Fall Is Here, Time to Give Your Landscaping Some Attention

Fall is finally here and the heat of summer is a thing of the past. Now is the time to address issues you may have had with your landscaping during the summer. Some of us have burned out spots in our lawns due the lack of rain and the intense sun of the summer. This could be due to sprinklers not being adjusted correctly or not working at all. Now is the time to correct these issues.

Watering restrictions also make watering a challenge, but it’s not impossible to keep your landscaping alive. Our Austin water restrictions (http://www.austintexas.gov/department/water-restrictions) do allow you to keep your lawn watered once per week. In fact, we recommend that you water twice in the same day – once, say at 2 a.m., and then again at 9 p.m., the same day of your watering day. This amount of watering will keep your lawn alive, though not thriving. See our lawn and landscaping compliance tips on our website blog Spring Lawn and Landscape Compliance Tips.

Remember that our DCCRs (Sections 3.19 and 3.20) require homeowners to keep their lots neat and tidy in appearance. Lawns must be kept mowed, edged, and free of weeds and trash. Planters and beds must be kept free of weeds, leaves, and other debris. Some latitude is permitted for seasonal leaf shedding. Shrubs and trees must be kept trimmed and attractive. Any dead foliage or limbs must be removed promptly. Nothing on an Owner’s Lot must be allowed to become overgrown or unmaintained. Owners with xeriscaping are reminded that “low-maintenance” does not mean “no-maintenance.” Xeriscaped beds must be equally maintained, edged, and kept free of weeds, leaves, and other debris. 

Sufficient water must be applied to the landscaping, in accordance with any mandatory watering schedule in effect, to maintain the sod and plantings on the Lot. Landscape irrigation systems must be kept in good working order. Sod must not be allowed to die due to lack of water. Bare spots are not allowed, although some latitude is permitted in heavily shaded yards where sod is difficult to grow. In this case, it may be more attractive to create a bed and to mulch or use shade tolerant plants. Be aware that construction of new beds requires an application to and review by the Architectural Review Committee.

Also, more information is available in our Frequently Asked Questions for Mowing and Landscaping section on our website.

Good luck with your efforts to improve the looks of our neighborhood in the coming months.

Regards, Your HOA Board of Directors

Page Revision History:

  • 2021-03-02 (jmw): Corrected permalink to CoA watering restrictions.
  • 2020-04-23 (jmw): Page moved to WordPress platform.

Architectural Review Committee Guidelines

Our community covenants state that improvements to residences shall not be started until a plan is submitted to and approved by the Architectural Review Committee. What needs ARC approval? Things that you add or change to the outside of your property. Examples include new landscaping, decks, sheds, pools, house additions, solar panels, and house painting or roofing if it’s a different color or material. The only exceptions are routine maintenance – replacing your fence or deck, or driveway as long as the materials, color, and location are the same as what is currently installed in your home. Additionally, all of our DCCR’s are available in the Governing Documents library.

 In order to provide some guidelines, here are some of the items that the ARC frequently encounters:

  • Maintenance of existing landscaping does not require architectural review.
  • All new or changed landscaping requires architectural review. This includes: new trees, planting beds, vegetable gardens, brick and rock borders, fencing, fountains, ponds, and lighting that shines beyond your property lines.
  • Professionally installed irrigation systems do not require architectural review. Please be positive of your property line prior to installing.

Basketball Goals Guidelines:

  • The goal must be positioned a maximum of 8 feet from the garage door.
  • The goal must be facing on the property in such a manner that errant balls will fall beyond the backboard into the yard of the resident owner of the goal, and not onto the neighboring property.
  • The goal itself must be kept well maintained.
  • Temporary or moveable goals are allowed but must not be left in the street or blocking the sidewalk when not in use

Satellite Dishes: Small (18”) satellite dishes are automatically approved for usage in Canyon Creek.  However, you must make a written application of the location of where the dish will be placed on the property.

  • Preferred placement for Satellite dishes are locations where they are not visible from the street in front of the house. These locations include:
    • Mounted below the fence line on the side or back of a home and not visible from the public thoroughfare(s).
    • Rear roof.
    • Behind the chimney
  • With south-facing homes, placement may require some street-side visibility. In these cases, the ARC will work with you to find the placement that minimizes street-side exposure such as:
    • Below the fence in the back of the house
    • High on the back side of the roof near the ridge line
    • Places blocked by vegetation, roof gables, chimneys or other visual impediments
  • Exterior attachment cables should be attached in a neat fashion, as far from the public thoroughfares as necessity allows
  • Please note that most satellite dish installers are contractors and will put the dish in a place most convenient for them and that this placement frequently is not acceptable. Please get ARC approval before installing the dish!

Where is the ARC request form?  The Architectural Review Committee Approval Request Form is located at:

Architecture Review Form

Residents can also send email messages to board@canyoncreek.net to reach all the directors at once. 

The CCHOA property manager Denise Johnston can be contacted at (512) 834-3900, or Manager@canyoncreek.net

Your ARC Committee members are:

Page Revision History:

  • 2020-04-23 (jmw): Page moved to WordPress platform.

Canyon Creek Sign Policy Clarification and Guidance

Guidance on Signage in Canyon Creek

The board would like to clarify our community’s policy on signage. While we may have changed management companies, there have been no changes to our sign compliance regime. If a notice has been received in error, please contact the management company or the board to express your concern.

  • In the interest of improving neighborhood security, the Site Inspector will not cite for unobtrusive signs announcing homes protected by an alarm company.
  • In the interest of school spirit, the Site Inspector will not cite for signs in support of students participating in school activities (band, sports, etc.)
  • Display of political signs is subject to Texas Property Code – Display of Political Signs, Section 202.009. The display time period is: “An applicable election period consists of the time period commencing 90 days before the date of the election to which a sign relates and continuing until the 10th day after such election date.”
  • Signs marketing property are permitted on the owners Lot under the DCCRs, section 3.3. (i.e. “For Sale” signs)
  • All other signs are prohibited under the DCCRS.