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What is the Design Guide?

The Community Architect has developed a set of prototypical details for a number of typical homeowner Design Change Modification examples. The conditions addressed are: Picket Fences, Alley fences, Storm Doors and Deck details.

When Homeowners or their Builders request modifications that comply with the attached sketches and notes they will be considered approvable Design Changes subject to the following conditions:

  1. Deviation: Any deviation shall be subject to review for compliance with the King Farm Design Guidelines by the Community Architect.
  2. Fence Location: See memo regarding privacy / alley fence and picket fence location.

Please also note that any design change may also be subject to applicable King Farm Regulations of King Farm LLC and City of Rockville laws and regulations for permitting, construction, placement and noise / sound.

Please call if you have any questions regarding the above.

What changes to my home require review and approval?

Exhibit A, Equity Resolution No. 1 Design Standards for Visual Changes to Living Units and Lots describes when design changes require review and approval and by what groups.

A summary of the list is shown below to guide homeowners regarding changes to their houses and lots.

Items Requiring Review and Approval By the King Farm Community Architect and King Farm Design Trust:

  1. Roof Penetrations: Attic ventilators, skylights and solar panels: These are permitted if installed such that they are not visible from the street (other than an alley).
  2. Clothes Lines: Are permitted in rear yards only (not in side yards and not in front yards) and shall be installed so they are not visible from the street (other than an alley).
  3. Decks
  4. Color Changes
  5. Statuary and Exterior Art: If located in a front yard, side yard or visible from a street. This includes bird houses, bird baths, sculpture, fountains, artificial plants, etc.)
  6. Awnings: Are permitted but generally discouraged.
  7. Fences
  8. Hot Tubs
  9. Gazebos
  10. Greenhouses
  11. Landscaping: If major landscaping changes are proposed such as plantings intended to form a hedge or natural screen, installation of railroad ties (rear yards only), timbers (rear yards only), stones, or similar features in side yards or front yards, rock or water gardens, landscaping of ground cover, mulch, gravel or similar which requires of removal of greater than 6 linear feet of turf or 12 square feet of turf, vegetable gardens greater than 32 square feet in plan.
  12. Patios
  13. Porches
  14. Play Equipment (Permanent or Semi-Permanent): Including but not limited to jungle gyms, swing sets, basketball backboards, sports goals, etc.
  15. Sidewalks and Pathways
  16. Sheds: Freestanding and attached to a house or fence if visible from a street (other than an alley)
  17. Swimming Pool (permitted only if in ground)
  18. Tree Removal: Trees shall not be removed if live with a trunk diameter greater than 4″ when measured 12″ above the ground and Flowering trees with a trunk diameter greater than 2″ when measured 12″ above the ground unless approved.
  19. Solar Collector

Items Permitted Without Review and Approval:

  1. Statuary and Exterior Art: If located in a rear yard and not visible from a street (other than an alley). This includes bird houses, bird baths, sculpture, fountains, artificial plants, etc.)
  2. Replacement of Exterior Finishes: To match original, due to deterioration or storm or other damage.
  3. Exterior Winter Decoration: Must be “Attractive, good taste, reasonable in size” and permitted only between 15 November and 15 January.
  4. Flagpoles: With staffs not exceeding 5′.
  5. Grills: If located in a rear yard and not visible from a street (other than an alley).
  6. Landscaping: Minor changes such as foundation plantings, the planting of a single specimen, vegetable gardens less than 32 square feet.
  7. Mailboxes: listed on the approved master list
  8. Individual Real Estate Signs (in accordance with City of Rockville regulations and only in front yards)
  9. Individual Security Signs (a second may be permitted in rear yard)
  10. Sheds: If located in a rear yard and not visible from a street (other than an alley).

Items Not Permitted:

  1. Roof Penetrations: Penetrating the Street Side of a Roof: Attic ventilators and skylights.
  2. Dog Houses and Dog Runs
  3. Window Air Conditioning Units
  4. Above Ground Swimming Pools

Items Requiring Notice To the King Farm Community Architect and King Farm Design Trust:

  1. Antennas: when installed such that they are not visible from the street (installed in accordance with Administrative Resolution No. 9 & Administrative Resolution No. 10).

Please note this list is a summary and not inclusive of all requirements, please review Exhibit A, Equity resolution No. 1 for the full listing.

Please also note that any design change may also be subject to applicable King Farm Regulations of King Farm LLC and City of Rockville laws and regulations for permitting, construction, placement and noise / sound.

Alley Lights

Design guidelines for alley Lights

Alley Lights Guidelines

Roof Shingles

Attached are the pre-approved replacement shingle colors.  All other color choices will require ADT (Architectural Design Trust) approval.

Pre-approved Roof Shingle Colors

Garage Doors

The Community Architect has developed a document to assist Homeowners in the selection of replacement garage doors.

Garage Door Guidelines

Lawn Edging and Decorative Lighting

The Community Architect has developed a document to assist Homeowners in the selection of decorative lawn edging and lawn lighting.

Lawn Edging
Lawn Edging – graphic

Lawn Lights

Fences

The Community Architect has developed documents to assist Homeowners in the selection and placement of picket fences in front and side yards and privacy and alley fences in rear yards.

Fence Sketches:
Alley/Privacy
Bowtop
Gothic
Picket (style 1)
Sawtooth
Staggered
Staggered Sawtooth

Side Yard Fence Placement

These documents are intended to offer guidance; final location and design approval shall be obtained from the Community Architect.

In addition to the information shown on the fence sketches the following conditions shall apply:

  1. Fence Material: Fences shall be made of wood.
  2. Picket Fences: Picket fences shall be located in front and side yards.
  3. Picket Fence Height: Picket fences shall be 32″ to 42″ high.
  4. Picket Fence Location Relative to Front Sidewalk: It is preferred that picket fences be located 12″ to 21″ behind front sidewalks to allow for a planting bed for flowers, lawn, etc.
  5. Picket Fence Variation: Picket fences on adjoining lots shall differ. Proposed fences shall be reviewed to encourage differentiation between lots. The Community Architect seeks to encourage variety of design. Picket fence designs other than shown in the Design Guide shall be encouraged (subject to review).
  6. Picket Fence Location Relative to Site Lines: Individual picket fence siting shall be reviewed to verify compliance with the design guidelines.
  7. Fence Color: All fences shall be painted King Farm White.
  8. Privacy Fence / Alley Fence Location in Side Yards: Privacy fences shall be permitted on side yard property lines between adjoining houses.The privacy fence / alley fence may extend from the back yard toward the front yard and return to the house at a point no closer than half the length of the side of house. In this case the street facing fence may be a privacy fence / alley fence.

    Fences returning to the house (street facing fence) in the front half of the length of the side of house the fence shall be a picket fence type.

  9. Privacy Fence / Alley Fence Height: Fences shall be permitted between 48″ and 72″ in height.
  10. Exceptions: All exceptions to the above due to special lot conditions including but not limited to grading, configuration and otherwise shall be reviewed by the Community Architect.

Please also note that any design change may also be subject to applicable King Farm Regulations of King Farm LLC and City of Rockville laws and regulations for permitting, construction, placement and sound.

**The following paint colors shall be acceptable for use as King Farm White on fences and rear yard decks**

Decks

The Community Architect has developed documents to assist Homeowners in the design and placement of decks in rear yards.

Deck Sketches: Deck Rail

The documents are intended to offer guidance; final location and design approval shall be obtained from the Community Architect.

In addition to the information shown on the deck guard / rail sketch the following conditions shall apply:

  1. Deck Location: Decks shall be located in rear yards only.
  2. Deck Size: The footprint in square feet of decks (in single family detached houses) shall not be permitted to exceed 1/5 the footprint in square feet of the house.
  3. Painting of Surfaces Visible From Streets and Alleys: Rails, rail caps, guard rails and deck bands shall be painted King Farm White.
  4. Screen Undercroft: Undercroft of decks visible from streets shall be screen by lattice or other screening (subject to review).
  5. Decks on Corner Lots: Decks located on houses on corner lots where the deck is visible from the street shall have a lattice screen or other screening (subject to review) to a height 5′ – 6″ above the deck on the street side of the deck.
  6. Deck Materials: Decks shall be built of wood materials.
  7. Deck Height: Decks shall be no higher than 10′ – 0″ above grade.

Please also note that any design change may also be subject to applicable King Farm Regulations of King Farm LLC and City of Rockville laws and regulations for permitting, construction, placement and sound.

Porch hand rail guidelines and graphics

The Community Architect has provided a design guide for suitable porch handrails.

Porch Handrail & Supporting Graphics

Exterior Paint Requirement

The following document specifies the timeline required to paint exterior ACQ pressure treated wood on homes.

Exterior Paint Guidelines

For more information about exterior paint colors for your home, please contact management office at 301-987-0122 or via email at [email protected].

Fence and Deck Colors

The following paint colors shall be acceptable for use as King Farm White on fences and rear yard deck components at King Farm.

  1. Outside White Solid Stain
    Maxwood Exterior Stain
  2. One Coat White
  3. 100 Super White
    McCormick Paint

It shall be acceptable to allow pressure treated wood material to dry for up to 30 days after initial installation before the application of paint. Please consult paint and wood suppliers for specific recommendations for painting.

Storm Doors

The Community Architect has developed documents to assist Homeowners in the selection of storm doors.

The documents are intended to offer guidance; final design and installation approval is not required if compliance with the following is met.

If a Homeowner desires a deviation, approval shall be obtained from the Community Architect.

Storm Doors Not Requiring Review and Approval shall meet the following conditions:

  1. Full View: The storm door shall be full view.
  2. No Decorative Trim: The storm door shall be free of decorative trim.
  3. Color: The storm door shall match the color of the door.

Please see the Storm Door Sketch regarding door stile and rail profile.

Please also note that any design change may also be subject to applicable King Farm Regulations of King Farm LLC and City of Rockvillelaws and regulations for permitting, construction, placement and sound.

Please contact management if you have any questions regarding the above.