[tanknetter]

The previous house I owned was part of an HOA. Neighbors down the street decided they wanted to build a garage with an upstairs rec room and a utility room connecting it to the house proper.

They jumped through all the required hoops, getting the ok from the surrounding neighbors and the HOA architectural committee. But when the addition was almost complete the neighbors decided they didn’t like it afterall and tried to get it all torn down over it allegedly having a roofline 18 inches above the contractors concept drawing ...

[muawiyah]

That's one of the most grievous violations of zoning ~ not just HOA rules ~ there's a thing called "height of bulk" ~ usually measured from the curbline, sometimes from the middle of the street right of way.

Whatever you do don't do that one ~ BTW, the proponents of those standards will whip fire safety, snow accumulation, and a couple of dozen other things on you so you can't win!

Surprised the architect didn't check his clearances!

[Atlas Sneezed]

And they didn’t get it torn down. The system worked.

[CharlesWayneCT]

If the roof wasn’t too high, the approval letter is a great way to make sure your neighbors can’t complain about what you are doing.