HOA Design Review for Siding: What Seattle Homeowners Need to Know
If you’re in an Eastside HOA (Somerset, Lake Hills, Sammamish Plateau), replacing siding means design review. Here’s what the process looks like and how to get approved on the first try.
About 60% of our Bellevue, Sammamish, and Kirkland projects go through an HOA design review before a single board comes off the house. If you’re a first-time homeowner in one of these communities, the paperwork can feel overwhelming. This guide walks you through exactly what you need, how long it takes, and how to avoid getting rejected.
What is HOA design review?
When you’re changing the exterior of your home in an HOA-managed community, the HOA’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC) or Design Review Committee (DRC) wants to approve your plan before work starts. This protects property values by making sure new materials match the community aesthetic.
Design review is required for: siding replacement, paint color changes, roof changes, window replacements, deck/patio modifications, landscaping over a certain size, and fence changes in most Eastside HOAs.
The typical approval timeline
- Packet prep: 3-5 days (we handle this)
- HOA review: 2-4 weeks from submission (varies wildly by HOA)
- Revisions if rejected: another 2-4 weeks
Plan for 4-8 weeks from when you pick your contractor to when work can start. This is why we recommend starting the process in January/February for a summer siding project.
What goes in the packet
Every HOA is slightly different, but here’s what a complete Eastside packet contains:
1. Application form
Download from your HOA portal or request from the property manager. Most are 2-4 pages.
2. Material spec sheets
For James Hardie, this is a PDF from Hardie’s site showing the exact product line (HardiePlank, HardiePanel, Artisan, Shingle) with dimensions, weight, and installation specs. We provide the correct ones for your project.
3. ColorPlus color samples
Usually 2-3 physical chips showing your proposed color plus the approved palette your HOA has on file. Many Eastside HOAs have a pre-approved ColorPlus palette (Boothbay Blue, Arctic White, Pearl Gray, Iron Gray, Navajo Beige, etc.). Picking from the pre-approved list cuts approval time in half.
4. Profile diagrams
A simple line drawing showing what the siding looks like in cross-section — clapboard (lap) vs panel vs shingle vs board-and-batten. HOAs care because profile affects the shadow line and overall aesthetic.
5. Color renderings on a photo of your home
This is where most DIY submissions fail. The HOA wants to see what YOUR house will look like in the new color — not a generic catalog photo. We produce these renderings using Hardie’s visualizer tool on a photo of your actual home.
6. Detail photos of existing conditions
What does your house look like now? Photos of all four elevations. Notes on any changes beyond color/material (for example, if you’re changing trim from 1×4 to 1×6).
7. Project timeline
Proposed start and completion dates. Most HOAs require work to be completed within 90-120 days of approval.
8. Contractor information
License number, insurance certificate, lead contact. HOAs sometimes maintain an approved contractor list — check if yours does.
Why submissions get rejected
- Color not in approved palette — easy fix, but adds 2 weeks
- Missing profile diagram — HOA can’t evaluate aesthetic impact
- Proposing to change trim dimensions without calling it out — must be explicit
- No color renderings on the actual home — HOA can’t visualize result
- Mixing material types mid-elevation (e.g., half lap, half panel) — usually requires design variance
- Missing contractor insurance — HOA can’t verify liability coverage
How we handle the process
On every HOA project, we:
- Pull your HOA’s design guidelines on day 1 (we keep a library of most Eastside HOA requirements)
- Prepare the complete packet in days 2-5
- Submit to your ARC/DRC with cover letter
- Respond to any clarifying questions from the committee
- If revisions needed, turn them around within 48 hours
- Once approved, we pull the building permit and schedule start
We don’t charge extra for this — it’s part of how we work on Eastside projects.
HOAs we’ve submitted to most frequently
- Somerset (Bellevue)
- Lake Hills Association (Bellevue)
- Sahalee (Sammamish)
- Klahanie (Sammamish)
- Issaquah Highlands
- Bridle Trails (Kirkland)
- Rose Hill (Kirkland)
- Education Hill (Redmond)
- Redmond Ridge
- Newport Hills (Newcastle)
- Mercer Island HOAs (various)
- Crossroads (Bellevue)
“Our Somerset HOA is strict. Paul prepared the full packet — material specs, ColorPlus chips, profile diagrams, rendering. The DRC approved it on the first review. Meanwhile the neighbor did DIY and got bounced twice.” — Recent Bellevue client
HOA in your future? We’ve been through it.
We prepare the HOA submission for free on every project. Most of our Eastside packets are approved on the first review. Get a free assessment and we’ll map out your specific HOA’s requirements.