Chadwick Place Peoria, Illinois

Home/Home Projects

Before you build

Planning a home project

Most exterior work in Chadwick Place needs written approval from the Board of Trustees before construction begins. This page explains what needs approval, what to send, and what happens next.

Approval comes first — not afterwards

Both the Declaration of Restrictions and the Rules and Regulations require that plans be submitted and approved before any work starts. A finished structure that was never approved can be required to come out, at the owner's expense. If you are unsure whether your project qualifies, ask the Board first — it costs nothing and takes a few days.

Step one

Does your project need approval?

Yes — submit plans for these

  • Fences of any kind
  • Swimming pools (in-ground only; see below)
  • Decks, patios and porches
  • Spas and hot tubs
  • Gazebos, pergolas and similar structures
  • Retaining walls
  • Building additions and outbuildings
  • Solar panels
  • Satellite dishes over 20 inches across
  • Any substantial modification to an existing structure
  • Any change to the size, exterior materials or colors of an already-approved project

Sources: Declaration of Restrictions §3(n) and §16; Rules and Regulations 11 and 12.

Generally no — but read the rules

  • Routine repairs and like-for-like replacement
  • Interior work of any kind
  • Ordinary planting, gardens and landscaping upkeep
  • Satellite dishes 20 inches or smaller, placed at the rear of the lot and screened from view by landscaping
  • Children's pools that meet the size limits in Rule 10

Some things are prohibited outright rather than merely needing approval — storage sheds and dog houses unless concealed inside your garage (Rule 3), clotheslines (Rule 9), and above-ground swimming pools (Restrictions §3(i)).

Fences and pools

Fences carry an extra requirement

A fence can need the written approval of your neighbors as well as the Board. Which neighbors, and whether you need them at all, depends on what the fence is for and where it sits.

Is the fence there to enclose an in-ground swimming pool?

Pool fences are required by both Illinois law and the Association's rules, so the Restrictions treat them differently from ordinary yard fences.

Yes — pool fence

The Board can approve it on its own

Provided the fence is set back from the property line by at least ten percent of the width of your lot at that point, the Board may approve it without collecting neighbors' signatures. The pool's filter and circulating pump must sit inside the fence and be concealed from view.

No — any other fence

Every contiguous neighbor must agree, in writing

You need the Board's written approval and the written approval of every owner whose lot is contiguous to yours. Contiguous means lots to the sides, front, rear and corners — including lots that would touch yours but for a street in between.

Check the Board's own flow chart

The Board maintains a one-page decision chart covering fences and pools together. Open the flow chart (PDF) — and when in doubt about how it applies to your lot, ask before you order materials.

Step two

How to submit a project

  1. Put together your plans

    The Restrictions ask for building plans, specifications and a site plan. The site plan needs to show where the structure will sit on your lot and the elevations of the structure. Contractor drawings and product specification sheets are usually enough — you do not need an architect for a typical fence or deck. The Restrictions call for a minimum of two copies of the plans, and the reviewer may ask for samples of exterior materials before deciding.

    Useful to include: dimensions, materials and colors, height, distance to each property line, and a photo or sketch of the area as it is today.

  2. Collect neighbor approvals, if your fence needs them

    For any fence other than a pool fence, get written approval from every contiguous lot owner and include it with your submission. An email from each neighbor is fine — attach them all to your message.

  3. Email everything to the Board

    Send your plans to chadwickplhoa@gmail.com, or use the contact form and choose Home project approval. Include your address and a phone number so the Board can come back to you with questions.

  4. Wait for the Board's written decision

    The Restrictions give the reviewing party thirty days to approve or disapprove submitted plans. If neither approval nor disapproval is given within thirty days of receipt, the plans are deemed approved. Keep the Board's reply — it is your record that the work was authorized.

  5. Build to the plans you submitted

    Work has to be carried out in strict conformity with what was approved. Any change to size, exterior materials or colors during construction has to be approved in writing before you carry on. Keep the site as neat as practicable while you work, and finish within a reasonable period.

Worth knowing

Constraints that catch people out

Setbacks
No building, garage, enclosed porch, swimming pool or outbuilding may sit closer to the front lot line than the setback shown on the recorded plat, or closer to a side or rear line than ten percent of the lot's width or depth at that point. City zoning may require more.
Pools
Only in-ground pools are permitted. They must be enclosed by approved fencing and comply with applicable ordinances and building codes, with the filter and pump inside the fence and hidden from view.
Exterior materials
No wall board, aluminum siding, sheet metal, tar paper or roofing paper on exterior walls or roofs. Stone, brick, wood, vinyl and stucco-style materials are permitted. At least half of a residence's total exterior, excluding garage doors and windows, must be brick, stucco or another approved masonry product. No excessively bright colors.
Utility easements
No permanent buildings, structures or significant foliage may be placed on the utility easements shown on the recorded plat. Gardens, shrubs and landscaping that do not interfere with maintenance are fine.
Trees
Significant trees and foliage may not be removed without consent, unless they are dead, hazardous, or genuinely obstruct construction or an easement.
Excavated material
Soil and material dug out of a lot has to leave the subdivision rather than be spread or stockpiled, unless written permission is given.

Summarized from the Declaration of Restrictions for convenience. The recorded document governs.