← HOA answers

Pioneer Heights

What the recorded documents actually say about Pioneer Heights in South Bend — fences, sheds, pools, pets, parking and the rest — with the part of the document each answer comes from.

12 homes have sold here in the last four years, which is why this neighborhood was compiled early.

Before you rely on this page

This covenant covers Lots 113 through 131 - Section Three, Part 2. Other sections of Pioneer Heights may have been recorded separately.

What you can build and change

Not stated

Fences

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Conditional

Sheds & outbuildings

A detached storage structure for lawn tools, toys or pool equipment has to be quality construction, kept in neat condition and blend with the established home, and the plans go to the architectural committee before anything is built. The committee can require screening around it. No trailer, tent, shack, barn or outbuilding may be used as a residence.

Paragraph 8 - Detached Buildings, with Paragraph 7 - Temporary Structures
Conditional

RVs, boats & trailers

Recreational vehicles, mobile homes, house trailers, boats, boat trailers, motor homes, camping trailers, snowmobiles and trucks may not be kept in open areas, and may not be parked on a street or roadway longer than seventy-two hours.

Paragraph 15 - Recreational Vehicles
Conditional

Swimming pools & hot tubs

Above-ground pools are not permitted. The covenant does not address in-ground pools directly, but anything built on a lot needs architectural approval first.

Paragraph 7 - Temporary Structures, with Paragraph 3 - Architectural Control Committee
Conditional

Exterior changes & additions

Nothing may be erected, altered or placed on a lot other than one single-family home of up to two and a half storeys and a private garage for no more than three cars, and no building may go up until the plans and specifications are approved in writing by the architectural committee. An exception needs the committee's unanimous written approval.

Paragraph 2 - Land Use and Building Type, with Paragraph 3 - Architectural Control
Conditional

Satellite dishes & antennas

The covenant states flatly that no satellite television dishes will be allowed. Federal rules on over-the-air reception devices limit how far a private covenant can restrict a satellite dish under one meter across on property within your own exclusive use and control, so ask the association how this one is handled.

Paragraph 6 - Nuisances
Not stated

Solar panels

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Conditional

Landscaping, trees & gardens

The side yard has to be planted with grass seed or sod within 120 days of the house being finished or occupied, whichever comes first. Final grading, landscaping and seeding cannot hinder drainage, and drainage swales and road ditches have to be left open rather than filled.

Paragraph 10 - Completion Date
Not stated

Mailboxes

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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How you can live here

Conditional

Pets

Dogs, cats and other household pets are allowed, as long as none are kept or bred commercially and none becomes a neighborhood nuisance or hazard. Livestock and poultry may not be kept.

Paragraph 12 - Livestock and Poultry
Not stated

Renting your home

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Not stated

Basketball hoops

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Not stated

Yard signs

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Conditional

Street parking

Driveways must be at least twelve feet wide and hard-surfaced for their full length and width - asphalt at least three inches thick or concrete at least four. Stone and cinder driveways are not allowed, and a circular drive must be at least eight feet wide. Recreational vehicles and trucks cannot be kept in open areas or left on the street more than seventy-two hours.

Paragraph 9 - Driveways, with Paragraph 15 - Recreational Vehicles
✗ Not allowed

Running a business from home

No commercial, business or professional office use may be carried on from a lot. The only exception written in is the developer's own use of one lot for sales and promotion.

Paragraph 6 - Nuisances
Not stated

Short-term rentals (Airbnb)

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Not stated

Vehicle repair in the driveway

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Conditional

Trash & recycling containers

No lot may be used as a dumping ground. Trash and garbage have to be kept in sanitary containers, and incinerators and storage equipment kept clean, sanitary and concealed so they are not unsightly.

Paragraph 13 - Garbage and Refuse Disposal
Not stated

Grilling & outdoor cooking

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Not stated

Clotheslines

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Not stated

Flags & flagpoles

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

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Not stated

Window coverings & decorations

We don’t have this one confirmed yet — we can ask the association and get you an answer before you commit to anything.

We can find out →

Where these answers come from

The documentProtective Restrictions, Covenants, Limitations and Easements for Pioneer Heights Subdivision, Section Three, Part 2
Recorded asPioneer Heights Subdivision, Section Three, Part 2, recorded 1988-01-08 as Document No. 8800525
How it was readThe recorded copy on file is a scan of paper with no digital text, so it was read by optical character recognition. That can misread individual words, which is why nothing on this page is presented as a direct quote.
The associationNo homeowners association is named. Plans go to the Pioneer Heights Architectural Control Committee, two people appointed by the developer, Milar Communities, Inc.

Ask us about Pioneer Heights

Tell us the question and we will get you the answer from the recorded documents.

We’ll get you an answer — usually the same day.