NOTE: the Deed Restriction Committee has received an unusually large number of submissions the last two months and approvals are running a little behind. It will take 2 to 3 weeks to receive a response.
July 28, 2020
July 28, 2020
DEED RESTRICTION COMMITTEE
What is the Deed Restriction Committee?
The Deed Restriction Committee ("DRC") was established by the Oak Forest Bylaws and prescribed by the original Deed Restrictions. Its purpose is to review all construction and renovation plans prior to their submission to the City of Houston for the City's permitting process.
The DRC also receives and reviews complaints from Oak Forest neighbors regarding Deed Restriction violations and the DRC does its best to help those neighbors find the right solution.
Who is on the DRC?
The DRC is a committee of volunteers who are members of OFHA, its Chair is the 1st Vice President of the OFHA Board, and the committee members usually have prior experience reviewing building plans and may be engineers or builders themselves. It is not necessary to have experience reviewing building plans to join this Committee because there are other tasks to be handled! Join this Committee by emailing planreview@ofha.org.
Where and how to submit your plans:
Please submit the following items to planreview@ofha.org:
The Deed Restriction Committee will review your submission within 2 - 3 weeks and either
a) send you an approval letter,
b) request more information, or
c) reject the plans.
If your plans are rejected, the DRC may request modification of your plans and will require a subsequent resubmission of the revised plans to planreview@ofha.org. The resubmission must be approved prior to beginning construction.
ARCHITECTURAL PLAN SUBMISSION INFORMATION
What type of building project must be approved by the DRC?
The OFHA's DRC submission and review process is required for:
When in doubt about whether or not to submit your project for DRC review, just email planreview@ofha.org and ask.
Safety first! Just like the old construction adage, "measure twice and cut once," it is much easier to submit your plans to the Deed Restriction Committee and have an approval in hand than to have a neighbor take issue with a building project they see going up above their fence line (which has already cost you thousands of dollars at that point) and reporting you to the City, and to subsequently receive a Stop Work Order from the City of Houston. This happens.
What happens if I do not submit my plans for approval to OFHA's Deed Restriction Committee?
If your project was not submitted for approval and was begun, then is found to be in violation of setback lines, building lines or other criteria described in the Deed Restrictions for your Section of Oak Forest, the City can issue a Stop Work Order and require your project be torn down, removed, changed, and even a poured slab removed, in order to comply with Deed Restrictions and City Ordinances. A heavy fine can also be imposed daily until the required changes are made.
What is the purpose of submitting plans?
Safety first! There are many reasons - too many to list here - why you should submit your plans prior to beginning a new construction project or addition to your home.
Once again: how do I submit my plans?
For review and approval, please submit the following to: planreview@ofha.org:
For more information, consult your Section's Deed Restrictions at Deed Restrictions, call the OFHA hotline at 713-688-6342, or send your plans to planreview@ofha.org. Plan review may take 2-3 weeks.
We welcome questions!
NOTE:
1) Plans not submitted for review to DRC prior to City of Houston plan approval or prior to construction will be red tagged (construction will be halted) until the plans have been reviewed.
2) If your plans are not approved after review by DRC:
a) you will receive an email describing the nature of the objections to the plans with a request for revision of the plans; or
b) any nonconforming building found to have been completed must be remedied prior to resubmission of plans before another review for approval by the DRC can commence.
The Deed Restriction Committee ("DRC") was established by the Oak Forest Bylaws and prescribed by the original Deed Restrictions. Its purpose is to review all construction and renovation plans prior to their submission to the City of Houston for the City's permitting process.
The DRC also receives and reviews complaints from Oak Forest neighbors regarding Deed Restriction violations and the DRC does its best to help those neighbors find the right solution.
Who is on the DRC?
The DRC is a committee of volunteers who are members of OFHA, its Chair is the 1st Vice President of the OFHA Board, and the committee members usually have prior experience reviewing building plans and may be engineers or builders themselves. It is not necessary to have experience reviewing building plans to join this Committee because there are other tasks to be handled! Join this Committee by emailing planreview@ofha.org.
Where and how to submit your plans:
Please submit the following items to planreview@ofha.org:
- Survey with clearly marked setback and building lines
- Complete plans showing the scope of project and where the addition or new construction project lies within setback and building lines
- Elevation
- Anything else you feel is important to show the scope of your project
The Deed Restriction Committee will review your submission within 2 - 3 weeks and either
a) send you an approval letter,
b) request more information, or
c) reject the plans.
If your plans are rejected, the DRC may request modification of your plans and will require a subsequent resubmission of the revised plans to planreview@ofha.org. The resubmission must be approved prior to beginning construction.
ARCHITECTURAL PLAN SUBMISSION INFORMATION
What type of building project must be approved by the DRC?
The OFHA's DRC submission and review process is required for:
- all new construction projects
- modifications of or additions to existing homes
- additions of pools or outdoor kitchens
- construction of detached buildings
- a garage addition
- any permanent structure in your back yard or front yard
When in doubt about whether or not to submit your project for DRC review, just email planreview@ofha.org and ask.
Safety first! Just like the old construction adage, "measure twice and cut once," it is much easier to submit your plans to the Deed Restriction Committee and have an approval in hand than to have a neighbor take issue with a building project they see going up above their fence line (which has already cost you thousands of dollars at that point) and reporting you to the City, and to subsequently receive a Stop Work Order from the City of Houston. This happens.
What happens if I do not submit my plans for approval to OFHA's Deed Restriction Committee?
If your project was not submitted for approval and was begun, then is found to be in violation of setback lines, building lines or other criteria described in the Deed Restrictions for your Section of Oak Forest, the City can issue a Stop Work Order and require your project be torn down, removed, changed, and even a poured slab removed, in order to comply with Deed Restrictions and City Ordinances. A heavy fine can also be imposed daily until the required changes are made.
What is the purpose of submitting plans?
Safety first! There are many reasons - too many to list here - why you should submit your plans prior to beginning a new construction project or addition to your home.
- OFHA and the City of Houston want to ensure there is adequate drainage for each lot and that a new building does not create a flooding problem for neighbors where there was none before.
- Builders are held to a certain standard so the integrity of the neighborhood is maintained. Oak Forest's Deed Restrictions do not allow subdivision of single family lots, duplexes or multi-family dwellings may not be built in Oak Forest, builders are discouraged from building multiple homes on one block or in one small area which look identical, and many other things.
- Each Section's Deed Restrictions are slightly different and a few are markedly different. Setback lines and building line requirements differ also from Section to Section.
- 2 story houses only are allowed
- 2 car garages only are allowed
- Your corner lot may have different build lines and setback lines than the interior lots on your block.
Once again: how do I submit my plans?
For review and approval, please submit the following to: planreview@ofha.org:
- Survey with clearly marked setback and building lines
- Complete plans showing the scope of project and where the addition or new construction project lies within setback and building lines
- Elevation
- Anything else you feel is important to show the scope of your project
For more information, consult your Section's Deed Restrictions at Deed Restrictions, call the OFHA hotline at 713-688-6342, or send your plans to planreview@ofha.org. Plan review may take 2-3 weeks.
We welcome questions!
NOTE:
1) Plans not submitted for review to DRC prior to City of Houston plan approval or prior to construction will be red tagged (construction will be halted) until the plans have been reviewed.
2) If your plans are not approved after review by DRC:
a) you will receive an email describing the nature of the objections to the plans with a request for revision of the plans; or
b) any nonconforming building found to have been completed must be remedied prior to resubmission of plans before another review for approval by the DRC can commence.