DESIGN REVIEW

Planning a Project?

A friendly guide to the Willowbrook Design Standards and how to get your project approved.

Willowbrook is a beautiful neighborhood, and part of keeping it that way is making sure exterior improvements fit the community's overall look and feel. Many changes to the outside of your home or lot require written approval from the board before any work begins. It is a simple process, and this page walks you through it.

Getting approval protects your investment and your neighbors' investment, and it keeps the community cohesive and welcoming for everyone. Most applications are straightforward, and the board works to turn decisions around quickly.

One important note: HOA approval is about community standards and is entirely separate from any city or county building permit you may also need. You are responsible for securing both. When in doubt, check with the City of Delaware Building Department as well as submitting your HOA application.

Ask AI

Not sure if your project is allowed?

Describe your project and get a plain-English read on whether it is likely approved, worth a conversation, or not allowed, with the standard that applies.

Ask AI is a helper, not an approval. It does not replace submitting a design review application or any city permit you may need. Answers are highly accurate but not 100 percent, so there can be a discrepancy now and then. When in doubt, submit your application and let the board confirm.

How to apply

The process has four steps. Most homeowners complete it in a single sitting.

  1. Put together your application materials. You will need: a site plan (an overhead, survey-style drawing of your lot showing existing and proposed improvements), an elevation plan (photos or drawings showing the side view of the project), the proposed materials and colors, the roof style and material if applicable, the siding material if applicable, the distance from the nearest property line, and a short written description of what you are doing.
  2. Submit through the CPS resident portal. Upload your materials at portal.cpscolumbus.com along with the $25 application fee. CPS (Capital Property Solutions) is our management company and handles all submissions.
  3. The board reviews and issues a decision in writing. You will receive an approval or denial by email. Under our current rules, a decision requires three of the five board members to approve or decline. Verbal conversations are not approvals.
  4. Once approved, get moving within the window. Work must be completed within 45 days of materials arriving on site. Noise-generating work should happen after 7:30 AM and before sunset.

Application fee

Applications are $25 each, paid to the management company that processes them. See the FAQ for why there is a fee.

The Willowbrook Design Standards

Each standard below sets the conditions for a particular type of improvement. Your approval letter will reference the ones that apply to your project. Click any standard to read a plain-English summary.

Each standard now includes quick guidance on what tends to get approved, what needs a conversation first, and what is not allowed. This is a guide, not a guarantee. Your written approval is what counts.

WDS-01. Gardens
Vegetable gardens, flower beds, and raised beds belong in the rear yard, set back 5 feet from the property line, and no larger than 16 by 8 feet (or 8 by 8 square). Borders may be up to 18 inches tall and may include optional animal mesh. Stakes up to 5 feet are allowed in white, green, or natural tones.
Likely approved
  • A 10 by 6 ft raised vegetable bed in the back yard, 5 ft from the fence line, with a natural wood border.
  • A flower bed with an 18-inch stone border and green tomato stakes along the rear of the yard.
Worth a conversation
  • A garden right at the 5-foot setback line where the survey measurement is unclear.
  • Animal mesh that extends above 18 inches to keep deer out (will need board review on height).
Not allowed
  • A raised bed in the front yard or side yard visible from the street.
  • A garden larger than 16 by 8 ft, or stakes painted bright colors like red or blue.
WDS-02. Exterior Colors
All exterior surfaces must use earth tones. Metallic, chrome, fluorescent, and neon finishes are not allowed. List your specific colors in the application. Exterior bulbs should be white or soft white (seasonal holiday lighting is excepted).
Likely approved
  • Repainting your house in a warm gray, sage green, or tan with a dark brown trim.
  • Replacing a white front door with a deep navy or forest green (earth-tone family, muted).
Worth a conversation
  • A soft charcoal or slate exterior that reads as dark but is within the earth-tone range.
  • A shed or fence painted a bold terracotta (may depend on how it coordinates with the house).
Not allowed
  • Bright white, bright yellow, or any color with a metallic, chrome, or neon finish.
  • A front door painted hot pink or turquoise, even as an accent.
WDS-03. Driveways and Pavers
Driveways may be concrete, asphalt, or brick and stone pavers. Extensions must match the existing driveway surface and are for street-legal vehicles only. Boats, campers, and RVs may not be stored on driveway extensions. Sport courts require a 10-foot setback and may not have permanent lighting.
Likely approved
  • Adding a concrete pad extension that matches your existing concrete driveway, used for a second car.
  • A half-court basketball slab set 10 feet from the property line, with a portable hoop and no permanent lighting.
Worth a conversation
  • A paver extension that uses a slightly different stone style from the existing driveway (board will weigh whether it visually matches).
  • A sport court closer than 10 feet to the property line due to a narrow lot (possible variance territory).
Not allowed
  • Parking a boat, camper, or RV on a driveway extension, even temporarily as a regular practice.
  • Permanent in-ground lighting along the court perimeter.
WDS-04. Decks
Decks cannot extend into the street setback. When the deck is raised, skirting or landscaping is required underneath, and the space below may not be used for storage. The wood finish should match the home.
Likely approved
  • A ground-level back deck stained to match the home's trim, with no storage underneath.
  • A raised deck with wood lattice skirting painted to match the house.
Worth a conversation
  • A deck that is elevated more than 7 feet (finished flooring required below at that height).
  • A wraparound deck that extends close to the side of the house toward the street (setback check needed).
Not allowed
  • Using the space beneath a raised deck for storing lawn equipment, bikes, or bins.
  • A deck that extends past the front plane of the house into the street setback area.
WDS-05. Fences
Fences must be located behind the rear plane of the house. They may sit on the property line or be set back at least 24 inches. The finished (good) side must face outward toward neighbors, and gates must swing inward.
Likely approved
  • A 4-ft wood privacy fence along the rear and side property lines, good side facing neighbors, gate swinging inward.
  • A vinyl fence set on the property line behind the rear plane of the house, with utility access routed around it.
Worth a conversation
  • A fence that would sit less than 4 feet from a neighbor's existing fence (board will check the 4-ft clearance rule and may require a shared plan).
  • A fence where the property line is uncertain and a survey has not been done yet.
Not allowed
  • Any fence that extends forward of the rear plane of the house (including a side-yard fence that wraps to the front yard).
  • A fence with the rough/unfinished side facing your neighbor.
WDS-06. Playsets
Playsets must be wood or composite look-alike, placed in the rear yard with a 3-foot setback at full swing arc. Maximum height is 12 feet. Playsets may not be used for storage, and any attached tarps or covers must be kept clean and in good condition.
Likely approved
  • A cedar swing set with a slide, placed in the back yard with 3 feet of clearance from the property line at the widest swing point.
  • A composite-wood play structure under 12 feet tall with a covered play area kept clean and tidy.
Worth a conversation
  • A playset that reaches close to 12 feet due to a tower or climbing wall (board will measure overall height).
  • A playset where the swing arc comes close to the 3-foot setback line when swinging fully.
Not allowed
  • A plastic or metal playset (must be wood or composite look-alike).
  • Hanging tarps or covers that are dirty, torn, or discolored and not maintained.
WDS-07. Home Businesses
Business signage must follow local zoning and requires board approval. Signs must be earth tones. The business should not generate traffic, noise, or delivery activity beyond what is normal for a residential neighborhood.
Likely approved
  • A small earth-tone yard sign for a home daycare that meets city zoning sign rules, with no unusual delivery or client traffic.
  • Running a quiet home office or consulting business with no signage changes and no increase in parking activity.
Worth a conversation
  • A business that brings a few daily client visits (board will evaluate whether the traffic level stays within residential norms).
  • A sign that is on the larger end of what local zoning allows (board will weigh size and appearance).
Not allowed
  • A sign with a bright, non-earth-tone color like bright red, yellow, or white.
  • A business that generates regular delivery truck visits, customer parking along the street, or noise that differs from a normal residential day.
WDS-08. Fire Pits
Fire pits must be in the rear yard, at least 15 feet from the property line and 25 feet from any structure. A surrounding wall up to 18 inches is allowed. Only wood fires are permitted, and fires may never be left unattended.
Likely approved
  • A ground-level wood-burning fire pit in the rear yard, 15 ft from the property line and 25 ft from the house and shed.
  • A stone surround wall up to 18 inches around the pit, with the homeowner always present when a fire is burning.
Worth a conversation
  • A fire pit where the 25-foot clearance from any structure is tight due to a nearby fence or shed (bring a site plan with measurements).
  • A larger decorative surround wall that approaches or exceeds 18 inches.
Not allowed
  • A gas fire pit or propane fire table (wood fires only).
  • Any fire pit in the front or side yard, or left burning without someone present.
WDS-09. Solar Panels
Panels may not be visible from the front street and may cover no more than 25 percent of the roof. Color should match the shingles as closely as possible. Ground-mounted systems must follow fence-height limits and include appropriate screening.
Likely approved
  • Roof-mounted panels on the rear slope only, covering 20% of the roof, color-matched to dark shingles.
  • A ground-mounted array behind a fence in the rear yard, screened from neighboring sight lines.
Worth a conversation
  • A corner-lot installation where "not visible from the front street" applies to both fronting streets (board will review the sightline plan).
  • Panels covering close to 25% of the roof (bring the installer's layout diagram).
Not allowed
  • Panels on the front-facing roof slope that are visible from the street.
  • A ground array that exceeds fence-height limits or is not screened from neighbor sight lines.
WDS-10. Other Structures
This standard covers structures not addressed elsewhere in the design standards. Street setbacks apply. Raised structures require skirting or landscaping, and the roof style and materials must match the home.
Likely approved
  • A small garden kiosk or potting bench structure in the rear yard with a gabled roof that matches the house shingles.
  • A covered dog kennel run with skirting and directional lights under 100 watts, behind the rear plane of the house.
Worth a conversation
  • An unusual structure type the board has not seen before (bring detailed drawings and material samples to the application).
  • A structure where the roof style is constrained by the design but may not perfectly match the home's roof.
Not allowed
  • Any structure that encroaches into the street setback or is placed forward of the home's front plane.
  • Flood or up-lighting that exceeds 100 watts or spreads across neighboring property.
WDS-11. Screens and Partitions
Pergolas, lattice screens, and privacy partitions may be attached to or placed next to the home or an approved structure. Total linear footage may not exceed 16 feet, and height is capped at 6 feet (8 feet when placed on a platform).
Likely approved
  • A 12-foot attached pergola along the back of the house, 6 feet tall, with open lattice sides.
  • A 6-foot privacy partition on a deck platform (up to 8 feet total height allowed on platforms).
Worth a conversation
  • A pergola-plus-screen combination that brings the total linear footage close to the 16-foot cap.
  • A high-opacity screen in a side yard (the standard restricts those to the rear yard only).
Not allowed
  • A screen or partition with total linear footage over 16 feet, or standing taller than 6 feet on grade.
  • A fully enclosed partition with no openings (that becomes a fence and falls under WDS-05).
WDS-12. Outbuildings
Sheds and similar outbuildings may be up to 100 square feet and 12 feet tall. They must be set back from the property line by at least the height of the facing wall. A gabled or hipped roof is required. If visible from the street, the structure must be screened with landscaping. Outbuildings may not be placed forward of the front of the home.
Likely approved
  • A 10 by 10 ft shed (100 sq ft) with a gabled roof, siding that matches the house, setback from the fence by at least the wall height.
  • A small barn-style storage shed in the rear yard, screened with shrubs if visible from the street.
Worth a conversation
  • A shed close to the 100 sq ft limit where the roof peak brings the overall height near 12 feet (board will measure from grade to peak).
  • A playhouse that is borderline on the storage-volume rule (over 48 cubic feet triggers this standard).
Not allowed
  • Any shed over 100 sq ft or taller than 12 feet. A 10 by 14 ft shed at 318 Onyx was denied in 2023 because both the floor area and height exceeded the limits.
  • A shed with a flat or lean-to shed roof, or placed forward of the front of the home.
WDS-13. Patios and Play Surfaces
Patios and play surfaces are allowed in the rear or side yard. Approved materials include concrete, brick, stone, and pavers. The installation may not redirect rainwater or surface runoff onto a neighboring property.
Likely approved
  • A concrete or paver patio in the rear yard that slopes naturally toward your own lot and does not channel water toward a neighbor.
  • A small rubber-mulch play area or paver landing pad in the side yard.
Worth a conversation
  • A large patio that covers most of the rear yard and may affect natural drainage patterns (bring a grading plan).
  • A patio that extends into the side yard close to the property line where water runoff direction is unclear.
Not allowed
  • Any patio or surface placed forward of the home's front plane.
  • An installation that channels rainwater or runoff directly onto a neighbor's yard or into common areas.
WDS-14. Room Additions
Additions must attach to the home and be accessible from the interior. They may not extend into the street setback. The roof must be gabled, and the siding, windows, and finishes must match the existing home.
Likely approved
  • A rear addition with matching siding and shingles, a gabled roof, and an interior doorway connecting to the existing house.
  • A sunroom addition on the back of the house with windows and trim that match the existing style.
Worth a conversation
  • An addition where the original siding is discontinued and a close match must be sourced (board will evaluate how well it coordinates).
  • A side addition that comes close to the street setback line on a corner lot.
Not allowed
  • An addition with a flat, shed, or non-gabled roof.
  • A detached structure not connected to the home and not accessible from the interior (that would fall under WDS-12 or WDS-10).
WDS-15. Swimming Pools
No part of the pool may be more than 12 inches above grade without specific board approval. A safety fence as required by law is mandatory. Pool equipment must sit on a permanent, screened pad. A city or county building permit is typically required, so secure that first before submitting your HOA application.
Likely approved
  • An in-ground pool in the rear yard with a code-required safety fence, pool equipment on a screened permanent pad, and no drainage toward a neighbor.
  • A partially above-ground pool where no portion rises more than 12 inches above the natural grade.
Worth a conversation
  • A pool where the equipment pad placement may encroach near a neighbor's fence or window (board will want a screening plan).
  • An above-ground pool with a raised deck that pushes the pool wall above 12 inches of grade (specific approval required).
Not allowed
  • Any pool without the legally required safety fence, or with equipment placed on an unscreened portable pad.
  • Pool drainage directed onto a neighboring lot or into the street.
WDS-16. Trash Can Screens
Screens for trash and recycling cans must be located in the side or rear yard, next to the home, and no more than 4 feet tall. Approved materials are solid board wood, white vinyl, or painted wood that matches the home's trim. Lattice and picket styles are not permitted. These enclosures are for trash cans only.
Likely approved
  • A solid wood enclosure in the side yard, painted to match the house trim, up to 4 ft tall and 5 ft wide, holding only trash and recycling bins.
  • A white vinyl screen next to the garage, L-shaped, no taller than 4 feet, and no wider than what the cans actually need.
Worth a conversation
  • A U-shaped enclosure that approaches the 10-foot maximum length (bring dimensions so the board can confirm it stays within limits).
  • A screen placed in the front yard or right at the front corner of the house (placement matters; side or rear only).
Not allowed
  • Any enclosure with lattice, picket, louvered, or no-dig post styles.
  • Using the enclosure to also store garden tools, bikes, or anything other than trash cans.
WDS-17. Variances and Auto-Approved Items
A variance is a limited exception to a standard and is only available when the physical shape or dimensions of a lot create a genuine hardship. Personal preference does not qualify. Some small items are automatically approved without an application: a single security sign, a "No Soliciting" sign, holiday decorations, and sports or seasonal flags.
Likely approved (auto-approved, no application needed)
  • One security system sign (up to 2 sq ft), one "No Soliciting" sign on the home, sports flags, holiday decorations, school pride signs, and birthday or life-event banners removed promptly after the event.
  • Invisible fence training signs placed during the training period only.
Worth a conversation (potential variance)
  • A fence height increase along a non-residential boundary (for example, backing up to a commercial property), or an irregular lot shape that makes standard placement genuinely impossible.
  • A roof design where a gable is architecturally not feasible due to how the original house was built (board has granted this type of variance before).
Not allowed as a variance
  • Requesting a fence height increase simply to give a dog more privacy, or a color-standard exception because you prefer a non-earth-tone color.
  • Any variance request based on personal convenience rather than a physical lot constraint.
WDS-18. Standby Generators
Generators must be installed on a permanent concrete pad, at least 23 feet from any neighbor's window, and screened from view. Sound output must not exceed 63 decibels at 23 feet. Generators are for backup power only and may not be used as a primary or supplemental power source during normal operations.
Likely approved
  • A whole-home standby generator on a permanent concrete pad, 23 ft from any neighbor's window, fully screened at street level and from neighbor windows.
  • A modern inverter generator rated at or below 63 dB at 23 feet, used only during power outages.
Worth a conversation
  • A placement where the 23-foot clearance from a neighbor's window is tight due to lot size (bring a site plan with actual measurements).
  • Screening that meets the street-level rule but may not fully block the neighbor's window sightline at a higher angle.
Not allowed
  • Running a generator regularly during normal operations (for example, to offset electricity costs), not just for outages.
  • A generator on a gravel or temporary pad, or one without any visual screening.
WDS-19. Exterior Fixtures
This standard covers security cameras, lighting, smart doorbells, and EV chargers. Cameras may be mounted up to 8 feet high and may not be aimed at a neighbor's property. All fixtures must be color-matched to the home's exterior. Security lighting should be white or soft white and must not create a nuisance for neighboring properties.
Likely approved
  • A video doorbell and two security cameras mounted at 7 feet, color-matched to the siding, aimed at your own driveway and yard.
  • A wall-mounted EV charger in the garage or on the side of the house, not requiring vehicles to park in the side yard.
Worth a conversation
  • Decorative color lighting (non-white) used beyond holidays or events, left on through the night (the standard requires it to be dark between 1 AM and 5 AM and not conspicuous by day).
  • A motion-activated floodlight that sweeps a wide angle near a neighbor's bedroom window (directional aiming may need board sign-off).
Not allowed
  • A security camera aimed at a neighbor's yard, driveway, or interior windows, even partially.
  • An EV charger installation that requires a vehicle to park in the side yard on a regular basis.

Conditions that apply to every approval

No matter which standard covers your project, the following conditions apply to all approvals. Please read through them before you start work.

  1. HOA approval is not a government permit. You remain responsible for any zoning, building, and permitting requirements from the city, county, or state.
  2. Approval does not eliminate easement obligations. If your project extends into a utility or drainage easement, those restrictions still apply in full.
  3. No-build, preservation, and non-disturbance zones are not covered by an HOA approval. Work in those areas is not authorized by a design review decision.
  4. Improvements may not block or redirect the natural flow of surface water, including runoff onto adjacent lots or common areas.
  5. Call OUPS at 8-1-1 before you dig. This is required by Ohio law and protects you and your neighbors from underground utility damage.
  6. "Basic landscaping" means perennials, annuals, low plants, shrubs, and bushes. Anything beyond that scope requires its own design review submission.
  7. You are responsible for the accuracy of all measurements and drawings submitted with your application. Errors or misrepresentations can void an approval.
  8. Work must be completed within 45 days of materials arriving on site.
  9. Decisions are valid only in writing, signed by an authorized board representative. There are no verbal approvals.

Coming soon

Proposed Little Free Libraries

The board is finalizing a standard for Little Free Library installations. Under the proposed policy, libraries would be permitted in the front or side yard, with direct access from the street or sidewalk, and within defined size limits. This policy is proposed and not yet adopted. No application is needed until the policy takes effect. The board will confirm here once it is voted in.

Ready to take the next step?

If you have questions about whether your project needs approval, or you are not sure which standards apply, reach out before you submit. We are happy to help.

Questions about a project? Contact us View governing documents