Covenants

In order to view the correct covenants for your home, you will need to know the lot number for your property. If you do not know the lot number for your property, you can follow the instructions below:

  1. Go to the Meridian Township Property Search website
  2. Type in your address in the “Enter an address…” search field and click “Search”
  3. Click on the search result for your property
  4. Scroll down to the “Legal Description” area to determine your lot number within the Tacoma Hills subdivision

Once you know your lot number, you can click on the appropriate link below to view your covenants.

What are Restrictive Covenants?

Restrictive covenants are deed restrictions that apply to a group of homes or lots, property that’s part of a specific development or subdivision. They are normally put in place by the original developer and are different for every area of home.

What’s the Purpose of Restrictive Covenants?

Restrictions give a development a more standard appearance and control some of the activities that take place within its boundaries. When enforced, covenants protect property values.

What You’ll Often See in Covenants

Restrictive covenants nearly always stipulate the minimum size residence allowed, how many homes may be built on one lot, and what type of construction the homes must (or must not) be.

More Topics You’ll See in Restrictive Covenants

  • Setbacks (how far homes must be from streets and interior lot lines).
  • Easements (such as a pathway for power lines or roads).
  • Fees (or dues) for amenities and maintenance.
  • Rules regarding changing or voiding the covenants.
  • Rules about pets and other animals (for instance: no breeding for profit, no livestock, no unchained pets).
  • Regulations dealing with in-home businesses and home rentals.
  • Rules that limit tree-cutting
  • Clauses that dictate what type of fencing can be used, how a fence must be placed, or areas that forbid all types of fencing.
  • Clauses to reduce clutter on lots, such as prohibiting owners from storing a vehicle that doesn’t run within view of others, or parking a recreational vehicle or watercraft on the property.

Some restrictions limit the paint colors that can be used on a home’s exterior or if additions are forbidden.

Some might require that all homes have a certain type of siding. Some covenants might require you to use only fire retardant building materials.

Covenant Disclosure

Your real estate agent or the for sale by owner seller should give you a copy of a development’s restrictive covenants before you make an offer on the property. If restrictions are not offered, ask for them. If no one has a copy, go to the county courthouse and ask staff to find them for you–they should be included in public records.

Don’t be surprised after the sale, get the facts about a property early on so that you can eliminate it from your possible choices if the covenants include more restrictions than you can live with.

More Deed Restrictions

Don’t assume that a property is restriction-free just because it isn’t in a development. There may be deed restrictions, rules, and prior agreements to use that are recorded on an individual deed. Go to your local courthouse and read the current deed before you make an offer.

  • Look for any statements that give others the right to use the property, such as easement rights.

If statements reference a prior deed, look it up and read it.

Restrictions come in many forms!

Along with your covenants, comes a property maintenance code that also refers to some restrictions for your lot. These restrictions are on a Township level and may include grass length, tree removal, etc. This can be obtained from your Tacoma Hill Homeowners Association (THHA) or the Meridian Township clerks office.

Interpreting Restrictions

A real estate attorney can answer any questions you might have about confusing clauses in deeds and restrictive covenants.

Zoning Issues

Restrictive covenants have nothing to do with zoning or governmental regulations. Those are separate issues that could affect the way you use the property.