With Qwest expected to end its cable service to portions of Anthem later this year, many homeowners will be switching to Direct TV which requires the installation of those unsightly satellite dishes. While the HOA would love to completely eliminate them the plain fact of the matter is that they can’t. There are a few guidelines however you may want to follow to keep the HOA police off your back.
The HOA does require that you submit an application for approval. This is merely a formality and you may apply after the installation is made. The reason for the approval is to assure that the minimum requirements are met. The form for the application can be picked up at the HOA office or obtained on-line (PDF file).
Federal law allows homeowners to set up satellite dishes so all the HOA can do legally is to “make suggestions” with regards to its placement. They want to make sure the dish will be placed to minimize the visual impact from the street.
Specifically, the requirements are that the dish has to be one meter or smaller in size and located in the rear or side yard, below the fence wall level if reception is available from that location. If an acceptable signal cannot be received in the rear yard, placement in the front of the house or front yard is permissible.
They also suggest that satellite dish shall be of a color compatible with the color scheme of the house. Painting of the dish and the exposed wires might be required so long as the painting of the dish will not void the manufacturer’s warranty or affect the signal. However in all reality, most satellite dishes I have seen are white or off-white which is compatible with about anything. I believe the main idea here is not to put up a fluoresent green satellite or something that would obviously stand out.
When placed in the front of the house or the front yard, screening will be required “when appropriate” if it does not interfere with reception and constitute an unreasonable expense. Any transmission cable from the receiver to the house must be placed underground (buried under the rock).
If these guidelines seem cumbersome, keep in mind that the satellite company itself has much experience with Anthem’s HOA CCRs and guidelines and will know how and where to properly place the dish.
