Minimum 24 inches above curb measured at the top of the street curb directly in front of the home and the center finished floor elevation of the unit. Builder/Homeowner is responsible for installing the five foot wide sidewalk, beginning four feet from back of the street curb at the front and or side of the lot. Required sidewalk heights: 4″ above curb on the home side, 3″ above the curb on the street side. 6″ X 6″ wire mesh should be used in all sidewalks.

Roof soffit and fascia may be vinyl. No other vinyl allowed.

All first floors living area ceiling heights must be a minimum of ten feet. Second floor living area ceiling heights must be a minimum of nine feet.

No variance.

Shutters must be proportionate in size to the window. Operable and tie back shutters are preferred. Shutters must have tie back hardware regardless if they are operable or not, and shall be constructed of wood or heavy plastic. All shutters must be submitted for approval. Shutters must be a traditional earth tone color.

No variance on front elevation of the home and exposed side windows. All windows that face the street or the side, when a corner lot, must have exterior grids. Bright Aluminum not allowed. Windows must be submitted for approval. Failure to submit for approval may result in removal if prior approval is not issued.

All beams must be wrapped with wood or cement board. No other products will be allowed.

No variance. Shingles must be architectural grade and earth tone. Roof mounted skylights on the front of a primary structure are prohibited. Ridge caps are preferred.

Garage door headers must be constructed of brick, wood, or cement board. Vinyl or stucco headers are prohibited. Front entry two car garages must have two doors. Single bay for two cars can only be used on alleys and auto courts. If a front entry garage is used the front of the garage must be set back a minimum of 10 feet from the face of the primary structure, excluding porches and stoops.

All front doors must be wood. Stain is preferred. If painted the color must be earth tone colored and must have prior approval. No bright painted doors are allowed. Metal clad and fiberglass doors are allowed on the side and rear of the residence only. The use of sliding glass doors is prohibited.

Chimneys shall be constructed of either brick or stucco. An arched copper metal chimney cover or arched design made of brick which matches the chimney brick is required.

Front porches are required. See guideline definition of porch. No variance.

Full architectural details are required for all decks and patios. Detailing of all patios and decks must be architecturally compatible with the home. Patios and decks shall be designed to serve as an extension of the house. Rails, pickets and underpinning must be painted white or to match the trim of the house. All deck flooring must be stained (light gray or color approved by NCC). Enclosed risers are required and must be painted.

Views to the underside of decks must be screened with underpinning (latticing or vertical slats, etc.) and/or landscape material large enough to provide screening upon installation. Decks more than 3’ above grade must have underpinning and plant materials.

Porch and covered entry stoop ceilings should be of wood bead board, v-groove or batten design with no visible perforation of joints.

Porch screening colors shall complement and blend with the house (Black or copper is preferred, green is not allowed). Aluminum framing and screen door may be allowed with prior approval by the NCC. Aluminum framing and screen door colors must be black or bronze only. No mill-finish aluminum will be allowed as a framing for a porch.

All houses must have a front porch or covered entry stoop. Decks, patios, and screened porches are allowed off the rear of the house.

Porches shall have a minimum projection of 8 feet. Covered entry stoops shall have a minimum front projection of 4 feet and a maximum projection of 6 feet. No porch shall exceed 12 feet in front projection. Porch floor treatments may include wood decking, brick, brick edged, and divided concrete, stone or tile. Composite materials for deck flooring is accepted, with approval of the NCC.

No Variance. All columns must be detailed on the drawings and submitted for approval showing size, style, and or taper. Fiberglass columns are discouraged.

The use of gutters is not required. If used, it is highly recommended that all down spouts extend below grade and shall be connected to a subsurface drain or pop-up drain or discharge directly into a rock bed. Discharge onto driveways/sidewalks is prohibited. Corner downspouts that are within 10ft from the front corner of the home must discharge into a rock bed that is a minimum of 24 inches wide or subsurface with a pop up valve. Beyond 10ft. from the front corner, the downspout can discharge directly onto the lawn. If there are landscape beds, the downspouts must be through the bed and can discharge to the lawn at the edge of the bed.

No variance. Historical color palette as approved by the NCC.

No fountains in the front yard are allowed unless shielded by a solid courtyard wall that fits with the architecture of the home and meets the guidelines.

Set back is from property line to the foundation edge.

Front: Must start building line at 17 feet from the front property line.

Side: To meet the City of Lake Charles side setback code requirement, the set back minimum is 6 feet from the foundation to side property line or greater depending on the design of the soffit width. In no case shall the eave line encroach into the five foot set back from the side property line.

Corner Lot side setback: 10 feet

Rear: Rear Ally loaded lots have a 25 feet setback from property line. Front loaded lots have a minimum rear set back of 15 feet.

No variance except as follows: Perimeter fencing is allowed on the side property line of homes that directly back up to an alley. Rear fencing on alley lots must stay outside the alley right-a-way or 9ft behind the curb. All exterior lots, fence must be a minimum of 3ft from side and rear property line. If fencing is requested the location must be submitted for approval. Front low profile fencing is allowed but must be submitted for approval with landscape plan.
Courtyard Fencing is allowed but must be brick, stucco, wrought iron, or a combination of, and must be submitted for approval.
Rear fencing to the water line is permitted on water lots. The fence must be a ‘rackable’ fence design to follow the slope of the land.

No Variance – refer to Architectural Guidelines, Site Standards

No Variance – refer to Architectural Guidelines, Site Standards

Straight entry is allowed but curved driveways are preferred and encouraged whenever possible, and must be shown on the site plan and approved by the NCC.

A minimum of 3% of the value of the lot and house must be spent on landscape plants, exclusive of the irrigation system and sod. All front yards must include a sprinkler system. All yards must be sodded, front, side, and rear. The tree value shall be included in the landscape budget. Zoysia grass is required.

Exterior Patio Areas near Gray Bayou: Exterior patios near the water’s edge must be submitted to the NCC for approval. Earth tone patio furniture is required. Water’s edge must be maintained by the property owner.