Covenants & Design Review Board FAQs

One of the advantages to owning a Reston home is the protective covenants included in the Reston Deed of Dedication. When you purchased your property, you agreed to comply with the property covenants and so help to maintain the design standard that was established for Reston properties. For more than 30 years, Reston properties have retained their beauty and usefulness because property owners participate in the design review process. For any additional questions, contact the Covenants Staff at 703 435 6530. You can find the Design Guidelines by clicking here.

Covenants Process

How are violations found or reported?

Reston Association staff is only permitted to inspect lots for the following reasons (each explained below):

Resale Disclosure: Upon request by sellers, RA staff performs inspections to disclose violations upon transfer of property ownership as required by the Property Owners’ Association Act (POAA). While performing requested inspections for provision of POAA/Resale Disclosure documents, RA staff may also inspect adjacent properties connected by party walls or fences. Click here for more information on the resale process.

Formal Complaint: RA staff performs inspections as a result of written complaints from members. Click here to download a Complaint Form.
Cluster/Condominium Wide Inspection: RA staff also conducts cluster or condominium wide inspections, at the request of the cluster/condo association board.
Post DRB Inspection: Staff performs inspections either after notification of a completed approved project is submitted or after eighteen months after the date of the approval, whichever comes first, to check for compliance with conditions of approval for a submitted DRB application. Click here to download a Completion Conformance Form.

How are violations resolved?

An informal approach, without a Covenants Committee hearing, is preferred, with the association’s staff helping the property owner to identify a solution. Reston Association staff will begin a series of communications (usually in a letter) with the property owner to inform the owner about the violation(s), open a dialogue about potential remedies and follow through until the matter is resolved. However, if the violation is the result of a complaint the property will be scheduled for a hearing at the next Covenants Committee meeting which may occur no less than fifteen (15) days from the date of notification.

If no informal resolution is accomplished, a formal Covenants Committee hearing is held which allows the property owner, and known complainants, if any, to state their cases before a decision is made.

The committee can take one of three actions:

It may find that a violation of the Use and Maintenance Covenants exists and determine when it is to be remedied.
It may request further information and, when the information is received, will decide on the case.
It may dismiss the violation.

Determining Use and Maintenance violations involves judgment based on procedures and guidelines that have been developed over the years. To locate the Use of Maintenance Covenants, please click here.

What are the consequences if a property does not comply with the Use and Maintenance Covenants?

Violations will be reported in Disclosure Documents related to the sale of Reston property.

If the violation is not corrected, a Notice of Claimed Violation of Use of Property Covenant can be filed in the Fairfax County Land records.
In addition, violations can be referred to the Legal Committee of the Reston Association for further action that can include assessing fines, loss of community privileges, and/or filing suit against the owner.

Design Review Process

Who serves the DRB?

The DRB is comprised of nine (9) volunteer members who all Class A members of Reston Association. Six (6) members are architects/design professionals and three are lay members. The Reston Association Board of Directors appoints DRB members for 3-year terms after completing an interview process.

How often does the DRB meet?

A DRB Panel meets to review applications three (3) Tuesdays a month , except for the third Tuesday of the month (that is reserved for Full DRB Board meetings), holidays, and inclement weather. In order for an application to be reviewed at a DRB Panel meeting, the completed application must be scheduled at least one week in advance for one of the 9 available appointment times.

Can you explain how a DRB meeting is run?

Each Panel meeting of the DRB begins with allotted time for general member comments regarding the DRB process or other concerns not specifically related to a member’s property. Typically, Panel meetings begin at 5:30 p.m. Presentations are heard regarding applications scheduled in advance by the applicants. Presentations consist of the applicant’s explanation of the application and Affected Party comments (if applicable). The DRB members then discusses the information amongst themselves and provides a decision Some applications require more than 15 minutes (i.e., initial construction, major additions, or applications with Affected Parties), but the Design Review and Covenants staff make a concerted effort to keep on schedule. Following the presentations, the DRB reviews any remaining items on the agenda.

What should be included with my application?

A complete application includes a detailed written description of the proposed exterior modification or addition and specifications of the materials and colors (i.e., a manufacturer’s brochure, catalog cut, or detail sheets) as appropriate. The Design Guidelines for the proposal may also require elevation drawings to scale, a site plan showing its size and location, photographs of the existing condition, and signatures from neighboring property owners.

Click here to access the DRB Application.

Do all applications have to be reviewed by the DRB?

Certain types of applications such as swimming pools, screened porches, sunrooms, major additions, applications with affected parties, appeals, and applications from a builder, Condominium, Apartment, Cluster Association, Reston Association and Fairfax County must be reviewed by a DRB Panel or the Full Design Review Board. Most other applications (exterior color change, fences, lights, etc.)can be reviewed by the Covenants staff, either independently or in consultation with a member of the DRB.

What items require review and approval?

Currently, most exterior alterations or additions, no matter how large or small and including tree removal, require review and approval by either the Design Review Board (DRB) or the Reston Association (RA) Covenants staff prior to implementation.

Who is an “Affected Party”?

An Affected Party is a neighboring property owner whose property is materially affected by the application, who has officially registered in writing with the Reston Association as an Affected Party, and whose request has not been denied by the DRB. While an Affected Party cannot prevent the review of your application, the Affected Party has the right to speak at the DRB review, be informed of the DRB’s decision(s), and appeal the final decision within an established timeframe from the date of the decision letter.

Click here to access the Affected Party form.

Why do I have to notify my neighbors? And, whom do I have to notify?

Neighboring property owners, including cluster associations and the Reston Association, may be affected by additions or alternations to your property. As a means of communication about your proposal, you are required to notify at least three of those neighbors who will be most affected by your project. This requirement is established by the Reston Deed, not by staff. For certain types of applications, wider, additional notification may be required. Please show your neighbors all the plans and material that you will be submitting to the DRB for review when you approach them for their signatures. The signatures are required to attest that your neighbors have been notified of your project, not whether or not they approve of it.

For cluster or condominium associations (whether attached or detached), the applicant is required to notify at least two closest (most affected) neighboring property owners and an officer of the Cluster Board.

For single-family detached houses (which are not members of a sub-association), at least the three most affected neighboring property owners must be notified. In certain instances, you may be required to notify additional property owners.

If a neighboring property owner is unavailable or has concerns about signing the application, please contact the RA Covenants staff; an alternate means of notification may be required.

If I have an application scheduled for the DRB Panel review, should I attend the meeting?

Yes, you and possibly your contractor are encouraged to attend and present your application at a DRB Panel meeting. The covenants advisor assigned to your property will schedule the review of your application for a date and time.

How long do I have to wait for the DRB decision?

Final decision of applications reviewed at the consultation level will be released as soon as possible, usually within three days of the meeting. The final decision of applications reviewed by a DRB Panel or by the DRB Full Board, will be emailed or mailed one week after the meeting, as this allows the draft minutes to be circulated among all the DRB members for review and comment. Owners are not permitted to undertake any construction related to your project, including tree removal, until you are in receipt of the final written decision.

How long is the DRB decision valid?

Any person or entity obtaining approval from the DRB must begin construction or alterations within six (6) months and substantially complete the work within eighteen (18) months (unless otherwise stipulated in a decision).

Is it possible to have an application re-heard by the DRB if I (or an Affected Party) object to the decision?

An applicant may appeal, in writing, a decision made at the consultation level which would then be scheduled for review by a Panel of the DRB. An applicant (or Affected Party) may appeal, in writing, a decision made at the Panel level to the full DRB.

All appeals (from applicants or affected parties) must cite new relevant information which was not available to the original reviewers, or proof of a misapplication of a Design Guideline.

Click here to access the Appeal form.