Emerald Hills Homeowners' Association
of Brevard County
Inc.
Embedded Files
Emerald Hills is a quiet neighborhood with a Homeowners Association consisting of a blend of new and existing single family homes located about four blocks west of Murrell Rd off of Levitt Parkway in Rockledge, FL.
Contact: Emerald Hills HOA email: emeraldhillsofrockledge@gmail.com
P.O.Box 561303 www.emeraldhillshoa.com
Rockledge, FL 32956-1303 UPDATED: March 26, 2025
ALL notices, casual information, meeting minutes, news, etc., will be posted on this site in order to save each year in postage, envelopes, paper, etc., on routine correspondence. The Annual HOA Assessment Fee notice and Annual Meeting notice will still be mailed. The governing HOA documents are published in the Documents link above and are available for all buyers, real estate agents, title companies, residents and owners to view, download, or print. Comments or questions can be sent to the Board via email, letter, or the Comments and Suggestions link above. Comments are viewed only by an officer on the Board of Directors.
Note: The HOA does not host the facebook page and due to privacy concerns the Board does not respond to comments or do business on facebook.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: On Sep 1, 2021 our web host required conversion to a new platform so the site may look and function considerably different depending on the operating system/browser you are using. A few links and/or folders may have been moved, rearranged, or maybe look different. Those were part of the conversion process. Users may be directed to follow a new process in order to open a folder, document, or tab. For instance, if using an IOS browser in the Documents folder, you may see a blank page, but if you tap on the page a small icon will appear which is the link to open the folder and then the link for the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions will appear. Other browsers may open the page without problems yet some have different processes and users report problems. Please email the HOA Board with any problems you incur that limit your use of this new platform and we will ensure you receive a copy of the Documents.
Community Appearance
There are several properties for sale in Emerald Hills so courtesy requires all owners to keep their clutter cleaned up and stored out of sight -- not just while properties are on the market but all the time as our HOA governing documents require. So be a good neighbor and keep your clutter stored properly Below is some guidance from the HOA DCR's and ideas that would improve appearance.
Numerous paragraphs in the DCR's address community standards for buildings, grounds, driveways, etc. Paragraph 4 gives the HOA the authority and guidelines for controlling "a single-family residential area of high standards". Paragraph 7 details a fairly broad and unlimited spectrum in exterior appearance of both the dwelling and yard that should be considered by the HOA in maintaining the "beauty and quality of the neighborhood". Paragraph 17C further specifies that trash or other refuse shall not be placed or compiled upon the lot. Those standards make it abundantly clear that trash, clutter, or hoarded items that are overflowing onto the yard and or driveway are prohibited. Yards need to be maintained including weeding the flower, mulch, or rock beds, trimming trees or bushes, replacing broken or missing boards in a fence or repairing a gate etc. For more curb appeal, please edge sidewalks (required by city codes), driveways, and along the curb and then clean up your trimmings. (Please do not leave grass and debris in the street as it will drain into and end up polluting the retention pond. Place your yard waste such as leaves, grass, etc., in trashcans or reusable paper bags as the city will not pick up any yard waste in plastic bags). Others might consider pressure washing the mold off their house and then painting the exterior where needed. Many thanks to the residents who do all these things and are responsive at upkeep of their home and yard. Property values will reflect your efforts.
Traffic Safety
In attempt to address the increase in traffic from the new Brookview street extension, the HOA has coordinated sign additions and changes in the community to help alert the motorists that the speed limit is 20 MPH and to slow down and observe the posted traffic laws and cautions because there are children playing and also sharing the streets to get to school, etc. The city added a new speed limit sign as you enter our community from Brookview Estates and three new "SLOW children at play" signs on different streets in Emerald Hills. Stop signs were added in both directions on Brookview at Topaz Dr. Of note though, is that we cannot entirely blame the Brookview street extension for all the violators/speeders because some are intrinsic. ALL Emerald Hills residents need to be part of the solution for traffic and pedestrian safety. This isn't limited to driving but includes parking and blocking the sidewalk which forces pedestrians including children, the disabled, and the elderly into the street with traffic. The HOA Board continues to work with city officials on traffic engineering, control devices, and enforcement. If anyone has other ideas that would help with child, pedestrian, property or vehicle safety please send the Board an email or letter at the addresses above. posted: 1/24/2022 and updated periodically as needed.
HOA Directives
The Emerald Hills Homeowners Association Declaration Of Covenants and Restrictions (DCRs) along with all 6 Amendments are published in the Documents link above and are available for all buyers, real estate agents, title companies, residents and owners to view, download, or print. They are also published in the Directives link for those whose browser can't seem to open them in Documents. These DCRs are court recorded and enforceable. Residents are encouraged to take time to become familiar with them since they govern subjects like restrictions on parking of boats, trailers, and campers/RV's, vehicle maintenance, etc. They also address appearance of property and maintenance of dwellings/buildings on the lot. ANY planned construction or structural improvement of the dwelling or addition of a structure including pools, decks, shops, storage sheds, fences, etc., require submission of drawings, specifications, plot/location and set back lines to the HOA for review/approval and must also be submitted to the City and receive a building permit prior to commencement.
The Bylaws are also posted in Documents but they are mainly organizational and administrative and pertain mostly to subjects like processes, appointment of officers and their duties, meetings, etc.
If anyone has any questions on either of these documents please contact the Board via email or use the Comments and Suggestions link above.
NOTE: If you are an Owner/Landlord please make sure your tenants have copies of these documents or know about this site and page so they can read or download them. It is your responsibility to ensure your tenants are aware of and adhere to ALL applicable HOA Bylaws and DCR's.
Parking
Each residence has at least 4 paved parking places -- 2 in the garage and 2 in the driveway as well as ample parking in the street/parkage area. Please don't block the sidewalk as the elderly, children, disabled, and all pedestrians need and use it. Paragraph 13 of the DCRs prohibits parking of boats, trailers, campers, or RV's in the driveway, front lot, or in the street right of way. This restriction helps facilitate room to park vehicles in the driveway so residents have no need to park in the front lot grass. On Aug 18, 2021 the Rockledge City Council adopted ordinance 1824-2021 that prohibits parking of vehicles in the front or side lot (area between the city sidewalk and the dwelling) for more than 4 hours. Warning letters have been issued for violations and citations can be issued as well..
FLORIDA HOA's and Volunteering
In Florida, state statute Chapter 720 provides for an HOA to be administered by owner volunteers and even requires state training and certification to help. This keeps costs down significantly as payment to volunteers is not allowed. When there are insufficient volunteers to serve on an HOA Board in Florida, there is a process called "receivership" per 720.313 where the members turn management of the HOA over to an agency selected by the state. Per 720.3053: "The association shall be responsible for the salary of the receiver, court costs, and attorney’s fees. The receiver shall have all powers and duties of a duly constituted board of directors and shall serve until the association fills vacancies on the board sufficient to constitute a quorum and the court relieves the receiver of the appointment.”
Those cumulative costs for the above receivership actions would be $$ HUGE $$. So, complainers may want to think twice before criticizing the volunteer Board for decisions they might disagree with or chastise a volunteer officer for a simple mistake because the alternatives to an all volunteer administered HOA that fails to fill the Board positions is VERY COSTLY. There is a volunteer nomination form at the Documents link above for those who always criticize so that they can serve and constructively contribute.
Annual Meeting Minutes Posting 3/4/2024
The Emerald Hills HOA 2024 Annual Meeting Minutes are posted at the Minutes & Newsletters link at the top.
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
PLEASE DO NOT place paint, tires, TV's, oils, antifreeze, etc., out by the curb for the Rockledge sanitation crews to pick up. They will not pick up any of those hazardous waste items. More information can be found at the Rockledge home page: www.cityofrockledge.org/DocumentCenter/View/4086/Trash-and-Recycling-Info-2020?bidId= Residents must take any hazardous items to the County Household Hazardous Waste Disposal at 2250 Adamson Rd in Cocoa. Below is their web page that lists their location along with many of the items they will accept. So if you have old paint, antifreeze, oils, or other items in the category of household hazardous waste sitting around and in need of disposal, please take it to that site and properly dispose of it. You can call the Solid Waste Department at 321-633-2042 for more information. For more info: http://www.brevardfl.gov/SolidWaste/HouseholdHazardousWaste
Construction, improvement, or placing a building on a lot
Para 9A of the DCRs: "No structure or improvement shall be placed on any lot unless and until the plans and specifications therefor and plot plans thereof have been approved in writing....". The city of Rockledge Building Division does the technical specification review, plans, plot location, etc., when you apply for the Building Permit. They require Building Permits for most structures and all buildings over 50 sq ft and have restrictions such as type, location, size, height, utilities, tie downs, etc. Please provide the Board a copy of the documents you submit to the city and a copy of the Building Permit along with a completed HOA Project Worksheet found in the Documents link and wait for a reply before you commence. Article VIII, Section 4 of the Bylaws provides for the Board to use outside help with the review process.
Storm Water Management
Hurricane and rainy season are just ahead so it's time to review storm water drainage. There are several agencies which have important guidelines on storm water runoff. The city of Rockledge website has numerous restrictions such as not using phosphate fertilizer, not leaving grass or tree clippings in the street so as to end up clogging the drains or in our retention pond or the river, etc. It also provides a link to St Johns River Water Management site https://www.sjrwmd.com/hoa-resources/ who controls and manages our Eco System waterways including storm water. SJRWM helps HOAs with storm water maintenance and management via specifics on retention and detention of storm water by telling residents to "clean up trash and yard waste in your yard and gutters (street) and around storm drains." so they don't end up in ponds or the lagoon. Please put your trimmings in a trash can (NOT PLASTIC BAGS) or if they are too big pile them in the city right of way i.e., area between the sidewalk and curb -- but not in the street, or near or on a storm drain!! Putting anything on the concrete storm drain increases chances of debris polluting the system and BLOCKS the emergency access cover to the drain for cleaning, rescue, etc. ALL drains on our Emerald Hills streets flow directly into the retention pond and we do not want any debris collecting or polluting the pond making early cleaning or dredging necessary because all homeowners may need to pay an assessment for dredging when it's time. If you have tenants or contract a lawn or tree service please inform them of these guidelines.
Living in Homeowner Association Communities
Some people buy or rent property for the first time in a community with a Homeowners Association (HOA). Afterwards, they find out they have moved into a community where they are now expected to be involved and maintain their property to standards set by the HOA, city, etc. All HOA's have governing documents that have guidelines and restrictions which apply to everyone living in the Association community. The HOA standards are found in the DCRs posted above and the city guidelines can be found in the municipal codes in the Rockledge website. These restrictions typically apply to certain activities and address property maintenance and appearance. What looks good to one may be seen as clutter or disarray to another so this guidance must be followed to ensure an even keel. Lack of care for your property with even temporary projects impacts the appearance and value of the neighborhood and sometimes creates friction between neighbors. If your actions do not reflect positive influence and your property is not in compliance with the DCRs or city codes -- then you have work to do.
HOME VALUES
Yards, driveways, and general outside community appearance make a real difference in home values. If we continue to have an active HOA with enforced standards, we will stay at the forefront with rapid sales of listings for desirable locations to live. But every homeowner must continue to keep their property neat and clean including lawns, yards, fences, garage doors, gutters, etc. These are just some of the exterior maintenance requirements in our DCRs, paragraph 7. Failure to do so like allowing trash and clutter to accumulate outside the home where everyone can see it only takes money out of your pocket as home prices will decrease if not maintained. If you are an owner-landloard then you must monitor your property to ensure the tenants are maintaining it to HOA standards.
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