This page presents various documents and links which are both public and important to the operation of the Cove Gardens Homeowners Association, Inc.

The “foundational documents” consist of the Articles of Incorporation (on file with the Florida Secretary of State), the Bylaws (filed in the Official Record of Escambia County, Fla.) and the Covenants, Conditions, Restrictions and Easements (CCRs, also filed in the Official Record of Escambia County, Fla.). 

The three documents provide for the governance of the homeowner’s association. The CCR is legally binding on all lots in Cove Gardens, particularly the detailed restrictions presented in Article III, Section 3.4 (pages 8-12 in the CCR document) and the authorizing covenant for the association to impose assessments to pay the expenses of the HOA (including the cost of maintenance of common property and street lighting).

Also important to the ability of the HOA to fulfill its mission of ensuring the appearance of the neighborhood is “harmonious,” is the application form used by home owners to gain approval of changes in architecture and landscaping. This form goes to the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) for approval.

Important to members of the association, but not in the realm of public records, are the minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and the HOA annual meetings. They are available upon request by owners of property in Cove Gardens. In the same category of non-public documents are the financial statements of the association. A form is presented below for Cove Gardens property owners to request these records from Etheridge Property Management, the association’s professional property manager and custodian of records.

Finally, all HOAs are required to abide by the Florida statutes governing homeowners associations, found in Chapter  720 of the Florida Statutes.  These provisions, where they conflict with the association’s foundational documents, supercede the association’s documents.  A link to those laws is included below.