenestration in existing locations up to 120% of the existing opening size.

Replacement of any architectural element which is identical to the original element in terms of location, size, and shape; and is made of materials that outwardly have the same dimensions, proportions, details, and textures of the original element and that outwardly appear unchanged.

Temporary holiday decorations, lighting or other displays.

Exterior lighting which is primarily for landscaping, decorative purposes, or ground fixtures used to illuminate walkways or patios.

Changes to the locations or sizes of existing utility meters, electrical distribution equipment, interconnects or outlets, or communications equipment interfaces provided that they are attached to the main structure below the roofline and do not involve the addition of aerial cables or wires.

Electric car chargers that meet Berkeley building code.

If you have a project in mind that does not fit into one of the above project description categories, please contact the Architectural Committee at ARC@parkhillshomes.org.