ECA has full legal authority to administer and enforce the restrictive covenants based on deeds of assignment from the developer.  The deeds of assignment transferred all of the developer's legal authority over administration and enforcement of the restrictive covenants to ECA.  The ECA rules administering and interpreting the restrictive covenants are in Article IX "Restrictive Covenants Guidelines" of the ECA Bylaws and the related "Special Subject Guidelines"in the ECA Handbook.

You are eligible to become a member of ECA by being an owner or resident of one of the homes in the Evermay subdivision and paying the $275 annual dues to ECA. ECA dues are $275 per year and are payable annually. If you have not yet paid, you may pay online using the Online Payment button at www.evermay.net or fill out the ECA membership form and mail it with your check for $275 to Evermay Community Association, P.O. Box 52, McLean, VA 22101.

 

ECA is not a mandatory homeowners association with mandatory dues and is not subject to the Virginia Property Owners Act.  ECA is a non-profit community association of homeowners in the Evermay subdivision with voluntary annual dues of $275 per year.  While our dues are voluntary ECA asks that each homeowner/resident pay the annual dues of $275 to allow ECA to budget and perform its functions.  Also, as an owner of a home in Evermay, unless you join ECA by paying the annual dues you will not be eligible to vote on any matters put to a vote before the ECA membership including any changes in the rules governing exterior modifications to homes in the Evermay subdivision, election of officers and directors on the ECA Board and voting on the annual fiscal year ECA budget.  

 

 

ECA dues are $275 per year and are payable annually. If you have not yet paid, you may pay online using the Online Payment button at www.evermay.net or fill out the ECA membership form and mail it with your check for $275 to Evermay Community Association, P.O. Box 52, McLean, VA 22101.

The rules that are applicable to all homes in the Evermay subdivision are comprised of the “Evermay Restrictive Covenants” along with Article IX of the Evermay Community Association ("ECA") Bylaws, and the ECA “Special Guidelines for Interpreting the Evermay Covenants”. 
 
Any exterior improvement, alteration or addition to the exterior of your home, whether freestanding or permanently attached, must first be approved by the ECA Architectural Control and Land Use ("ACLU") Committee and the ECA Board of Directors (except where specifically pre-approved or otherwise excluded in the “Guidelines”). Particular notice should be paid to areas that might be overlooked, but do require prior approval, such as fences (use of chain-link fences prohibited) and storage sheds.  A Project Application form for such approval must be submitted to the ECA ACLU Committee Chair should include the completed compliance application form, detailed plans of the changes requested including site elevations (PDF preferred), materials, colors, position of changes on a plat, and documentation that all affected neighbors have reviewed the changes and been allowed to provide comments. 

 

However, there are many exterior modifications that have already been pre-approved by ECA and do not require any further approval before you make such modifications to your property.  The following modifications have already been pre-approved by ECA and are listed in the Special Subject Guidelines as pre-approved and do not require any application to ECA:

 

• Solid wood, wrought iron or aluminum fences no greater than 6 feet in height and located no closer to the street than the house set-back line (no split-rail, chain link, or woven material fencing is allowed).
• Replacement of windows or doors without changing size or location.
• Replacement of roofs with cedar shake that is #1 Blue Label Certified by the Cedar Shake Shingle Bureau and of at least ½ inch thickness at butt end, slate; Ecostar Majestic synthetic slate (federal grey, midnight gray and black only are pre-approved, any other color needs approval); DaVince synthetic slate (castle grey color only pre-approved, any other color needs approval); Certainteed’s Grand Manor asphalt shingle (pearl black, brownstone, weathered wood, colonial slate, gatehouse slate, and stonegate gray only colors pre-approved, any other color needs approval); Certainteed’s Belmont asphalt shingle (black granite color, colonial slate, gatehouse slate, shenandoah, stonegate gray, and weathered wood, any  colors pre-approved, any other color needs approval).  Any other roofing material requires an application and approval by ECA.  In applying Article IX, Restrictive Covenant Guidelines, and Section 9.6(b) “Application Approval Standards”of the ECA Bylaws, asphalt roofing shingles will be considered high-quality roofing materials and accordingly approved for use in Evermay if they satisfy two criteria: (1) the shingles are multilayered architectural shingles and (2) they have a weight of at least 275 pounds per square. 
• Walkways made of stone, brick or concrete.
• Patios at the side or back of a house and front or side door entryways; all made of stone, brick or concrete.  The patio may include walls of no more than three feet in height above grade.
• Existing driveway replacement with pavers, concrete or asphalt.  New driveway locations or change in footprint require an application and approval by ECA.
• Retaining walls that extend no more than 3 feet above grade and with a façade of stone or brick (cinderblock must be faced with stone or brick).
• Recreation and play equipment in accordance with Special Guideline # 5.
• Basketball standards in front yards in accordance with Special Guideline #6.
• Satellite dishes in accordance with Special Guideline #7.
• Construction of new in-ground pools (all elements below grade or at grade level except for, including but not limited to, diving boards, electrical panels, timers, pumps, filters, heaters and piping required for the functioning of the pool and no more than five (5) feet in height and related screening up to five (5) feet in height of such items all of which may be placed above-ground and does not require further approval).  However, any other above-ground elements or structures and other items that might be constructed along with the in-ground pool must comply with applicable requirements set forth in the ECA Bylaws and Guidelines.