You have picked a colour. You love it. You are ready to book the job.
Then a neighbour mentions the architectural review committee, and suddenly you are reading a forty-page covenant document trying to work out whether “Accessible Beige” is going to get you a violation letter.
If you live in a newer neighbourhood in Fort Collins, Windsor, Timnath, Severance or Loveland, there is a good chance your exterior colours are governed by an HOA. The process is genuinely manageable — but it rewards homeowners who start early and trips up the ones who paint first and ask later.
Here is how it works, and how to get through it without losing your summer.
First, find out whether the rules actually apply to you
Not every neighbourhood has an HOA, and not every HOA regulates paint. Before you do anything else, work out which situation you are in.
Check your closing documents. The CC&Rs — covenants, conditions and restrictions — were given to you at purchase. Exterior modifications are usually addressed in a section on architectural control.
Look for a design guidelines document. Many HOAs publish a separate, far more readable document than the CC&Rs, often with an approved colour palette already in it. This is the single most useful file you can get your hands on.
Contact the management company. Most Northern Colorado HOAs use a third-party manager. One email usually produces the current guidelines, the request form and the submission deadlines.
Ask whether repaints in the same colour need approval. Many communities waive review if you are repainting in the exact existing colour. Some still require notification. It is a five-minute question that can save you weeks.
How the architectural review process usually works
The specifics vary, but nearly every ARC follows the same shape.
Step 1 — Get the current guidelines and request form
Ask specifically for the current version. Palettes get revised, and submitting against an outdated list is a common reason for rejection.
Step 2 — Choose colours that fit the scheme
Most guidelines specify colours for three elements: body, trim, and accent (front door, shutters, garage). Some also restrict sheen, and many limit how closely your scheme may match immediate neighbours — often stating that identical schemes cannot appear within two or three houses of each other.
That last rule catches people out. Walk your street before you commit, and note what the nearby homes are wearing.
Step 3 — Submit the request with real documentation
A complete submission almost always includes:
- The completed architectural request form
- Manufacturer name and exact colour codes for body, trim and accent
- Physical colour chips or printed swatches
- Photos of your home as it stands today
- A simple description of which colour goes where
- Sometimes a contractor name and projected start date
Incomplete packets are the leading cause of delay, and they usually restart the clock rather than pausing it.
Step 4 — Wait for the decision
Colorado’s Common Interest Ownership Act requires associations to have written procedures for architectural review, and most communities commit to a defined response window in their own governing documents. In practice, 30 to 45 days is a sensible planning assumption, and some committees only meet monthly.
Build that into your schedule. If you want the house painted in June, you want your submission in by April.
Step 5 — Get the approval in writing, and keep it
An email approval is fine. A verbal “that sounds good” from a board member is not. Save the written approval, because a change of board members or management company a year later should not put your paint job in question.
The mistakes that cause rejections
After years of painting in HOA neighbourhoods across Northern Colorado, the same handful of problems come up again and again.
Painting first and asking later. This is the expensive one. An association can require a non-compliant colour be repainted at the homeowner’s cost. It happens, and it is entirely avoidable.
Judging colour from a small chip. A two-inch swatch and a full wall in Colorado sun are two different experiences. Our high-altitude light is unusually intense and makes colours read lighter and often cooler than they look indoors.
Forgetting the fixed elements. Your roof, stone, brick and window frames are not changing. A scheme that ignores their undertones gets rejected on aesthetic grounds even when the specific colours are technically on the palette.
Missing the accent rules. Front doors and shutters are often where associations are strictest, because they are the most visible point of individual expression.
Assuming the palette is the whole rule. Guidelines frequently also address sheen levels, whether garage doors must match trim or body, and proximity restrictions to neighbouring homes.
A practical tip: sample on the actual wall
Before you submit — not after — buy sample pots and paint generous patches directly on your siding, ideally at least two feet square.
Then look at them at three different times: morning, midday and late afternoon. Check a north-facing wall and a south-facing wall, because the difference is dramatic at our altitude. Colours that looked identical on the chip will separate clearly on the wall.
This step costs very little, and it has saved more of our clients from second-guessing than any other single piece of advice. If you want a broader look at choosing colours, our 2026 interior colour guide covers many of the same principles.
How a painting contractor can help with the process
A contractor who works in HOA neighbourhoods regularly can take a surprising amount of this off your plate:
- Providing exact manufacturer names and colour codes in the format the ARC expects
- Preparing large on-wall samples before submission
- Confirming sheen levels meet the guidelines
- Supplying proof of insurance where the association requires it
- Scheduling your project around the approval timeline rather than ahead of it
- Suggesting palette-compliant schemes that still let your home stand out
At Windsor Painting, we paint homes across Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Timnath, Severance, Greeley, Evans, Wellington and Berthoud, and HOA neighbourhoods make up a large share of that work. We are comfortable working inside a defined palette — and we will tell you honestly when a combination is not going to look the way you are imagining.
You can browse finished projects in our gallery and see the full list of communities we cover on our areas we serve page.
Please note: this article is general guidance, not legal advice. Your association’s governing documents are the authority on what is permitted in your specific community.
Frequently asked questions
How long does HOA paint approval usually take?
Plan on 30 to 45 days. Some committees meet monthly, so submitting just after a meeting can add several weeks. Submit early in the season rather than close to your desired start date.
What happens if I paint without approval?
Associations can issue a violation notice, levy fines, and in some cases require the home be repainted in a compliant colour at your expense. It is not worth the risk.
Can I get a colour approved that is not on the palette?
Sometimes. Many committees will consider a variance request if the colour is complementary to the community scheme and you present it well — large samples, clear photos and a short written rationale help considerably.
Do I need approval to repaint in exactly the same colour?
Often not, but you should confirm in writing rather than assume. Some associations waive review for same-colour repaints, others still require notification.
Will you handle the submission paperwork for me?
We will provide everything a committee normally asks for — exact product and colour codes, sample preparation, insurance certificates and a projected schedule. The homeowner submits the request, since associations require it to come from the owner of record.
Ready to plan your exterior repaint?
The homeowners who have the smoothest HOA experience are simply the ones who start the conversation early. Get your guidelines, sample on the wall, submit a complete packet, and book your painting date around the approval — not the other way round.
Request a free estimate from Windsor Painting or call (970) 692-4488. We will walk your home, help you assemble what the committee needs, and hold a slot on the calendar for when your approval lands.
