How to Get Your HOA to Approve a New Exterior Paint Color

If you live in a master-planned community in the Valley, there is a good chance your HOA has rules about exterior paint colors. Painting without approval can lead to fines, or even a letter asking you to repaint.

The good news is that getting approval is usually simple if you know the steps. Here is what we tell our customers.

Step 1: Find Your HOA’s Color Rules

Start by checking your HOA’s website or management company portal. Look for documents called:

Architectural guidelines or design guidelines
Approved color palette or color schemes
Architectural change request or modification form

Many communities in Gilbert and Chandler have a set list of pre-approved color schemes. Each scheme usually includes a body color, a trim color and sometimes an accent color for doors or pop-outs.

Step 2: Check What Your Neighbors Have

Some HOAs do not let two homes next to each other, or directly across the street, use the same color scheme. Take a walk around your block and note the colors on the homes near you. This can save you from picking a scheme that gets rejected.

Step 3: Pick Your Colors in Real Light

Paint chips look very different indoors than they do on a sunny Arizona wall. Before you commit:

Get sample sizes of your top choices.
Paint large swatches on the north and south sides of your home.
Look at them at different times of day, especially midday and late afternoon.

Colors almost always look lighter outside in strong sun. Many homeowners end up choosing one shade darker than they first planned.

Step 4: Submit the Request

Most HOAs need a form with:

Your name, address and lot number
The brand, color name and color code for each color
Which part of the house gets each color (body, trim, doors, garage)
Sometimes a photo of your home or a sample chip

Approval can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on how often the committee meets. Plan ahead, especially if you want to paint in the busy fall or spring season.

Step 5: Do Not Start Until You Have It in Writing

It is tempting to get started once you hear “it should be fine.” Wait for the written approval. Keep a copy, and give one to your painter so everyone is working from the same color list.

How a Good Painter Helps

A painting crew that works in HOA neighborhoods all the time can make this easier. At Lozano’s Painting, we can:

Help you narrow down choices from your HOA’s approved list
Match exact color codes at the paint store
Paint test swatches on your walls
Make sure trim, doors and garage doors get the right color from the approved scheme

Our exterior painting service includes full prep, crack repair and two coats of UV-rated paint. We can also handle door painting and metal painting for gates and railings so everything matches.

Common HOA Mistakes to Avoid

Painting the front door a color not on the list. Many HOAs control door colors too.
Forgetting the garage door. It is often part of the approved scheme.
Changing block wall colors without asking. Shared walls can have their own rules.
Assuming the old color is still approved. Palettes change over time.

Ready to Refresh Your Home?

We paint homes in HOA communities all over Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa and the rest of the Valley. If you are not sure where to start, give us a call. We are happy to walk you through it.