Standards and Maintenance Guidelines

 

All properties, not owned by The Ridings at Cream Ridge Homeowners Association, Upper Freehold Township or Monmouth County in the community are expected to adhere to the standards and guidelines listed below. Any property found to be in non-compliance with the standards or guidelines listed below or performing property modifications without approval will be subject to daily fines.

Front Yard Landscaping Maintenance and Design
  • No Statues larger than 3 feet in height, excluding holiday decorations
  • Hardscape shall be softened with plants, shrubs and trees within 1 year of completion
  • Landscaping must be kept weed free, trimmed and well-maintained year round
  • Colors of landscaping and hardscaping must be neutral and be harmonious and match the aesthetic of the house and neighborhood
  • Lawns must be well kept, seeded, fertilized, and kept weed free
  • Mulch colors in planting beds shall be neutral in color
 
Home Repairs & Maintenance
  • Any aesthetic damage should be repaired within 60 days of occurrence
  • Homes should be clear of any stains, dirt or mold on the exterior
  • Property should be clear debris
  • Rust/Iron Staining must be cleaned and removed regularly
  • Homeowners are held responsible for all repairs to roadway and sidewalks related to construction on their lot
 
Driveways
  • Driveways shall be maintained, resealed regularity if asphalt and kept smooth and level.
  • No gravel driveways or parking areas are permitted.
 
Mailboxes
  • Mailboxes shall be kept clean, with their numbers or lettering kept legible and fully affixed and free of damage.
 
Holiday/Seasonal Decorations and Lights
  • Holiday lights are permitted to be displayed 45 days before and 45 days after a holiday.
  • No inflatable decorations are to be displayed
  • No Synchronized Music/Light shows are permitted
  • No Offensive or Distasteful Decorations are permitted
 
Signage 
  • All signs or banners displayed, and visible from the road are prohibited except for the following:
    • Special Event Signage
      • Signs for personal events, such as Birthdays, Graduations or other personal Celebrations may be displayed 15 days before event and within 15 days after the event.
      • Event signage is considered a personal event, not affiliated with any business or political organization.
    • Real Estate Signage
      • One For Sale sign may be displayed on the front lawn of the property.
      • Temporary Open House signs may be displayed only on the day of an open house.

 

Trees
  • No removal of trees over 25 feet without approval from design committee and compensating planting plan
  • Shade Trees throughout neighborhood are required as noted in master site plan documents.
 
Exterior Façade
  • Shutters should be harmonious with the architecture of the existing house regarding the style, size, material and color of the shutters. Shutters must be equal, or approximately equal by standard manufacturers’ standards, in length to the height of the window
    • Removal of existing shutters without replacements must be submitted for review and approval.
    • A change in shutter style, size, or color will require design committee approval.
    • No application is required for the replacement of existing approved shutters with shutters that are the same in style and color.
  • Doors shall be compatible in style with the architecture of the house. Storm screen doors must not distract from or alter the appearance of the house. Doors shall be of quality material and workmanship, and shall be consistent in proportion, detailing and style. The style, material, color, detailing and installation of a new or replacement door must be consistent with that of existing doors.
    • Doors and doorframes should be clad or painted with a color consistent with other doors, windows and house colors.
    • Wood doors must be protected with stain or paint to prevent an uneven weathered appearance.
    • No application is required for the replacement of existing doors, or storm/screen doors, that are similar in type, style and color
  • Garage Doors shall be compatible in style with the architecture of the house.
    • Exact garage door replacements do not require an application
    • Only a single row of windows is permitted.
    • Changes in the materials used, style, including window decorations will require an application.
 
Accessory Buildings
  • Accessory buildings shall be defined as a structure used for outdoor living or storage space; this does not to include play-sets, trampolines or other temporary structures. ·
  • Accessory buildings must match look and aesthetic and materials of primary residence and other accessory buildings ·
  • Height of accessory structures shall not exceed 15 feet or one story ·
  • Detached Garages are not allowed
  • No more than 2 buildings or free-standing structures or extensions to the primary structure shall be allowed
  • Uses Limited to (a maximum of one of each structure type per lot):
    • Sheds not to exceed 250 square feet
    • Pavilions with no more than 3 fixed walls encompassing the entire building.
    • Pergolas with no fixed solid walls
    • Gazebos with no fixed solid walls
    • Covered Roof Extensions attached to the primary building with no more than 2 fixed walls 
 
Recreational Courts
  • No permanent sports courts larger than 15 x 60 ft are permitted
  • Permanent sports courts are only in the rear of the house
  • Basketball hoops or equivalent permitted at the rear of the driveway
 
Landscape and Hardscape Lighting
  • Lighting shall be low voltage and shall not be directed at a neighboring property ·
  • Limit on placement and quantity of lighting
  • No Freestanding lights mounted higher than 6 feet
  • All landscape lighting should be warm or soft white in color
 
Fences
  • Fences may be up to 5 feet high and must be vertical picket
  • Shared fence connections with neighboring properties are approved ONLY if the neighboring property provides written approval
  • Privacy fences are not permitted 
  • Chain link fences are not permitted
 
Property Markers
  • Visible property markers such as stakes, or flags are only permitted prior to or during any construction or landscaping.
  • Cables, strings or other material encompassing the entire or portions of the property are not permitted except for prior to or during any construction or landscaping.
 
Backup Generators