Pet Ownership in Waterstone: What to Know
From air conditioners to zip lines, each year the HOA receives a wide variety of questions regarding our covenants. Recently we have seen an increased number of questions regarding pet ownership and pet behavior.
In the spirit of promoting safety, harmony, and compliance, this article summarizes what our covenants say in regard to our furry friends.
Pets: General Permission & Limits
Dogs, cats, and other household pets may be kept, provided they are not kept, bred, or maintained for a commercial purpose.
Owners of permitted pets must confine them to their respective lots so they will not be a nuisance.
Dog owners must control or confine their dogs to avoid barking that annoys or disturbs adjoining owners.
Barking Dogs & Noise
No nuisance may exist or operate on any lot that is detrimental to other lots or their occupants.
No noxious or offensive activity may be carried on, nor anything that may become an annoyance or nuisance to the neighborhood.
The covenants explicitly state: “Excessively barking dogs shall constitute a nuisance.”
Barking does not need to be constant. If it is excessive or disturbing, it qualifies as a covenant violation.
Enforcement & Fines
If an owner violates any provision (including pet and nuisance rules), the HOA may impose a Violation Assessment after notice.
The fine may be:
Up to $100 per day for each day the violation continues after notice, or
Up to $5,000, whichever is greater.
Violation Assessments constitute a lien against the lot and are in addition to other remedies available to the HOA.
Other Important Considerations
For additional context, please refer to Paragraph 6 and Paragraph 13 of the covenants.
Indiana and the City of Carmel have rules that apply to pet ownership, pet welfare, and pet noise. HOA covenants do not supersede these rules.
Concerns regarding pets are handled in the same manner as other HOA matters.
After learning of a potential violation, the first step is typically outreach by phone or email from KMC, our property management company.
A good-faith effort will always be made to first understand the situation and work toward a reasonable resolution. Escalation is frequently unnecessary.
If you have questions, please contact your board representative or KMC. On behalf of the HOA and KMC, we thank everyone for their continued efforts to help maintain a safe and respectful community.
