Frequently Asked Questions
No, It is voluntary and the dues are $75/year.
Gulf Gate is within Sarasota County. Sarasota County Sec. 124-131(a) specifies:
- Dwelling units may be rented as a whole and for periods of greater than 30 days provided that a dwelling unit shall not be rented more than once every 30 days.
- Portions of a dwelling may be rented for periods of greater than 30 days provided that the dwelling is physically occupied by the owner during more than 50 percent of the lease term and the dwelling unit is not rented more than once every 30 days. "Owner" shall include any individual owning an interest in the dwelling as an individual and any individual owning a majority of the interests or shares of a corporation, partnership, or other business entity.
- The owner or managing agent of real property that is offered for rent or lease shall maintain records, including the names and addresses of the lessees, that are adequate to establish the period for which a unit is rented and the names of family members or unrelated individuals occupying the premises during each rental period. Such records shall be provided upon request to inspectors authorized by the County to enforce this UDC.
- Except for community residential homes, any rental or lease of a single-family residence to more than one individual and his or her family or roommates is prohibited, unless all persons residing in the single-family residence have full use of the entire residence, including the single kitchen, accessory buildings, and associated
property. - Any attempt made to solicit, advertise, or commit the act of leasing a rental in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this section shall constitute a violation.
A deed-restricted community is a neighborhood with a governing homeowner association (HOA) that enforces certain rules and regulations regarding the look of a neighborhood, as well as property uses. The goal of this type of community is to promote a fluid look throughout a neighborhood, which in turn helps maintain home values.
Every deed-restricted community is different in regards to rules and regulations, and many Florida neighborhoods are governed by an HOA. If you are considering buying a home in a deed-restricted community, it’s important to collect all of the information regarding what you can and can’t do if you move here. In some cases the rules may seem favorable to you, in other instances they may not. For instance, some associations ban large dog breeds, which you may already own.
The number of deed-restricted (HOA) communities in the US has grown tremendously since the 1970’s. In the 70’s approximately 6,000 HOA communities existed all across the States. Today, over 157,000 HOA communities can be found throughout the US. The states with the largest growth in HOA communities include California, Arizona and our very own Florida. Some people like the stability provided by an HOA, while others would rather risk getting a neighbor that hoards a lot of junk in their front yard than having to deal with painting their mailbox a specific color.
The level of regulation provided by an HOA comes at a cost; this cost is your monthly HOA fee. Monthly fees range anywhere from $100 to $300 plus. It’s important to consider these costs upfront, in order to avoid getting excited about a house that will prove to be too expensive.
The cost of an HOA may be well worth it to you. For one, homes in HOA communities tend to hold their value better over the long term, mainly because the overall maintenance of the neighborhood remains in better condition. Buyers find this appealing because people prefer a well taken care of neighborhood, as opposed to one that appears run down.
The appearance of your neighbor’s house plays a role when it comes time to sell your home. If the house next door is overburdened with junk, painted a funky color or simply falling apart, there’s nothing you can do about it, even though it will impact your property value. On the other hand, if you live in an HOA community, this lack of maintenance is against regulations and it isn’t going to happen. If it does it will be taken care of right away. This prevents you from becoming trapped between neighbors that don’t maintain their houses, and therefore negatively impact the value of your home.
Your monthly HOA fee covers a wide range of things, besides just keeping the overall appearance of the neighborhood in check. Luxury HOA communities often include heated pools, tennis courts, clubhouses and other amenities for you to use.
Every neighborhood is different and some HOAs exercise far more control over neighborhoods than others. Some common factors that HOA communities control include:
- The style of architecture used to build a new home on the block or a separate standing structure on your property.
- Where cars may be parked, which will more than likely NEVER be permitted on lawns, and may also include no parking on the street.
- What type of vehicles can be parked in the neighborhood? Many ban RVs, trailers, and other large vehicles.
- How often trash needs to be taken out and removed, as well as how long your trash is allowed to sit on your lawn or at your front door, which could very well be 0 seconds.
- How many animals and what type of animals live on your property. Some communities restrict large dog breeds but others do not. Either way, if you’re dreaming of getting an unconventional pet, such as a goat or pig, an HOA community may not be your best option.
- What type of additions you can complete on your property, including garages, swimming pools, garden sheds, outbuildings, fencing, etc.
Before closing the deal on a home in a deed-restricted community you should always obtain a copy of the community restrictions and carefully look them over. You may even want to take it one step further and consult with a real-estate attorney before signing on any dotted lines.
DEED RESTRICTIONS APPLY TO ALL PROPERTIES WITHIN OUR DEED RESTRICTED AREA, REGARDLESS OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE ASSOCIATION AND WILL BE ENFORCED BY THE ASSOCIATION AS REQUIRED BY THE BYLAWS.
- Violators will receive a written notice of their infraction from the Deed Restriction Chair.
- If the infraction is not addressed within a reasonable time, the President will contact the owner/resident regarding correction.
- If the owner responds, mediation will be attempted.
- If there is no correction and/or no attempt by the owner to contact the Board about resolution, the Board will pursue legal action.
- If a resolution is still not forthcoming, then the owner will be summoned to court.
- Infractions that are successfully litigated usually include a stipulation that the violator shall repay the Association’s legal fees.
NOTE: GGCA Deed Restrictions apply to issues that are not already covered by the Sarasota County Codes and Ordinances. Noise, number of cars, number of unrelated people living in a unit, fireworks, and water usage are examples of things covered by the County. The most common GGCA deed restriction infractions are the presence of trailers, unattached structures, commercial signage on property or vehicles, fences that are too tall or too close to set-backs, and nuisance usage that disrupts or debases the neighborhood.
No, boats are not allowed except to do repairs and clean them. They must be removed in a 24-hour period.
RV/Motor homes can stay on site for 24 hours to load and unload the RV/motor home, then must leave. There is no exception to this.
No, trailers are not allowed on any site unless it belongs to a contractor who is doing work on a long-term project, and it is needed to store their material in. There must be a permit on the property for this work.
Yes, you do need the board's permission, as well as county permits.
Yes, the fence can not be higher than 6 feet and must meet all the setbacks of the property.
Yes, the deed restrictions say 4 inches of reinforced concrete, anything else is against the deed restrictions. When it comes time to sell the home the homeowner will need to redo their deed at the county. The process takes awhile to complete and will hold up closings, since the home in question will need signatures of 80% of their unit.
NO, the only type of sign allowed is FOR SALE or FOR RENT.
NO. They are all against the deed restrictions of GGCA.