Design Review: How Community Associations Maintain Peace & Harmony

To be successful, a design review program must be recognized by the community as a benefit—not a burden. The board must clearly communicate the program's purpose and structure. This guide will help associations establish and enforce appropriate design review procedures and requirements. It uses the term, "design review" to describe methods commonly used by associations to preserve and enhance their community. This term is used instead of "architectural control" because it:

*Emphasizes that the process pertains to the design concept as a whole (e.g., signs or landscaping).

*Emphasizes the positive aspects of the review process rather than the negative concept of control.

*Conforms to language used by architectural professionals.