Yes. Most property changes require approval of the OFL Architecture Review Committee. The OFL Covenants (Article IX) require that if you are making any changes to your property that you submit a plan before doing so. The plan should be delivered to the Architecture Review Committee for review and approval. The Board has established several architecture policies to promote harmony and enjoyment for all OFL residents.

People often ask when do I need to submit a plan and when do I not need to do so? Many changes will obviously have no problems being approved but the Covenants clearly state any change should be reviewed. The best action is to submit a plan on any change no matter how minor it seems to be. Best to be safe than sorry.

No. The OFLPOA Covenants (Article IX – Recreational Facilities) clearly state that there shall be no above ground swimming pools under any circumstances. Small, kid’s inflatable ‘wading pools’ have been around for years and are allowed to be up during the summer. Wading pools are usually small (under two feet in height and no more than eight to ten feet across) and obviously a temporary recreational facility.

The Board has defined what will be considered an ‘above ground pool’ in regards to the Covenant restriction. The City of Bloomington considers any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing that is designed to hold water over 24 inches deep to be a swimming pool. The Board feels that this is a good criterion and will use the same definition for an above ground pool. Any above ground pool that can contain water over 24 inches deep is not in compliance with the OFLPOA Covenants. It does not matter how much water is actually in the pool. It is what the pool by design is capable of holding that is used as the criteria.

It depends, and only for a very short period of time. The OFL Covenants (Article IX – Parking) restrict the parking of trailers of all types on the street or on the lot in the Old Farm Lakes subdivision for more than 24 hours. The Board realizes that homeowners with recreational vehicles or trailers need some time to load and unload the vehicle or trailer, so the vehicle or trailer is allowed to be on-site for a day or two for this purpose. If the vehicle or trailer is on-site longer than this, the Board will request for the vehicle or trailer to be removed.

According to City of Bloomington ordinances, at no time can anyone sleep or stay in such vehicles or trailers while on the street or on a lot. The same guideline is true for boat trailers and utility trailers.

Yes, there are parking restrictions for trucks.  The OFLPOA Covenants (Article IX – Parking) address parking in the OFL subdivision and state ”No trailers, trucks, recreational vehicles, boats or other motor vehicles except passenger cars shall be parked on the streets of this development overnight for more than one night. No trailers, trucks, recreational vehicles, snowmobiles or other motor vehicles except passenger cars shall be parked on any lot in this development for more than 24 hours unless said vehicle is parked in a garage.”. What is specifically meant by ‘truck’ is not spelled out in the Covenants.

Since the Covenants were written in 1987, what people use as passenger vehicles has gone through many changes – now pickup trucks and vans are regularly used as passenger vehicles. The Board feels vehicles larger than a full size pickup truck or full size van are vehicles association members would not like to see regularly parked on a lot or in the street in the OFL subdivision. Therefore, for the purpose of enforcing Article IX, concerning parking, the Board of Directors has defined a ‘truck’ to be any vehicle larger than a full size pickup truck or full size van.

The OFL Covenants (Article IX – Signs) state that no billboards or advertising signs are allowed in the subdivision, except those permitted by City ordinance, and the usual contractor/real estate signs, election signs and promotional signs put up by the OFL Homeowners Association. The Board asks that all allowable signs be placed in homeowner’s yard for only short periods of time. Signs should not be placed on the parkway or common property. City ordinance regarding signs also call for limited displaying of such signs as well as the size and placement of such signs.

Business advertising signs, other than the exception listed above, are not allowed in the subdivision.

The OFL Covenants (Article IX – Signs) state advertising signs may be displayed in yards as allowed by City Code. Homeowners may display a sign that advertises the company doing work in their home during the repairs or construction and for a few days after the work has completed.

• Contractor Signs – display only while the construction is occurring at the property
• Election Signs – display only during appropriate election time, remove immediately after election

Yes. City ordinances require pet owners to keep their pets on leashes and to pick up the waste from their pets. Many very responsible OFL pet owners do so diligently. But unfortunately some don’t. Additionally, some pet owners allow cats, as well as dogs, to roam the neighborhood or to be off-leash while walking with their owner.

Some pet owners, even when they have their pet on leash, allow the pet to go into neighbor’s yards where they urinate on the plants and grass. Please respect the property of your neighbors and their right to feel safe when outdoors by keeping your pets on leash and controlling where they do their business.

People walking pets need to be considerate of others:

• Pets (both cats and dogs) must be on leash when not on your own property
  • City law requires pets to be on a leash
• Pets must always be controlled by their owner so as not to frighten or intimidate others using the common property
• Pets should be kept off adjoining private property
• Pet owners must immediately pick up after their pets on the common property
• City law requires pet owners to pick up after their pets
• Bags of pet waste should be disposed of properly
  • Most pet owners do and that is greatly appreciated

No. Open fires are not allowed on common property. Open Fires on common property are a liability to the Association and homeowners, therefore, the Board has voted to not to allow open-pit fires on common property. This includes all common property: the grassy area between the lakes and sidewalk, the open area between the lakes, the open lots by the spillway, the playground area, and the berm along Oakland Avenue.


All open fires should be reported to the Bloomington Fire Department.